Flea dangers

[Michael Romanos]

Fleas are not only annoying to your Corgi but they are dangerous.

Some dogs are allergic to the flea saliva and just one bite from a flea can make a Corgi's life miserable. An allergic Corgi will scratch until there is hair loss and skin lesions, soemtimes making the area raw and bleeding. A Corgi ingesting a flea causes tapeworm. If left untreated, tapeworks can infest a Corgi's intestines.

Good, recommended flea preventative drugs are a must.

[Peggy]

Originally Posted by Michael Romanos

Fleas are not only annoying to your Corgi but they are dangerous.

Some dogs are allergic to the flea saliva and just one bite from a flea can make a Corgi's life miserable. An allergic Corgi will scratch until there is hair loss and skin lesions, soemtimes making the area raw and bleeding. A Corgi ingesting a flea causes tapeworm. If left untreated, tapeworks can infest a Corgi's intestines.

Good, recommended flea preventative drugs are a must.

IMO, flea preventative drugs are not a "must". We don't have fleas here (here meaning in Utah) and therefore I'm not giving my dogs medications to prevent what is not a danger.

Fleas are not found all over the world. There are some places where they are not a problem or not found at all. In those cases there is no need for flea preventatives.

Once again, one size does not fit all and owners need to know their area and what they need to do for their own dogs.

However, there are other ways a dog or cat can get tapeworms. And you should have your vet check for them periodically.

Peggy

[Michael Romanos]

The internationally recommended flea prevention and killing drugs for dogs are also effective in preventing and killing most of the kinds of ticks that abound. I didn't think fleas were absent in any country other than in areas that are in the polar regions. In fact if the climatic conditions are over 44F (7C) at any time of the year anywhere in the world, fleas will readily breed, thrive and spread. Is there any part of the USA which never gets to 44F. I don't think so unless it is the sparsely populated northern part of Alaska. Cats (if untreated) are a greater source of fleas than are dogs.

[Copper's Mommies]

Here in good ole southern indiana summer is fea and tick season. We protect copper year round but the cat gets her frontline only in the summer... Feas are annoying to everyone not just your animals.

[Peggy]

Originally Posted by Michael Romanos

The internationally recommended flea prevention and killing drugs for dogs are also effective in preventing and killing most of the kinds of ticks that abound. I didn't think fleas were absent in any country other than in areas that are in the polar regions. In fact if the climatic conditions are over 44F (7C) at any time of the year anywhere in the world, fleas will readily breed, thrive and spread. Is there any part of the USA which never gets to 44F. I don't think so unless it is the sparsely populated northern part of Alaska. Cats (if untreated) are a greater source of fleas than are dogs.

Well, I've lived in Colorado and in Utah among many other places in the US. Colorado for about 4 years and Utah for almost 25 years now (and other times a year or two at a time.) I've owned dogs and/or cats all the time in both states and have NEVER seen a flea on my animals.

No one in the dog fancy in Colorado or Utah uses flea preventitives. There is no use in putting money into something and using a toxin on your animals unless there is a need for it.

The winters here are cold enough (below 44F) for a sustained time frame that it kills off any fleas.

The only place we've had tick problems were when we lived in AZ or VA. Yes, there might be ticks in Utah but since we don't take the dogs to the woods on a regular basis they don't get ticks. We don't have ticks in the cities as a rule. In 30 years of living here I've also not had a tick on any of my dogs.

Recommendations are just that recommendations. That doesn't make it a "must" or a necessity. There are other areas of the US that don't have flea problems either. Idaho, Wyo, MT, places with cold winters like Utah and Colo.

Peggy

[LaRogue]

Wish I was so lucky to live in an area without ticks and fleas! I used to use preventive only in the summer, for ticks, rather than fleas, but I found a flea on Pip in the dead of winter (he had been playing with some other dogs, so I'm not sure if it jumped to him or not, I found no sign of fleas in my house) and I've also found a couple of fleas on him less than a week after applying the preventive. I think the preventive is helpful, but not 100%. I make it a practice to use a flea comb, when grooming.

[Michael Romanos]

I would respecfully argue that it is not reasonable to assume that there are no fleas or ticks in any place in the world that has climatic conditions that get up to and surpass 44F or 7C at any time of the year.Though i would suggest that during the colder months fleas and ticks would be less a problem for everyone - man and beast.

[Peggy]

Originally Posted by Michael Romanos

I would respecfully argue that it is not reasonable to assume that there are no fleas or ticks in any place in the world that has climatic conditions that get up to and surpass 44F or 7C at any time of the year.Though i would suggest that during the colder months fleas and ticks would be less a problem for everyone - man and beast.

You can argue all you want. It's you I think is being unresonable because you won't take someones experience that lives in the area. I don't have fleas here and haven't the entire time I've lived here. My friends dogs don't have fleas.

You know one would think that one would respect the experience of the person living in the area. I don't try to say how things are in NZ and I don't appreciate you saying I'm wrong. You think I just make stuff up? Well, I don't.

Sorry, to dissapoint you but we don't have a flea problem where I live or in similar states.

Peggy

[Peggy]

"Numerous local groomers said it's rare to see a flea on man's best friend or feline that has been in Utah.

"Fleas aren't prevalent in Utah," said Julia Rodgers of A & A Julia's Grooming in West Jordan. "We're really lucky that way."

Fears that Fido has fleas are unfounded | Deseret News (Salt Lake City) | Find Articles at BNET.com

Read the article. It backs me up. And Keith Lund, DVM practices about 15 miles from my house.

Peggy

[Michael Romanos]

There, Peggy, you've argued against yourself. There are fleas and ticks in Utah etc it is just that they are not so PREVALENT and major problems are RARE. Go back to my frist post which is the flagship of this thread: fleas can present dangers above those of an annoying itch. Why do you procrasinate so much when you could be doing more worthwhile things.

[MyPemCharlie]

Well I agree with Peggy about not wanting to put toxic pesticides on her dogs every month in a location where fleas are rare. Seems a 99 cent flea comb would suffice. We here in Texas on the other hand, have enough fleas to supply the rest of the country if anyone wants some.

[Peggy]

Originally Posted by Michael Romanos

There, Peggy, you've argued against yourself. There are fleas and ticks in Utah etc it is just that they are not so PREVALENT and major problems are RARE. Go back to my frist post which is the flagship of this thread: fleas can present dangers above those of an annoying itch. Why do you procrasinate so much when you could be doing more worthwhile things.

Are you saying that spending time on this forum is not worthwhile? And if so then why are you here?

The majority of the population, people and dogwise is along the Wasatch Front, Ogden to Provo. There "may" be a few fleas in southern Utah, but if so it's not many. I stand by my statement that Utah does not have a "flea problem".

Shoot I show my dogs all over the west. I've yet to bring home fleas on them. I do not and do not intend to use flea preventatives on my dogs.

You said flea preventatives were a "must". I'm saying it is not a "must" or a necessity. Depends on the area you live in.

Peggy