17 Jun How To Keep Fleas Off Of Your Pet, And Out Of Your Home

Here’s a riddle for you: How do fleas travel from place to place?

They itch-hike! Joking aside, just the thought of our pets being infected with fleas makes us start scratching. Dogs and cats can easily get infested with fleas through contact with other animals or with fleas in the environment. For example, a raccoon, possum, or rabbit passing through your yard could dump thousands of flea eggs that will be waiting for a warm-blooded host such as your dog or cat.

At PetWellClinic® in Knoxville and Alcoa, we know that by the time a pet owner notices fleas on their pet, the fleas have already injected infectious saliva, have begun laying eggs, and may likely cause skin irritations or infections, hair loss, and sores to say the least.

Fleas are common carriers of tapeworms, which can be passed along to a pet that bites or licks and then ingests an infected flea. Fleas have also been known to spread bubonic plague from rodents to pets to humans, and, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, humans can get Cat Scratch Disease (CSD)  from cats that harbor fleas carrying the Bartonella bacteria. On top of that, when our pets have fleas we know that our homes can become breeding grounds for flea larvae since the tiny insects are so adept at jumping from host to host, and to multiplying so quickly.

So, the best course of action to keep your pet and your home flea-free is to ward them off before they have a chance to choose your pet as a host. The variety of flea products on the market can be confusing—some products repel fleas, some kill flea larvae but not adult fleas. You’ll need to consider a product that repels and kills fleas during all stages of their life cycle.

Be sure to treat your pets year round. Many pet owners have the misperception that flea, and tick, treatments are only required during spring, summer, and fall. While it’s true that fleas flourish in the warmer temperatures with higher humidity, our relatively mild East Tennessee winters aren’t typically cold or long enough to kill off all infestations.  

PetWellClinic® offers a variety of affordable, high quality chewable and topical flea prevention products, and we can help you determine which one is best for your pet’s lifestyle.

By operating convenient hours for non-surgical care, PetWellClinic® is able to offer substantially discounted prices for preventative products, vaccinations, wellness exams, and treatment of minor conditions. Think of us as a “minute clinic” for your pet—no appointment necessary, with 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: 10549 Kingston Pike, Knoxville; 7329 Kingston Pike, Knoxville; and 228 S. Calderwood Street in Alcoa. Learn more about how PetWellClinic® can exceed your expectations for affordable, top quality pet care by visiting our website at www.petwellclinic.com.

We are currently offering 20% off regular priced Bordetella vaccinations during the month of June.