24 Hudson Valley Parent
n
November 2019
W
hen it comes to flea and
tick control, a preventative
approach is best.
"It's not only taking a preventa-
tive approach but choosing your
approach wisely," said veterinarian,
Alex Barrientos of Earth Angels Vet-
erinary Hospital in Wappinger Falls.
"When you are choosing what to do,
be careful
-the strongest and tough-
est are not necessarily the safest."
Pay attention to both a treat-
ment's efficacy and potential harmful
side-effects for your pet and family
members.
While only 2 percent of the flea
population is on pets, one tick can
bite and infect your pet more than
once. And, with the remaining 98
percent of fleas lurking in your pet's
environment, ridding your house
of the pests is important, especially
since flea eggs can survive for up to
two years in home. Plus, ticks are
hardy-they can withstand winter
months under snow cover.
Full Circle Veterinary Hospital
in Wappingers Falls recommends
a combination of traditional and
holistic flea and tick prevention for
pets, including topicals, collars and
chewable tablets. Often external
products consist of essential oils that
deter biting bugs but don't kill them,
leaving pets vulnerable to getting
bitten from the insects.
Because tick-borne diseases can
cause joint, organ and other poten-
tially permanent problems that may
or may not be evident, Full Circle
does semi-annual blood tests for
pets. As well, flea infestations can
cause itching, severe skin irritations,
loss of fur and mange. If a pet be-
comes ill from a bite, medication or
hospitalization may be needed.
"Just because it gets cold, doesn't
mean that ticks have gone away,"
said Christine Pupek, Full Circle's
practice manager. Go with whichev-
er treatment suits your lifestyle, she
SPECIAL PRINT SECTION IN HUDSON VALLEY PARENT
Our expert tells us what to do about flea and tick prevention
We Love Our Pets: Pet Tips & Advice
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