Search Results for: blog flea and tick prevention options

Ask a Pets Blogger: Why Flea and Tick Prevention Fails

I treat my cat regularly with Advantage, but she keeps turning up with fleas! Why won’t they go away? You’re not alone with this problem — flea and tick management can be a constant battle. Here are some things that might help turn the tide in your favor. Make sure you are applying the medication correctly. The liquid needs to go on the skin, not on the fur — hair won’t absorb the medication. Make sure you place the medication in a place your pet can’t reach to lick off. Be sure to apply ALL the medication! Make sure your … Continue reading →

Increasing Demands on Pet Food Banks and Low-Cost Clinics

Financial crises are making the news a lot these days. Homes are in foreclosure, jobs are lost, and debt and cost of living are soaring. Some people are forced to consider giving up family pets in order to keep going. In order to save some money, some pet owners are skipping preventative care like annual exams, vaccinations, and monthly treatments like heartworm and flea/tick prevention. Some people are declining expensive diagnostic tests when a pet is sick. Others are turning to food pantries in the hope of finding kibbles for furry family members. If you’ve never had a pet, it’s … Continue reading →

Diary of a Cat Care B&B: Fleeing Fleas

Not all guests who come to the cats only boarding facility are indoor cats. Some are allowed to roam the “big blue room” once in a while; some spend the majority of their time outdoors and only show up for meals and bedtime. Not that fleas are solely a problem of outdoor cats — far from it. Fleas can get into your house (and onto your pets) even if your furry family never sets a paw outside the door. One thing we don’t want at the boarding facility is for a guest to catch a case of critters while they … Continue reading →

The Pets Blog Week in Review for April 14-20

If the spring in the air has kept you out instead of in more, but you still want to keep up on the happenings in the Pets Blog, fear not. This handy Week in Review will keep you in the loop about Aimee and I wrote about on: Monday, April 14 Aimee covered everything you’d ever want to know about guinea pig cages. Sometimes an inspirational animal story comes along that is just marvelously wonderful. The story of Oscar the naked cockatoo is just such a story. Tuesday, April 15 There is both an art and science to guinea pig … Continue reading →

Flea and Tick Prevention Options for Pets with Sensitive Skin

I mentioned recently that Lally seems to be having trouble with a new flea and tick preventative we tried. Hopefully we won’t have any more skin problems if I switch back to Frontline… but I wonder if she’s just getting more allergic as she ages. That got me thinking about alternatives to the insecticide-medication-on-the-skin type of flea and tick prevention. Traditional flea and tick collars. You might remember the narrow white collars that dogs and cats used to wear before medications like Frontline and Sentinel came along? Since the medication doesn’t get soaked into the skin, it might be an … Continue reading →

The Pets Blog Week in Review for Aug 27-Sep 2

Happy Labor Day! I hope you have the kind of job where you’ve enjoyed the day off and maybe even a nice three-day weekend. In case you’re trying to spend what’s left of today catching up on blogs, here’s your breakdown of what Aimee and myself covered last week in the Pets Blog. Monday, August 27 Does your pet like to run errands with you? Murph does, because I know where to take him to get drive-thru donuts and coffee for dogs to reward him for helping me. Tuesday, August 28 If you’ve been following the Michael Vick case, then … Continue reading →

Flea and Tick Prevention Options

There are lots of choices when it comes to flea and tick prevention. Here’s a look at five popular choices that you may find at your veterinarian’s office or local pet store. Frontline — available as Frontline Top Spot and Frontline Plus for both dogs and cats. Both versions contain fipronil to kill fleas and ticks. Frontline Plus also contains an insect growth regulator that takes care of fleas and ticks from egg to larvae to adult. Liquid is applied monthly between the shoulders; controls ticks for one month and fleas for up to three months. Water resistant. Safe for … Continue reading →

Get to the Vet (With a Little Help from Bayer)

Somebody in one of my online pet communities alerted me to GetToTheVet.com. The basic idea is this: Bayer Animal Health (makers of Advantage flea and tick prevention) is going to give away a quarter of a million dollars in veterinary vouchers to help folks get their pets in for vet visits during these tough economic times. As the site says: “…many pet owners are facing difficult choices about how to pay for and prioritize their pets’ care and wellness. And unfortunately, veterinary visits and preventive veterinary care are often cut due to financial struggles and concerns.” Between February 16 and … Continue reading →

Treating Chin Acne in Pets

Don’t stress too much if your pet develops chin acne — it’s a relatively common problem in dogs and cats! One of the most common causes for chin acne is allergies. A pet may be allergic to fleas, foods, plastic in bowls, or inhaled particles like pollen and mold spores. Dealing with the allergy can make a big difference in many cases of chin acne. Treat your pet with a monthly flea/tick preventative like Frontline, Advantage, Sentinel, or Revolution. Spray your home and yard to clear up flea infestations if one is present or suspected. Eliminate plastic food and water … Continue reading →

Why Petco Is Where I Go (Now)

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A few years ago, when my friends adopted their wiggle-pup Casey, I scrambled for a good gift. I didn’t know what kind of treats the puppy would like, and they’d already shopped for toys, a crate, a bed, and food. In the end, I went with a Petco gift card. Since then, I’ve been on the Petco mailing list. Most of the time (let’s say 99 out of a hundred) I brush past the emails and don’t pay much attention. A recent mailing caught my eye: sale on Frontline. What perfect timing! I was out of Frontline, it was nearly … Continue reading →