Lake Mary / Sanford has super fleas, What works what doesn't.
Since highly effective flea adulticides (such as Advantage or Frontline) first came to market almost 10 years ago, monthly flea control programs have become much safer and very effective. Unfortunately, some pets and homes are experiencing infestations of so called super fleas. Super fleas are less susceptible to flea controls just a few weeks after the ap
plication of the product. Florida is ground central for super flea infestations, a study at KSU found that a strain of super fleas from Lake Mary, FL were less susceptible to topical flea adulticides than the standard strains of lab fleas commonly used in testing flea products.
The most common cause of super fleas is when people use topical flea controls less frequently then once a month. When Frontline first came out it was effective for fleas for up to 90 days but when faced with super fleas it may not be effective for even 30 days. To prevent flea infestations today'
s flea adutlicides need to be applied at least monthly including winter months. Another common problem is the use of a flea shampoo or other detergent based shampoos with the topical flea control. Flea and detergent based shampoos strip the natural body oils off your pet. If you strip off the oil before you apply the Advantage or Frontline it will not stick or spread over the pet's coat. Use only a SOAP FREE shampoo designed for your pet. Finally, all pets in the household must be on flea control. Even if you never see fleas on one pet it may provide safe haven for a single flea that can lay 2000 eggs.
In order to get rid of flea infestations you must attack several points in the flea life cycle. Even the most effective flea controls may take 6 weeks or more to stop a flea infestation. This is because flea pupa cocoon in a dormant shell that is resistant to all known flea products. Since we can not kill them in their "Nuclear bomb proof cocoon" we must try to get them before they go in or after they emerge. The interruption of the flea life cycle at various levels results in a long-term very effective flea control on the animal as well as in the environment.
One of the safest ways to get fleas before they cocoon is an older prescription drug called Sentinel. Sentinel has an an insect development inhibitor (Lufenuron) that fell out of favor because pet owners wanted a quick kill. Now that we know the quick kill associated with monthly topicals may be contributing to super fleas many owners are going back to Sentinel as a long term flea preventive. Sentinel is a type of flea birth control, immature fleas will not be able to molt to the next stage and females feeding on treated animals will not produce viable eggs. 90% of pets on Sentinel need no other flea controls after just 3 months, many times Sentinel can cost less than some of the name brand adulticides. Sentinel does not kill adult fleas and should only be used after consulting your veterinarian about a complete flea control program. Contact your veterinarian to see if Sentinel is right for your pet.
Another new flea control that appears to work on super fleas is a new adulticde called Vectra 3D (dogs only), and Vectra for Cats. Since Vectra is new it appers to be working on super flea this year (2009) but resistance may develop in the future.
If you have been using Advantage and think your pet has an active super flea infection contact your veterinarian to see if they are a participant in the imidacloprid susceptibility monitoring project.
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Dr. Wes Borgman is a veterinarian at the Seminole Animal Hospital on HE Thomas Jr Pky in Sanford. Dr. Wes can be reached at 407 330 PETS (7387).