From Janet Tobiassen Crosby, DVM,
Your Guide to Veterinary Medicine.
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From your Guide:
If you have been around animals for a while, you would probably recognize the familiar "blue bottle" products for flea and tick control. This press release from Farnam highlights a product label "makeover" and outlines the various product available for parasite control. I am not advocating one brand or another, but rather, want to emphasize proper use of chemicals, both on your pet and your home. Too many times, I have seen pet owners think "if a little is good, a lot is better" or "we have such a bad flea problem that I better use more than directed because this is a special case". I have one word for this: don't! Toxic reactions are a reality with any product used improperly, no matter how "safe" it is. I have written other articles on fleas and parasites, but here are some basic points to keep in mind when fighting fleas. For additional, more in-depth articles, please see the "Suggested Reading" links below.

One thing many people don't realize is that fleas in particular are a multi-point problem. It isn't as simple as killing the parasites on the pet and getting rid of the problem. Fleas actually spend just a small portion of their time on the pet -- they live in carpets and the environment and hop on your pet for a meal. Environmental control is just as (or more) important as flea control on your pet!

As mentioned above, the old "if a little is good, a lot is better" approach is not good, and potentially very toxic to your pets as well as humans in the household. The same applies to mixing products. Too often in the zeal to kill fleas and ticks, people will use many products at once -- a dip, followed by a shampoo, then adding a flea color or spot-on treatment after that! Again, a potentially very dangerous situation. Shampoos work well to kill the fleas on the animal, but usually don't have a lot of staying power. The dips are designed to last awhile on the skin/coat of the animal, and collars and spot-ons are designed to last even longer. The mix of chemicals could indeed prove deadly, and not just to the fleas. Please speak to your vet about proper use of products: when to use them, what can be used together, and so on.

Regular grooming and checking for parasites is essential to stay on top of problems with parasites. If your pet has any signs of parasites, skin inflammation, or is scratching/biting/licking their skin to the point of irritation, please make an appointment with your vet to get your pet some relief and prevent the problem from becoming worse (i.e. more expensive to treat in the long run).

To learn more about flea and tick products from Farnam Pet Products, please click on to page two. To learn more about flea and tick control, please see these suggested links:

Be Free of Fleas! Part I

Be Free of Fleas! Part II

How to Remove a Tick

Fleas and Ticks - Tips and Facts

Cat: Parasitic Diseases

Dog: Parasitic Diseases