Keeping your pets pest free
By Allen Salo
Board Member
Since we are clearly in the “Dog Days” of summer and the incidence of pests on our pets increases with increasing temperatures, I recently spoke to Betsy Hallett, the manager of the Central Aroostook Humane Society, about particular pest problems that commonly affect shelter animals and may affect your own pets as well.
She noted that fleas are quite common on incoming animals, especially on cats entering the shelter — on about 85 percent of cats. Dogs entering the shelter seem to have them a bit less frequently, arriving on about half of all dogs entering the shelter.
Once at the shelter, staff members typically give animals with fleas a dose of Capstar (a pill) that begins working very quickly. Often within 30 minutes fleas can be seen dropping from the animals. Additionally, those animals with fleas commonly receive a topically applied product called Revolution. Both products are about $20 for a monthly treatment and must first be obtained from a veterinarian.
Betsy noted that fleas can be seen on animals entering the shelter even during the winter.
Ear mites are also commonly seen year-round and can be difficult to treat. Signs of ear mites commonly would include excessive ear scratching and clear signs of wax deposits seen in the ears and is more often seen in cats at the shelter. Veterinarian treatment is probably best.
Ticks are only occasionally seen (perhaps only four or five cases a year) on animals coming into the shelter. She noted that with appropriate treatment, animals will be happier, and if they are not treated could become anemic due to gradual blood loss, develop skin infections and develop other possible health problems.
People too may develop flea allergies as well by being bitten from fleas that often originate from pets. Betsy noted that even indoor animals can get fleas from people bringing them inside inadvertently, such as on their shoes or clothing.
Finally she would advise to keep on top of any pest issue by bringing your pets to a veterinarian if necessary and begin treatment early in spring. At the shelter, they do not use any type of flea collars or natural products that may help with fleas or ticks.
Remember to guard against overheated and/or dehydrated pets this summer.
The Central Aroostook Humane Society is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., closing for lunch noon to 12:30 p.m. Donations and visits with the animals are welcome.
Additional information on Revolution, fleas and ticks can be found for dogs or cats at: https://online.zoetis.com/US/EN/Products/Pages/Revolution_pet/revolution_pet.html.
More can be found on these same topics and on Capstar product at: http://www.capstar.novartis.us/.
