15 Sep 3 Facts These Vet Techs Really Want You To Know About Fleas — (#1: You’re Not A Bad Pet Owner If Your Pet Has Them!)

Angie Meyers and Shana Kennedy

When the two friendly veterinarian technicians at the PetWellClinic on Kingston Pike in West Hills were asked which pet condition the clinic has treated most over the summer, Angie Meyers and Shana Kennedy both said, “Fleas!”

“The number of cases of fleas has definitely been up,” Shana says, adding, “Ticks, too. Last winter didn’t get cold long enough to slow down the flea and tick populations, and they’ve just continued to breed as usual over the summer.”

Both vet techs said there are three things many pet owners aren’t aware of when it comes to fleas, and that they’d like people to know in order to reduce their pet’s risk of getting the parasites.

#1) “We don’t think your house is filthy or you’re a bad pet owner if your pet has fleas!”

Angie explains, “People are often embarrassed if their pet has fleas, and sometimes comment that we must think they don’t take care of their pets or their environment, but we really don’t think that way.”

In fact, because fleas are such a common problem, Angie and Shana know how easy it is for pets to get them, even if a pet owner is trying to protect their pets. “For example, even indoor-only cats can get fleas,” Shana says, explaining that a flea can come in on a person’s clothing and then burrow into the cat’s fur. This hidden, warm environment is a perfect breeding ground for more fleas, which the cat’s owner never imagined would be an issue since the cat doesn’t go outside.

#2) Over-the-counter products often don’t work.

Both Angie and Shana have treated many pets with fleas whose owners had been treating these pets with flea products they purchased from a store. “They’re surprised their pet has fleas because they were actually treating them with prevention products, but the problem is that there are too many over-the-counter products that just aren’t effective,” Angie says.

In fact, it’s a scenario that all the PetWellClinic® veterinarians and technicians are familiar with. In a previous post, Dr. Stephanie King said the one thing she’d like pet owners in East Tennessee to know is that over-the-counter flea prevention products don’t always work. She says, “It makes me sad when I see clients who are worried about expenses buy several flea products over the counter that don’t work. They come in exhausted from giving flea baths, spraying the house or getting pest control to come out, when the real problem is that the over-the-counter flea prevention products are not working on their pets.”

#3) You can’t always see fleas.

“Many pet owners are surprised when they learn their pet has fleas, because it’s not always like you imagine with little fleas jumping around on your pet or your furniture,” Shana says. “It’s pretty common for people to bring in a pet that has a hotspot on their skin, or that has been scratching and itching more than usual and the owners are wondering if their pet has an allergy. They didn’t suspect fleas because they didn’t see them, but they’re there. Especially on pets with longer hair, fleas can just be hard to see.”

By operating convenient hours for non-surgical care, PetWellClinic® is able to offer substantially discounted prices for all flea and tick preventative products, vaccinations, wellness exams, and treatment of minor conditions. We operate as a “minute clinic” for your pet—no appointment necessary, with convenient hours and quick in-and-out service. You can save even more time by pre-registering and pre-paying online for our walk-in clinics.

PetWellClinic® has three locations: In Farragut at 10549 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37922; Near West Hills at 7329 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919; and in Alcoa at 228 S. Calderwood Street, Alcoa, TN 37701. Learn more about how PetWellClinic® can exceed your expectations for affordable, top quality pet care by visiting our website at www.petwellclinic.com.