Flea Control

With spring all around us, many pet owners start to concern themselves with fleas on their pets. While fleas are more common from April until November, in North Carolina, fleas are a year-round problem.

The flea life cycle is very complex. A female flea can lay up to 50 eggs a day. These eggs are then able to develop into adult fleas in as little 3 weeks in an optimal environment. The life cycle can take months in a less hospitable situation. The point being, it only takes a few fleas a short period of time to become a full-fledged infestation.

Year-round prevention on all pets is the key to keeping fleas from becoming a problem on your pet or in your home. While there are many excellent products available, there is no one product for all pets. There are very good topical products and others that are much less effective. There are outstanding oral meds to either kill or sterilize the flea. All are extremely safe for you and your pet. For this reason, we recommend working with your veterinary team to determine which flea control product makes the most sense in your particular situation.

- Dr. Chip Cooney, DVM