Spring is in the air—the weather is warmer, the days are longer, and we can’t wait to get back outside with our pets. As much as we’re looking forward to the spring, we must also remind ourselves—and our wonderful clients—that flea season is about to start. Before you rush out the door, we want to give you a few items to keep in mind to make sure your pet has a happy, healthy, flea-free season in Eastern Michigan.

First, remember that fleas can cause greater health issues than itching. Pets with flea allergies can have severe dermatological reactions. Furthermore, fleas can pass serious health problems to your pet, including tapeworm and cat scratch fever.

Flea Preventives
The first and most important step to take for your pet this spring is making sure your pet is up-to-date on preventive medications. At Ypsilanti Animal Clinic, we offer a range of oral and topical flea preventives, including:

  • Vectra 3D
  • Trifexis
  • Sentinel
  • Revolution
  • Cheristan
  • Nexgard

Making sure your pet has the proper preventives is the first and most critical step you can take to keeping your pet healthy. Without the proper preventive medicine, you may be exposing your pet—and your family—to serious health risks.

A Clean Home
Ensuring your pet has been administered the right preventative medications is not the only step you can take to keep your pet safe this spring. Keeping your home clean and tidy is another surefire way to stop fleas from spreading through your house. It’s said that only 5 percent of fleas in a home are found on pets, while the other 95 percent of fleas are located in rugs and carpets! When the weather begins to warm up, make sure you regularly keep your floors swept and vacuumed to avoid fleas hanging around and repopulating.

Flea Sprays
Dr. Glencer and Dr. Kunoff also recommend using flea sprays that you can apply to your carpets that stop the growth of eggs and larvae. If used throughout the year, there’s a much greater chance of eliminating these pests and keeping your pet safe throughout the warmer months of the year.

If you have any questions about fleas and how to keep your pet healthy this flea season, feel free to schedule an appointment at Ypsilanti Animal Clinic to speak to one of our many experienced animal-care professionals. We can recommend preventives and flea sprays for your pet and check for any possible flea issues if they arise.