Advantage For Dogs And Cats

Do your pets scratch themselves a lot? If so, it's possible they have acquired a not-so friendly guest in their fur.

Ctenocephalides canis and Ctenocephalides felis, known respectively as dog and cat fleas, love your pet as much as you do, but unfortunately, there form of bonding is a painful one. Opportunists in search of blood, they will bite you if given half a chance, so one need not wonder why we don't want them in the house!

Luckily, there is a pet med called Advantage that will rid your dogs and cats of fleas, allowing everyone to live better lives. Of course, if your pet lives constantly indoors, then there is no chance for fleas, right? Well ... while your pets don't necessarily go outdoors, you do, so it's possible for you to inadvertently bring fleas into the house.

Regardless, if you find fleas on your pet you need to do something to keep them from living miserably. This article will educate you on how Advantage will help keep your pets flea free for a month at a time.

Advantage i applied to the skin of your dog or cat, between the shoulder blades. The medicine must be worked into the skin or it won't work. The reason for this is because Advantage needs to be absorbed by the skin to work properly.

Once Advantage is absorbed by the skin any flea that bites your pet will be paralyzed, and will subsequently die within 12 hours. As such, every bite received kills off many future generations of fleas, allowing the flea cycle to be broken in your house.

Of course, this doesn't rid your house of fleas completely or permanently. You still need to periodically clean and sanitize your pets bedding and you should vacuum your pets favorite resting areas every few weeks. Following this regimen, you should also treat your pets with Advantage once a month to insure the fleas stay outside where they can cause you and your pet no harm.

Yes, Advantage is safe for cats; however, there is another product called Advantix, which is only for dogs. The subtle difference is that Advantix contains an extra chemical that prevents ticks, which can be deadly to cats. As such, Advantix is only for dogs.

If you have a dog and are looking to control fleas, then I recommend Advantix highly, as it controls ticks as well. You'll find information on this product here:

When prescribed properly, yes, it's very safe. The dosage is given according to the weight of your pet and if you are uncertain of how much to use then I highly recommend a visit to your vet, as they will make sure you do not overdose your pet.

Please note: Advantage is not recommended for puppies under seven weeks old and kittens under eight weeks old. It's also not recommended for aged pets, debilitated pets, or pets that are pregnant or nursing.

If your pet is already being treated for another condition or you intend to use Advantage with another method of ridding fleas (such as a flea collar), please consult your vet first. Remember, your pet counts on you for all health related decisions, so always consult your vet to make wise choices.

The typical side effect is a mild rash on the skin. If this occurs, consult your vet. Also, if you notice any change in your pet after starting treatment you will want to speak to your vet, to be certain your pet isn't experiencing a rare allergic reaction to the medication.

While Advantage is very safe for your pet, there are many reasons why a pet can develop an allergic reaction to a medication and some of these reactions can be frightening and injurious to your pet's health. For that reason, always monitor your pet's health when introducing new meds.

Just that advantage works best when applied once every month - even during the winter. If you thought that fleas die off in the cold, you thought wrong. They are just as active in the winter as they are in the summer.

Of course, you hear about fleas less in the winter and think to yourself ... no, that can't be true, but you need to realize that you are more willing to spend time outside with your dog when it's warmer out, so there is a higher chance for exposure in the non-winter months. Still, the risk isn't zero, so treat your pet year round, every month!

And that is all I have today on Advantage ... As always, may your pet live a long and healthy life!