| Treating the Pets Environment | ||
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Pesticides pyrethrins permethrins Di-limonene
Topicals Environment Health
issues Non-pesticide
control
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While it is our jobs as dog groomers to
remove the live adult fleas from our charges, it is important that we
understand how to assist our clients in their struggle with these pests.
Otherwise they just get angry at us for not solving their problems for
them with a simple bath!
The following information may be copied and distributed to your client base as needed to assist them with their fight against this AWFUL pesky problem. It is terribly important to understand that fleas live in different life stages in different parts of your pets environment. As a result, you may only be treating the SYMPTOMS of flea infestation, not the actual cause of re-infestation. While we SEE the adult fleas and are bothered by them the most, the eggs which the adult female lays and the pupa and larvae stages of the flea are just as important in the control of this DANGEROUS pest. Eggs are found in carpets, cracks in hardwood floors, bedding, furniture and anywhere they can hide. They are also found in gravel, sand and grass. The best treatment for them INDOORS is vacuuming and using a product with an insect growth regulator used to prevent their existence in the first place. Vacuuming removes the eggs before they hatch preventing the adult fleas from developing. The IGR prevents them from ever getting laid. Borax powder spread heavily onto a carpet or wooden floor and allowed to site overnight, then vacuumed up will also help in controlling fleas. It dehydrates the fleas killing them. There are several powders on the market that work well. Flea Stoppers is a terrific product! Flea Stoppers There are many brands of sprays and powders on the market that will prevent the growth of a newly hatched flea into a mature one. They are available through most garden and feed stores as well as in the pest control sections of grocery and department stores. It is IMPORTANT to treat yards, homes and pets thoroughly in order to break the life cycle of fleas and end the infestation problems that are all too common in our jobs. Also realize that re-treatment is needed about every ten days or so to prevent the situation from re-occurring and to keep the fleas GONE! Certain foggers contain IGR and have a residual effect of up to several months. I often find myself using the foggers in my shop after hours on days when we have had a particularly heavy load of flea dogs. They WORK because they allow the fog to penetrate into cracks and area where we cannot get sprays. And they lessen our exposure to the chemicals in the product because we are not actively spraying the product in the room. It is automatically dispensed by the applicator. Simply read your labels and find one that contains an IGR before you buy and you will notice a huge difference in the number of fleas in the room. Flea Traps are also an effective way to control the fleas in a room or an entire home. They are inexpensive to make and operate. they consist of a bowl of water (I put a drop of Dawn into it) and a light source placed over the bowl. When the lights are out, the fleas jump toward the light which attracts them and they fall into the bowl. It is important to use a large enough bowl to ensure they hit the water, so I use a 9x13 baking dish with about a half inch of water in it and a fluorescent light that is designed for use under a cabinet. This trick works wonderfully in rooms that you cannot or do not want to spray or if you are chemically sensitive. EVERY pet in the home must be treated for the products to work most effectively. Otherwise you are allowing the fleas to continue to grow and develop on the untreated animals, therefore wasting your time fighting this battle. If you have a problem with mice, squirrels or even armadillos you may find it harder to get the upper hand on fleas. These wild animals carry fleas on their bodies and when they enter your environment they deposit the fleas and the eggs causing the entire cycle to start over again. This is especially a problem if you, like me, have acreage that borders un-inhabited land. I have almost decided that this year, since we have been so wet I cannot spray the kennels, that I am just going to have to deal with fleas on the dogs. I am using topicals, but by themselves, they do not work 100%. It is not IMPOSSIBLE to control fleas, but it is very difficult and requires a lot of effort, time and patience on the part of the pet owner. Groomers alone CANNOT solve this problem.
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