FLEAS are Coming to a Dog or Cat Near you in Springfield!

​It’s hard to believe with this weather bouncing back and forth, but eventually spring will be here in Springfield once and for all.  With spring showers and warmer weather come those feisty fleas!  If your pet is not on year round prevention, NOW is the time to get a flea prevention product started.    Some interesting facts about fleas:

•   Fleas will consume 15 times their body weight in blood each day (which is why pets with fleas can be anemic)
•   Females will lay eggs within 36-48 hours of their first blood meal
•   An adult flea can live for 7 days before they must have a blood meal or they will die
•   The average flea has a lifespan of 2-3 months
•   One female flea can lay up to 2,000 eggs

Some over the counter flea products contain harsh chemicals that can be harmful to your pet.  We encourage you to call or visit with us before using any product on your pet.  In Springfield at West Lake, we carry Nexguard and Frontline Plus, which prevent both ticks and fleas.  They should be used every 30 days.

The most common signs of fleas on your dog or cat are itching, hair loss (often on the back and tail), black “dirt” on the skin (see above), and biting at its skin.  Your pet can get fleas even if they never go outside.  You can carry them in on your shoes or pant legs, and the fleas will jump onto your pet.  Your pet then becomes a walking salt shaker of flea eggs throughout your house.  Ridding fleas in the environment is one of the most difficult issues we help our clients with. 
 
If you have a question about what prevention your pet should be on, please call us at 529-4499.  Our mission is to provide high quality, compassionate veterinary care with a personal touch.  We strive to maintain a friendly and comfortable environment for pets and owners and are committed to building strong, respectful, and honest relationships with our clients.  Through teamwork, we are dedicated to ensuring the best care possible and treating pets as if they were our own.