Almost in a panic, these households use Capstar to kill the live fleas on the animal, discuss applications and options with topical protection, worm these contaminated individuals for tapes (all cats and dogs who have fleas will have tapeworms) twice over a 21 day period, bomb their homes (ZODIAC is the most effective), treat their cars, garages (if animals are allowed in there), and offices, etc. with a room or perimeter spray. Don’t forget that you must treat the premises a second time two weeks after your first application.
No question the eradication is a process — it takes a village of defense measures to insure a parasite-free environment. The secondary consequences of unattended-to animals can be flea-bite dermatitis with accompanying skin infections. Now we’re talking antibiotics, antihistamines, etc. If you don’t have one, buy a flea comb. Start routinely grooming with it. If you get a flea, or most probably flea dirt, get thee to your veterinarian to discuss a successful battle plan.
If any readers think that this frigid weather flea-thing is a snow job on the part of your clinician or the makers of these external parasite products, I can state for the record that you are absolutely incorrect. Just ask those pet owners who, for a brief minute,
thought that they were living in Georgia or Florida, where fleas reign supreme 12 months a year. If you see one flea, there are thousands of eggs waiting for their chance to come alive!
Feel free to call us
with any questions at 518-828-6044, or visit our website at www.cghs.org. Stop down and see us at 125 Humane Society Road, off Route 66 (about a mile south of the intersection with Route 9H) in Hudson. Our hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed on Wednesday and Sunday. The Food Bank is open to any from the public in need of pet food or for those wishing to donate food anytime during business hours. All of our cats and kittens are “Furrever Free” with all expenses paid. Spay/neuter clinics for cats are $65 male or female, including a rabies vaccination and a 5-in-1 feline distemper combination vaccination. Nail clipping services are available every Saturday from 10 to 11 a.m. at the shelter, no appointment necessary, for a donation of $5 for cats and $10 for dogs.
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Charlene Marchand is the chairperson of the Columbia-Greene Humane Society/SPCA Board of Directors. She may be contacted by email at cghsaaron@gmail.com.