The summer season may be coming to an end, but fleas and ticks are running strong.
The flea population in the Big Country has been particularly bad this summer due to above average rainfall, said Larry Ellis with Abilene Veterinary Clinic. Ellis said the tick population has been smaller this year because they thrive in drier conditions.
Ellis, a veterinarian of 31 years, said August is one of the prime months to see flea and tick infestation.
“We can see them year-round, but depending on the weather conditions, we usually start seeing them right after winter,” Ellis said. “Usually from the first of April to November.”
Ellis said the best way to protect pets is through medication purchased from a veterinarian. He said many over-the-counter medications are either ineffective or unsafe for pets.
In April 2009, the EPA launched an investigation into over-the-counter products in response to several thousand incidents in which dogs became ill due to flea and tick medicines. Ellis said store-bought products often are not enough.
He said one popular misconception is that flea collars are sufficient to protect pets. Ellis said he often finds fleas living under flea collars. He said the collars do not release medicine at a fast enough rate to be effective.
Jerry Early, a veterinarian with Abilene Animal Hospital, said the best way to combat flea and tick problems is through prevention.
“The first thing you should do is cut down the reproductive process,” Early said. “Fleas lay 50 eggs per day and they hatch out in response to animal heat and movement.”
He recommends medications like Lufenuron, which work to control flea reproduction.
Early said it is important to control fleas and ticks, especially if you have pets. He said the bugs carry viruses and bacteria like Lyme disease that can be harmful or fatal to pets. Human also can contract diseases from fleas and ticks.
Another way to prevent flea and tick infestation is to hire a professional exterminator.
Andrew Turnbull, owner of the Abilene extermination company Bug Blasters, said using a professional exterminator can ease the worry associated with fleas and ticks. He also said that yards without pets can be home to fleas and ticks.
“It’s so random where you find them,” Turnbull said. “You don’t have to always have a pet. A neighbor’s pet, squirrels and mice can carry them.”