Fleas are more than just an itchy annoyance. Fleas can carry tapeworms and if your pet or a family member is infested it can lead to serious intestinal parasite issues. In very young animals fleas can lead to severe anemia and even death. Fleas can cause allergic reactions in cats and dogs that can cause serious skin issues. It is important to control fleas for the comfort and safety of you, your pet and your family.

To effectively combat fleas, all the pets in the household must be treated. Just because an animal does not go outside or does not show symptoms, does not mean they can't catch fleas or don't already have them Even indoor only pets can catch fleas. They can get them from guest pets, from humans who live in a home with fleas, from you if you visit a home with fleas or from mice in the house among other possibilities.

A quick at home way to confirm if your pet has fleas is the paper towel test. Using a flea comb or other fine tooth comb collect some black debris from the coat of your pet. Place this on a white paper towel. Dampen the paper towel with water. If the black flecks begin to leach brown or red liquid it is flea dirt (feces) and your pet has fleas.

No Pets In Your Home Currently Have Fleas

1. Growth inhibitors are a non-insecticidal way to prevent an infestation. They prevent fleas from reproducing but they do not kill adult fleas.
   • Program (pills for dogs, injection for cats)
   • Sentinel (pills for dogs)
2. Topical insecticides kill adult fleas for an extended period (1 month) and prevent an infestation. They contain growth inhibitors. These products do not prevent fleas from getting on a pet but will kill them.
• Frontline (for dogs and cats)
• Advantix (for dogs)
• Revolution (for cats)
3. Flea collars, sprays, dips and shampoos do not prevent fleas and do not provide continuous control. They are can be very toxic.

One or More Pets Currently Has Fleas

1. Asymptomatic: Pets are not bothered by the fleas.
• Can be treated the same as you would in Prevention listed above.
• Usually the infestation involves a small number of fleas.
• Environmental Control
2. Symptomatic: Pets are scratching due to fleas.
• Topical insecticides kill adult fleas for an extended period (1 month) and prevent an infestation. They contain growth inhibitors. These products do not prevent fleas from getting on a pet but will kill them.
• Capstar is an oral tablet that kills fleas only on the day it is given and may combined with a growth inhibitor.
• Environmental Control
• Flea collars, sprays, dips, & shampoos are more toxic and less effective then other means.

Effective flea control takes persistence and consistency. Prevention is the best bet, but fleas can usually be conquered by continued action.

To learn more about tapeworms and their control visit What's the Scoop on the Poop? and Intestinal Parasites.

For more information about fleas and other parasites visit Companion Animal Parasite Council website.