ArcaMax

Instead of the mantra being, "Never say die," it ought to be, "Always says die."

"We can win the flea war, and we need to," says veterinary parasitologist Dr. Michael Dryden, professor of Veterinary Parasitology in the Department of Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology at Kansas State University-Manhattan.

"Let's face it, these are blood-sucking parasites. Obviously, that's not a good thing for our pets, or for us," he says. "After all, fleas will bite us, too."

Fleas are the culprit responsible for various types of a bacterium called Bartonella, which may impact pet health, but they also can transmit serious infection to people. Fleas can also carry tapeworm, to which both people and pets are susceptible.

More than merely annoying is the allergic response a pet can have after just one flea bite, let alone when dogs and cats suffer dozens of bites. Because they're uncomfortable, the pets scratch, and infections may follow. When young animals are overwhelmed by flea bites, resulting anemia can even be life-threatening.

According to Dryden, there's only one upside of keeping fleas on the planet: "As long as there are fleas, I have job security," he notes with a laugh.

There are two general classifications of flea-killing products: 1) Spot-on products administered by pet owners along the backs of dogs and cats, and 2) chewables.

"Obviously, for cats, spot-on products may be the best solution," says Dryden. "Once a cat makes up his or her mind not to take a pill, it's hard to argue."

Another advantage of using a spot on is knowing you've administered the product. Some pet owners find a treasure trove of chewables spit out behind a sofa. Some pets even throw up after swallowing chewables.

For dogs, in particular, chewables that taste like liver or beef are happily scarfed down. Going this route is also easier than dealing with the trick y packaging for spot-on products.

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