18
Wednesday, June 3, 2015 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
Sisters Veterinary Clinic
reports that Dr. Carl Berg has
already seen a case of fleas
and ticks.
Fleas are not only a nui-
sance but can occasionally
transmit disease. In 2012,
Prineville had a case of the
plague which is caused by
a type of bacteria called
Yersinia Pestis. This organ-
ism is transmitted by fleas to
mammals. Oregon has had
five incidents of the plague
since 1995.
Usually in late spring,
fleas begin to emerge from
their pupae as adults and
migrate to the nearest dog or
cat for blood meals. An adult
flea mates shortly after emer-
gence and begins laying eggs
within 36 hours.
In her brief 50-day lifes-
pan, a single flea can lay
more than 2,000 eggs.
Fleas are masters of their
universe. They can hide in a
forest of pet hairs, especially
long-coated dogs or cats and
not be noticed until your pet
has more than just a couple.
Remember that fleas are
small, and just because you
don’t find one on your pet,
doesn’t mean that they’re not
there.
Have you noticed Fido
scratching lately? He may
have been bitten by a flea, but
he may also have dry skin, an
Paw
Prints
Jodi Schneider McNamee
Columnist
It’s flea and
tick season
It’s May, and spring has
finally arrived in Sisters
Country. Warmer weather,
longer days, flowering trees,
brightly colored hanging bas-
kets … and fleas.
According to Debbie
Putnam, DVM at Riverside
Animal Hospital in Bend,
the recent mild winters and
warm summers in Central
Oregon have resulted in an
increased prevalence of these
blood-sucking creatures.
This year has been espe-
cially mild, and you can
expect to see more fleas and
ticks than in previous years.
Add a little rain and bingo,
the flea population can
explode.
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allergy, or mange bites. One
way to check for fleas is to
look for black specks on your
furry friend or in his bed. The
specks are fecal matter from
adult fleas, and if you add the
specks to a wet paper towel
the particles will turn red.
Run a flea comb over your
pet, making sure the comb
reaches the skin through the
coat. If black specks are on
the comb when you pull it
off, they might be flea feces.
Once you discover fleas
on your pet, your home is
probably already part of the
problem. There will be eggs,
larvae, and pupae wherever
your dog likes to lie around
or sit.
The good news is that we
have dramatically more pow-
erful and improved methods
of flea and tick control avail-
able to us, so we can protect
our pets. There are many new
products on the market that
work well to either repel or
kill these critters. Check with
your veterinarian as to which
product is the best for your
furry friend.
In addition to extreme
discomfort, fleas and ticks
can also cause serious
health problems in pets and
people. Your furry friend
can become infected with
tapeworms by ingesting
infected fleas. Bites from
fleas can cause skin irrita-
tion and swelling, and some
pets have allergic reactions
to the bites that cause them
to scratch, according to the
Oregon Veterinary Medical
Association (OVMA.)
The OVMA suggests that
the most effective flea con-
trol program involves treat-
ing not only Fido or Kitty,
but your living environment.
Attempting to control
fleas on your pets is a multi-
step process. Adult fleas
spend most of their time on
an animal, but the flea eggs,
larvae and pupae are found
in abundance in the environ-
ment such as in carpeting,
bedding, and grass.
One way to create a more
effective guard against fleas
is to treat your home environ-
ment the same day you treat
Fido or Kitty.
Start by vacuuming thor-
oughly and frequently espe-
cially below drapes, under
furniture edges, and where
your pet sleeps, and clean his
bedding weekly in hot water.
Don’t forget to clean Fido’s
crate, and change your vac-
uum bag often.
Fido loves to play out-
doors in the spring, so don’t
forget about your outside
environment. Flea control
in the outdoor area involves
keeping your lawn mowed,
photo by Jodi Schneider mcnamee
Mia is protected from fleas for the
summer with Frontline.
and rake up any debris, such
as brush or clippings. Fleas
like it in moist shaded areas,
so hang any non-washable
items directly in the sun.
Fleas that live on your
pet can also infest wildlife,
so please try to prevent any
wildlife from coming into
your outdoor environment.
Dogs and cats are not
just pets. They are mem-
bers of the family, and like
any member of your family,
it’s important to keep them
healthy. So please remem-
ber to implement a flea and
tick control program for Fido
or Kitty so there are no sur-
prises this summer.
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