Flea Control Protocols

Puppies Less Than 8 Weeks

  • Use flea comb multiple times daily
  • Apply d-limolene shampoo according to label instructions
  • Apply methoprene (IGR) topically (Pre-Cor®)
  • Change bedding / clean housing daily
  • Use flea powders which are mixed 1:1 with cornstarch to 50% concentration
  • If nursing, treat bitch in similar manner

Puppies Greater Than 8 Weeks

  • Use flea comb multiple times daily
  • Apply Frontline® or Advantage® topically as directed
  • Control home environment as described above (vacuuming, application of IGRs)
  • Initiate long-term control by oral administration of Program® or Sentinel® once monthly according to label instructions

Adult Dogs

  • Use flea comb regularly
  • Shampoo with pyrethrin/pyrethroid to remove fleas
  • Apply Frontline® or Advantage® topically as directed
  • Initiate long-term control by oral administration of Program® or Sentinel® once monthly according to label instructions
  • Treat home (indoors and outdoor) environment as described above

Kittens Less Than 8 Weeks

  • As for puppies less than 8 weeks (see above)
  • Use flea comb daily
  • Apply citrus derivative insecticide (D-limolene) according to label
  • Apply Frontline® or Advantage® topically as directed
  • Initiate long-term control by oral administration of Program® once monthly according to label instructions

Adult Cats

  • Use a flea comb as permitted by cat
  • Apply Frontline® or Advantage® insecticide topically as directed
  • Initiate long-term control by oral administration of Program® once monthly according to label instructions
  • Treat environment as described above

CLIENT COMMUNICATIONS REGARDING FLEA CONTROL

Q “Please sell me one flea collar and a bottle of flea spray for my pet.”
Any client that asks for any flea spray, flea collar or any other flea product is not asking for that particular product. What they really want is FLEA CONTROL. To completely serve that client you must explore the flea situation at hand and completely solve the client’s need. To do any less is a disservice to the client and to the pet.

Q “I have tried that flea pill called Program® and my dog still has fleas.”
Any client’s pet that is currently taking Program® and still has fleas has one of the following problems:
The client is not giving the correct dose.
Program® must be given with a fatty meal.
All pets in the environment must be treated.
Additional environmental control to eradicate the flea colony may be necessary.
Add Frontline® or Advantage® to their flea control protocol.

Q “I left my dog at grandma’s house and she must have gotten fleas there. Now we don’t seem to be able to get them under control.”
Fleas can be acquired from an environment such as your grandmother’s house, but these fleas have not had time to reproduce in your home. It is more likely that while you were gone, the fleas in your house hatched and became very hungry without a pet around to feed on. This happens when people go on vacation. You have a flea colony in your house that depended on periodic blood meals from your pet that were taken away abruptly disturbing the balance. When you returned home, the hungry fleas attacked your pet.

Q “I just left your grooming facility and my dog still has fleas.”
We make every effort to kill every flea on your pet while here to make sure your pet goes home flea free. When grooming a pet the hair coat is cleaned with flea killing shampoo that is then rinsed off. There is little or no residual effect. If your pet had fleas when he came to us, there is a good chance that you have fleas in the pet’s home environment that have re-infested him. There are new flea products that we can apply to your pet after grooming that will kill these fleas. There are also recommendations that we can make on how to control fleas in your environment.

Q “I have two pets. One pet has fleas, I can see them on him, but he doesn’t seem to mind. My other pet does not seem to have fleas yet, but he does have a bald spot on his rump and down his back legs that he will not stop chewing at. When I look for fleas I do not see any. I know his skin irritation and hair loss is not due to fleas.”
Our policy is to “Diagnose Before We Treat”. Any persistent skin problem should have certain tests performed to determine the cause. In addition to a complete physical examination, our doctor will perform these tests. Many skin diseases are a reflection of internal disease. Allergies or parasites are the most common cause of itchy skin in our dogs and cats. Many pets have allergies to fleas. The reason you are not seeing the fleas is because your pet is so sensitive to fleas that he is literally chewing his hair off and chasing them off his body.

Q “I have an outdoor tom cat that roams the neighborhood. What is the most powerful dip that I can use and what can I do to control fleas on him?”
We do not recommend organophosphates to be used on cats. Our most powerful products include Rotenone. Other products are available that will control the fleas on your pet if applied to the coat once a month. These are Frontline® and Advantage®

Q “I have a Maltese that has sensitive skin. What flea spray can I use?”
We recommend flea sprays that are non-toxic to the pet and contain aloe vera or lanolin – These are the water-soluble products that contain the newer synthetic pyrethrins.

Ancillary Information about Medications that may be used in Flea Control or Flea Allergies

PRODUCT NAME WORK INVOLVED SAFETY FLEA STAGE COST PER 1500 Sq. Ft. COST PER YEAR APPLICATION COMMENTS
FleaBusters™

Borate Powder

None Dogs, Cats and Exotics Adult and Larva $150.00 $150.00 Professional application to all exposed areas including hardwood floors and furniture assures effectiveness. Will clean and dust after finished application. One year unconditional guarantee. Carpet cleaning will inactivate. FleaBusters™ will “dry clean” your carpet for you.
FleaBusters™

Self Applied Borate Powder

+++++

Self-Application

Dogs, Cats and Exotics Adult and Larva $40.00 $40.00 Apply to all carpeted areas and to all cloth furniture. Must apply under all furniture and beds. Recommend to clean carpets prior to application Considerable work and mess involved in correctly applying to all exposed areas. Carpets must be dry prior to application.
Siphotrol Plus II® Flea Spray for the House ++

