This blog is going to be a bit different. I read a facebook post this week that has really just put me on a soapbox, so instead of posting a blog with the intricacies about various diseases, we’re going to bust some myths. There are more myths out there about fleas and ticks than we could ever know. So here’s to busting all the myths you can find on the internet.
Myth 1: Dawn dish soap and/or flea shampoo will kill fleas and keep my pet protected.
FALSE! While both of these will kill adult fleas, neither will kill the egg, larva, and pupa stages and it will not keep your pet protected from a host of diseases transmitted by fleas and ticks.
Myth 2: Using a lint roller after walking my pet through the woods will pull the ticks off and keep my pet protected.
FALSE! A lint roller may pull off the ticks that are walking on the surface hair of your pet, but it will not be able to pull ones off that are already attached (and already in the process of transmitting diseases).
Myth 3: Homemade all-natural flea/tick sprays (distilled or apple cider vinegar, vegetable or almond oil, lemon juice, citrus oil, or peppermint oil) will keep the ticks from biting your pet.
FALSE! Ticks do not have aversions to these household products. Most of these are sprayed on the hair and never make it to the skin which is where the ticks are going to bite.
Myth 4: Flea comb with lemon added for repellant.
FALSE! Again, fleas and ticks are not deterred from the naturally living plants and oils. While a flea comb will get fleas off, it will only get off the adults (adult fleas comprise only 5% of what is there).
Myth 5: Keeping your home clean and vacuumed will get rid of any fleas in your home and keep your pet protected.
FALSE! While we do recommend vacuuming when there is a flea infestation in your home, just cleaning your house is not going to keep your pet safe from being bitten by fleas and transmitting tapeworms (through ingestion of the fleas by your pet while grooming) and bacteria that can get into their bloodstream.
Myth 6: Putting clothes on your pet when going into wooded areas will keep ticks off of them.
FALSE! How many times have you walked through the woods fully clothed and come home with ticks?
Myth 7: Essential oils can be used orally and topically to help repel fleas and ticks.
FALSE! It is known there are certain essential oils that when used orally and topically can cause severe chemical burns and can also cause liver and kidney disease. They are also not good at repelling fleas and ticks.
The best protection for your pet is year round prevention for fleas and ticks. Below are charts of various preventatives which are effective in killing fleas and ticks. All of these help with transmission of disease associated with flea and tick bites.
Myth 1: Dawn dish soap and/or flea shampoo will kill fleas and keep my pet protected.
FALSE! While both of these will kill adult fleas, neither will kill the egg, larva, and pupa stages and it will not keep your pet protected from a host of diseases transmitted by fleas and ticks.
Myth 2: Using a lint roller after walking my pet through the woods will pull the ticks off and keep my pet protected.
FALSE! A lint roller may pull off the ticks that are walking on the surface hair of your pet, but it will not be able to pull ones off that are already attached (and already in the process of transmitting diseases).
Myth 3: Homemade all-natural flea/tick sprays (distilled or apple cider vinegar, vegetable or almond oil, lemon juice, citrus oil, or peppermint oil) will keep the ticks from biting your pet.
FALSE! Ticks do not have aversions to these household products. Most of these are sprayed on the hair and never make it to the skin which is where the ticks are going to bite.
Myth 4: Flea comb with lemon added for repellant.
FALSE! Again, fleas and ticks are not deterred from the naturally living plants and oils. While a flea comb will get fleas off, it will only get off the adults (adult fleas comprise only 5% of what is there).
Myth 5: Keeping your home clean and vacuumed will get rid of any fleas in your home and keep your pet protected.
FALSE! While we do recommend vacuuming when there is a flea infestation in your home, just cleaning your house is not going to keep your pet safe from being bitten by fleas and transmitting tapeworms (through ingestion of the fleas by your pet while grooming) and bacteria that can get into their bloodstream.
Myth 6: Putting clothes on your pet when going into wooded areas will keep ticks off of them.
FALSE! How many times have you walked through the woods fully clothed and come home with ticks?
Myth 7: Essential oils can be used orally and topically to help repel fleas and ticks.
FALSE! It is known there are certain essential oils that when used orally and topically can cause severe chemical burns and can also cause liver and kidney disease. They are also not good at repelling fleas and ticks.
The best protection for your pet is year round prevention for fleas and ticks. Below are charts of various preventatives which are effective in killing fleas and ticks. All of these help with transmission of disease associated with flea and tick bites.
*If you’d like more information about these flea and tick preventions, please contact us or your local veterinarian.*
If you would like to read more about the diseases caused by fleas and ticks, please see links below.
http://www.pethealthnetwork.com/dog-health/dog-diseases-conditions-a-z/6-tick-borne-diseases-you-should-know-about
http://www.pethealthnetwork.com/cat-health/cat-diseases-conditions-a-z/flea-allergy-dermatitis-cats
http://www.pethealthnetwork.com/dog-health/dog-diseases-conditions-a-z/cytauxzoon-felis-what-you-should-know-about-deadly-bobcat
If you would like to read more about the diseases caused by fleas and ticks, please see links below.
http://www.pethealthnetwork.com/dog-health/dog-diseases-conditions-a-z/6-tick-borne-diseases-you-should-know-about
http://www.pethealthnetwork.com/cat-health/cat-diseases-conditions-a-z/flea-allergy-dermatitis-cats
http://www.pethealthnetwork.com/dog-health/dog-diseases-conditions-a-z/cytauxzoon-felis-what-you-should-know-about-deadly-bobcat
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