petbrief


Flea and Tick Solutions for the Holistic Pet Parent by Michel Selmer, DVM, CVA


A


s the summer draws in and the temperatures rise, especially in Long Island, it is inevitable that


pets and pet owners will want to get out and enjoy the warmer weather and longer days. However, critters like ticks and fleas, which feed on the blood of pets like cats and dogs, will also be- come more and more of a problem. In fact, one of the most common conditions I treat in the summer months is itchy skin and miserable pets due to flea and tick infestations, and even flea allergies. This is because pets are particularly prone to attack by ticks and fleas because their fur is soft and warm, and thus provides the ideal environ- ment for these pests. Fleas, in particu- lar, prefer warm climates and thus love being ensconced in fur. Ticks also like warm climates but can survive in near- freezing conditions. As a result, ticks are much hardier and therefore much harder to kill than fleas.


While fleas and ticks are certainly a nuisance, it’s refreshing for holistic- minded pet parents like


you to know that you have holistic and medicinal


options—both in preventive measures and post-


exposure treatment—that can keep your pets (and your home)


pest- and irritant-free.


Flea and Tick Feeding Although ticks and fleas are from two different families, with fleas being six-


46 Long Island Edition www.NaturalAwakeningsLI.com


legged winged insects and ticks being eight-legged arachnids, they both feed on the blood of pets and can cause health problems.


Health Consequences The health problems that result from flea and tick attacks can range from minor allergic reactions, causing pets to sniffle and sneeze, to the extremely irritating “constant itch” to more serious health problems, including, but not limited to, tick-borne diseases like Lyme disease.


Breeding and Multiplication A scary prospect is that both fleas and ticks can live for a very long time on their hosts. Fleas can survive for up to 100 days, while ticks, when in ideal conditions, can survive for up to three years. During this time, many eggs can be laid, and thus a flea or tick infestation can manifest. This is not only potentially harmful for the pet, but can result in flea and tick infestations spreading to homes and infecting humans. As a result, it is essential that all pets are treated to pre- vent tick and flea attack.


Prevention The first line of defense against these parasites is to treat all dogs and cats in a household with a flea and tick control product. This form of protection is typi- cally topical and can help to prevent against tick and flea attack by killing all stages of the tick and by killing adult fleas, as well as their eggs and larvae. The topical protection product is usu- ally available from veterinarians. Most of my clients prefer a more holistic and less chemical-based ap- proach to flea and tick prevention, and Advanced Animal Care Center is thrilled to offer holistic-minded pet parents a safe and effective alternative rooted in Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM). When an alterna- tive approach like this is preferred, visit your local TCVM clinic or integrative veterinarian to discuss your options. Whichever preventive treatment


option is chosen, it is important that pet owners are consistent with the applica- tions. This is because even one missed dosage of tick and flea control medica- tion can result in an infestation that may take weeks, or even months, to fix and may even put the pet at a higher risk of exposure to disease. Therefore, pet owners must realize that consisten- cy is key and apply the monthly appli- cations throughout the summer months and continue doing so until the ground in their area is frozen. As soon as the freeze thaws—even for an unseason- ably warm week in New York—preven- tive measures need to begin again.


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