HOW TO TREAT SAFELY AND EFFECTIVELY
Dr. Van Horn – How to Treat Safely and Effectively
Once you’ve identified that you do, indeed, have a flea and/or tick problem, Sergeant’s recommends you follow a three step treatment and prevention program. Just one flea can lay up to 1200 eggs, accounting for only 5-10% of your total flea problem.
The Three Step Program
1. Treat your Pet
There are many products to treat your pet, including squeeze-ons, powders, sprays, shampoos and collars. Select and apply only one type of treatment, as combining treatments can be dangerous.
Sergeant’s Gold squeeze-on pet products are designed to efficiently and effectively kill new fleas and ticks as well as flea eggs and flea larvae on your pet. We recommend that you treat your pet once every four weeks to control fleas, ticks and mosquitoes.
2. Treat your Home
Insecticides have been found to be effective against adult fleas and are another part of a flea management program. These are applied where fleas are most likely to breed, including animal bedding, cracks in floors and baseboards. Many veterinarians also recommend the use of indoor foggers to apply pesticides to rooms where domestic animals spend the bulk of their time. When insecticides are used, it should be in conjunction with sanitation.
You should wash bedding and vacuum carpets as well as treat with household sprays, carpet powders or household foggers to eliminate fleas in the home. The good news is that household products now feature insect growth regulators (IGR) that prevent fleas from reproducing for up to 210 days.
3. Treat your Environment
Spray your yard and treat around the foundation to kill any flea populations that may be in your yard.
• Do not use flea and tick control products if your pet is not healthy. If your pet is weak, feeble, pregnant, nursing, aged, using medication or has other health issues, contact Sergeant’s 24-hour hotline (800-224-7387) or your veterinarian before application.
• Do not use products not intended for your pet. Never apply a dog product on a cat and vice versa. Dog products can be toxic to cats.
• Do not use flea and tick control products if your pet does not meet the minimum weight requirements stated on the product package.
• Do not use flea and tick control products if your pet does not meet the minimum age requirements stated on the product package.
• Do not self-dose. If you have a 20 pound dog, do not use half the dose intended for a 40 pound dog.
• Do not double-dose. Determine when your pet was last treated with flea and tick control products – this includes flea and tick squeeze-ons, shampoos, powders and sprays. Check the product packaging or call Sergeant’s or your veterinarian to ensure the recommended time has passed since the last application before applying the new product.
• Do not use flea and tick control products if you are unable to separate your pets during treatment. It’s important to separate pets for 24 hours after application to avoid grooming and ingestion of the product.