Pump or Pressurized Sprayer

Dogs, Cats and Most Exotics Adults Eggs and Larva $30.00 or

$42.00 with Sprayer

$255.00 Application is once weekly for 4 weeks then monthly. For application indoors only to all pet access areas. This product is safe but is inactivated by sunlight. It is a very safe and effective indoor treatment option.
Dursban® Spray Concentrate with PreCor® mixed for immature flea stage control +++++

Must Dilute concentrate solution then mix Precor®

Dogs and Most Cats Adults and Larva (Precor®) $12.00 $180.00 This product is applied by spray to all areas of the house as if painting the floors. Apply weekly for 4 applications then monthly thereafter. Mix 5 oz of concentrate per gallon of tap water and add 1 oz of PreCor® to this solution. The product is supplied in a concentrated form that is very toxic to children and pets if consumed. This is the most economical method and may also be used outdoors for flea control.
Diazinon Spray Concentrate with PreCor® added. +++++

Must Dilute concentrate solution then mix PreCor®

Dogs and Most Cats Adults and Larva (PreCor®) $10.00 $150.00 This product is applied by spray to all areas of the house as if painting the floors. Apply weekly for 4 applications then monthly thereafter. Mix 2.5 oz of concentrate per gallon of tap water and add 1 oz of PreCor® to this solution. The product is supplied in a concentrated form that is very toxic to children and pets if consumed. This is the most economical method and may also be used outdoors for flea control.
PreCor®

IGR

++

Mixed with Flea Spray

All animals Larva and eggs $8.50 $127.50 This is a very safe solution that can be applied to the home for flea control in very sensitive areas such as an aviary or nursery. It is usually mixed with other pesticides to increase effectiveness in killing pre-adult fleas. This is a flea hormone that prevents the complete development of flea larva into pupa. It is non-toxic. Adult fleas are not affected.
Dursban® or Diazinon Granules +++

Must apply to yard

Safe, unless consumed Adult and some larva $10.00 bag treats

4000 sq. ft.

$150.00 for 4000 sq. ft. Granules are applied to the yard after pick -up of debris and mowing. The yard is pre-soaked with water. The granules are applied from fence to fence and curb to curb and then blasted with water into the dirt under the root structure of the grass where the fleas live. This application is repeated weekly for 4 weeks then monthly for maintenance. Granules provide residual control of the yard whereas surface sprays provide quick flea kill with no residual for killing of hatching fleas. The granules also server as a bait which will kill developing free-living larvae. Granules also kill other pests of the yard such as fire ants and chinch bugs.
PRODUCT NAME WORK INVOLVED SAFTEY FLEA STAGE AGE of PET COST per BOTTLE APPLICATION COMMENTS
Flea Stop® Shampoo

by Holiday

++

Shampooing

Pet

Dogs,

Cats,

Exotics

Adults 6 weeks

or older

$12.00 Like any other shampoo, it is best to let the shampoo set on the pet for at least 10 minutes. Pleasant smelling shampoo. It is very safe and has caused few adverse reactions.

Citrus scent.

Adams Flea and Tick Shampoo® ++

Shampooing the pet

Dogs,

Cats

Adults Over 6 weeks $10.00 This product gives you a good quick kill and is good for heavy flea infestations. This product can be toxic to some cats especially Persians due to the Piperonyl Butoxide level
Ovitrol® Plus Spray +

Pump Spray

Dogs,

Cats,

Exotics*

Adult,

Eggs,

Larvae

8 weeks or older $10.00 Can be purchased with a special pump for application of cats. Can also be used as often as necessary. Safe for most animals. This product contains a high concentration of Methoprene (I.G.R.) that can be deactivated by sunlight.
Flea Stop® Pet Spray +

Pump Spray

Dogs,

Cats,

Exotics*

Adults,

Eggs,

Larvae,

Pupae

8 weeks or older $10.00 This product is safe for most animals and has very low levels of toxic potential. Can be used as often as necessary. This product contains Linoloo that is one of the only products that kills all life stages of the flea.

Has a citrus scent.

Adams 14 Day Spray® +

Pump Spray

Dogs,

Cats,

Exotics

Adults,

Larvae

Over 8 weeks

Rabbits over 3 month

$12.00 This spray provides a quick kill, and is stable in sunlight. And can be used as often as every 7 days. This product is an alcohol base and can be irritating to sensitive skin.
Flea Stop Dip® with d-limonene +

Mix with Water

Dogs,

Cats,

Exotics

adults 8 weeks or older $10.00 This product is very safe when diluted correctly, it has a very pleasant fragrance. This product can cause toxicity in cats and rabbits when it is not diluted properly.
Flea Stop Pyrethrin Flea and Tick Dip® +

Mix with Water

Dogs,

Cats,

Exotics

Adults 8 weeks or older $10.00 This product must be diluted to the correct concentrate with water. This product is safe and more effective than d-limonene. The pyrethrins give you a quick knock down of the fleas but there is very little residual activity with this dip.
Flea Stop with Dursban® +

Mix with Water

Dogs Adult Over 8 weeks $10.00 This product must be diluted to the correct concentrate with water. Gives you a very effective quick kill. When using organo- phosphates in the environment it is best to use a dip containing no OP pesticides.