Pesticides & Control

     Don't you just hate those annoying little pests that suck your pet's blood, invade your house, live on your pet and maybe even on you? Do you want to know how to get rid of them? You can by cleaning the bedding area and places where the animal sleeps which will help to reduce flea problems. The ultrasonic collar is sometimes used for the control of fleas on domestic animals. However, a study by Koehler, Hinkel and Patterson in 1990, shows that ultrasound devices are ineffective. Insect growth regulators interfere with the flea molting. When the larvae molt, the growth regulator will kill it. One problem is that when the growth regulators are exposed to light they break down. Insecticides should be applied to areas where the flea is most likely to breed which includes animal bedding, cracks in the floor, and baseboards. When using insecticides you should know that a pre-emerged adult can stay in a suspended state and insecticides will be ineffective against it. There are some special combs that can be used to remove adult fleas from short-haired pets. Some of the newer and more effective treatments available are Advantage, Frontline, and Revolution.