Parasite Spotlight
Pet Parasite Terminology

There's No Place Like Home... Yours!
Fleas, Ticks and Mosquitoes Found Here, There and Everywhere
Courtesy of
Farnam Pet Products

Realistically, every home and pet is at risk of encountering fleas, ticks and mosquitoes. These pests exist in virtually every area of the country, and just keeping a pet indoors isn't enough to prevent infestation. Pests may travel indoors on a person or through open doors or windows. They are super sleuths when it comes to finding a host for their insatiable appetites, managing to find their way into the cleanest and most secure homes.

Sneaky Little Buggers

• Fleas, which can carry tapeworm and wreak havoc on your pet's skin, can jump more than eight inches high - the equivalent of a human jumping over the Statue of Liberty!
• Ticks, carriers of Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, burrow into the fur of their hosts and can be so small that they are barely visible.
• Mosquitoes, which carry deadly heartworm, are experts at finding their way through the smallest of cracks or screens, despite diligent efforts to keep them out.

Favorite Places
The likelihood that a pet or home will become infested with one of these pests depends on many factors, climate being one of the most important.

• Fleas are most common in warm, humid areas and can be found year-round in flea-friendly climates such as the Gulf Coast states and Southern California. Their peak season in other parts of the country is generally May through September, although weather conditions may extend that season.
• Ticks thrive in a moist, shaded environment and are especially common in heavily wooded regions and areas with a lot of brush and grass. Tick season is worst during warm months, usually late spring through summer in most parts of the U.S. They are found most often in the eastern states, the Upper Midwest, and parts of Texas and the Pacific Northwest. Consequently, these same areas have the highest occurrence of tick-borne illnesses including Lyme disease.
• Mosquitoes are found throughout the U.S., thriving in any areas where they can find standing water. An unattended bucket, discarded tire or unchecked pet bowl can provide sufficient stagnant water for females to lay their eggs.

Steps can be taken to prevent infestation from dangerous pests, and to treat pets and homes that have already been invaded. Information on preventative measures and the wide variety of flea and tick products available from Farnam Pet Products can be found on the Internet at www.farnampet.com. For additional information about Farnam Pet Products, in the U.S. call toll free at (800) 234-2269 or direct at (602) 285-1660.

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See Also:
Fleas
Click here to learn to everything about fleas. (Separate page of listings devoted to fleas)

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