How can I protect my dog from fleas?
Fleas - everyone who owns or has ever owned a pet fears them, and for good reason. Besides the annoying itching and scratching that “Fido” can get from a reaction to a flea bite, these pint-sized parasites can lead to other giant-sized problems as well. Some of the diseases or conditions associated with fleas are flea allergy dermatitis, tapeworm infestation, anemia, and “hot-spots”.

Both people and pets can have an allergic reaction to the saliva that a flea injects into its bite wound. In pets, this can often results in very inflamed, itchy areas that the animal will scratch or chew at until the skin is actually raw and bleeding. These self-inflicted wounds are commonly referred to as “hot-spots” and are extremely uncomfortable for your pet.

In addition fleas can carry tapeworms, which your pet can then ingest when he/she accidentally eats a flea while grooming or chewing at its fur. These tapeworms will migrate to and live in your pet’s intestines, causing gastro-intestinal upsets and weight loss.

In very young or small pets, a severe infestation of fleas can lead to anemia due to blood loss from fleabites. This anemia can become life threatening if undetected and left untreated.

Unfortunately, the flea is a parasite that is well adapted to its environment. Because some of the many life stages that a flea passes through from egg to adult are difficult to kill off in the environment, the flea is an especially persistent pest. If an adult flea gets onto your pet, that flea can then lay eggs, which will most likely end up in the places your pet spends most of it’s time. These eggs in time, and when conditions are right, will hatch and begin to mature into adult fleas. This is how your home can be infested even if your pet has been treated with an “adulticide” flea treatment.

It is important to treat the environment, as well as the pet, to effectively protect against a flea infestation. There are many new treatment options available that will protect against other life stages of the flea as well. Consult your veterinarian for the best treatment/protective methods for your pet’s needs.

How can I stop my new puppy from chewing on everything in my house?
All puppies chew. That is just a fact of life. It is an instinctual behavior, through which puppies gain a great deal of knowledge by the mouthing of objects. To help prevent this behavior from being focused onto undesirable objects, such as your new leather sofa or your favorite pair of loafers, there are some basic rules that apply.

Only provide your new puppy with a limited number of things to chew on. Too many chew toys can confuse your pet and give him/her the impression that any object they perceive as a “toy” is fair game. In addition, many objects that owners commonly give to their puppies to use as a toy, such as an old sock or shoe, could mistakenly encourage them to chew on anything made of cloth or leather.

Good choices of chew toys include hard rubber balls or nylon bones. Avoid giving anything that could be ripped into small pieces and chewed or swallowed, these could cause intestinal blockages and stomach upsets. Cooked bones should also be avoided as they can break teeth or splinter and cause intestinal problems.

Aside from limiting chew toy choices, crate training your puppy is also helpful in preventing inappropriate chewing behavior. Crate training, when done properly will provide a sense of security for your puppy when you are not home, as well as keep him/her from getting into trouble. Proper training and socialization of your puppy will help to insure that your new leather sofa will continue to look as good as it did before “Fido” came to stay.