Flea Control: Kitten Care

Yikes My New Kitten Has Fleas!

Some flea products can be used in kittens as young as 4 weeks. For kittens younger than 4 weeks, groom with a flea comb, or pick fleas off with a tweezers. Be sure to keep the kittens warm while you're working with them; wash their bedding; vacuum the surroundings; and treat the queen.

Fleas can remove enough blood to make kittens anemic, so confirm that the gums are pink. Because fleas carry tapeworms, watch for rice-like dried tapeworm segments at the rectum or in the stool over the next several weeks. There are two categories of medication for kitten care: products that kill adult fleas now products that affect flea offspring-the eggs and larvae

Products that affect flea offspring are called Insect Growth Regulators (IGR's). IGRs are very effective when you can clean up the environment and the kitten will have little exposure to fleas in the future, either from the environment or from other animals-such as our indoor cats. These products have IGRs or prevent flea egg development: Sentinel, Program, Revolution, and Frontline Plus flea control.

Some products kill adults and affect flea offspring: Revolution and Frontline Plus.

Many abandoned kittens are rescued by people who with great wisdom feed the creature as the first step, and treat its fleas as the second.

The articles here were answered by a variety of pharmacists and veterinarians   Date Category Topic 06/08/04  Flea & Tick  TICKS

 

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