ePetDrugs Blog

Just about everyone hates biting fleas and biting flies. For fleas there are several flea and tick repellents on the market today, from powders and sprays, to collars and medications. Two of the most popular medications are K9 Advantix and Frontline Plus

K9 Advantix has some definite advantages over Frontline Plus, and here’s why. K9 Advantix works against fleas, but it also repels ticks, mosquitoes, and prevents biting flies from drawing blood. Just about every area of the country can suffer from at least some of these pets, which means millions of pets are vulnerable everyday.

K9 Advantix really does have an advantage over most other remedies, including Frontline® Plus, because it repels the pets, and actually prevents them from biting, while Frontline® Plus and others don’t repel them before they bite, it kills them after they bite – and that makes a big difference for your pet. Think of your pet’s anguish as they itch and scratch those annoying bites, compared to repelling them before they bite, and you’ll get the picture.

In addition, K9 Advantix offers several other advantages, too. You can use it on puppies as young as 7 weeks, which means even your puppies don’t have to suffer from pests. The application lasts an entire month, and it’s very easy to apply. It also won’t was off in the rain, after swimming, or even shampooing.

Even better, K9 Advantix keeps biting flies from blood feeding on your dog, which removes many health risks associated with these pests. Biting flies and their bites can cause your dog severe stress due to the itching and scratching associated with these nasty bites. This can lead to secondary infections that can be dangerous for your dog. Many other treatments don’t even treat biting flies, so K9 Advantix is far ahead of the competitors in the biting fly department.

Don’t get biting flies confused with common houseflies, they aren’t the same thing, and are much more dangerous for your pet. If you have biting flies in your area, you need a treatment that will repel and kill them, and that’s K-9 Advantix. Biting flies often live around near moist or wet areas, like streams, ponds, and wetlands, but if they discover host animals, they can live just about anywhere.

Take care of your dog’s health, and use the best possible flea and tick treatment that will kill and repel the widest variety of biting pests. Remember, never use K9 Advantix on cats!

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By Sherril Steele-Carlin

Did you know that one of the biggest reasons pets have to visit their vets is dental disease and other associate problems? It’s true! That’s just one reason it makes sense to get used to brushing your pet’s teeth as soon as you bring them home, and continue brushing throughout their lives. While it might seem difficult to brush your pet’s teeth, you can train them to actually look forward to the process, it just takes a little time.

First, you’ll need some supplies to brush your pet’s teeth.

• Pet toothbrush. Use this just like you would your own toothbrush, and be sure to brush all the teeth, front to back.
• Finger brush. This is a brush that fits on your fingertip, and you may find it’s easier to use than a pet toothbrush, especially on smaller animals.
• Sponges or pads. For bigger pets, these sponges make it easier to get all their teeth and massage the gums, too.
• Pet toothpaste. Many types of this toothpaste come in flavors that your pet will love, making the brushing process a little easier. Don’t use “people” toothpaste, it can upset your pet’s digestive system!

It’s best to start early when training your pet to get used to teeth brushing. However, if that’s not possible, there are some ways to make it a more pleasurable experience. First, start small. If your dog or cat isn’t used to teeth brushing, don’t try to do their whole mouth in one day. Feed them some tartar-control treats, and then gently try to open their mouths and rub one or two teeth with the finger or toothbrush. Make sure they are comfortable, and don’t give up if they don’t accept the cleaning at first. If you make it enjoyable and give them treats afterward, after a while they should get used to the daily teeth cleaning.

If you simply can’t get your pet used to daily cleaning, there are some alternatives. Some companies offer additives you can add to your pet’s drinking water that will help build stronger teeth. You can also get dental health food from companies like Science Diet that promote better dental health and help protect your pet from dental disease. Finally, even if you brush your pet’s teeth, be sure to feed them tartar-control treats, as well, because every little bit helps when it comes to protecting your pet from tooth problems and gum disease.

If you’re not sure how to get started on a tooth brushing regimen for your pet, check with your veterinarian for some more tips. Also, make sure to take your pet in to your vet every year for an annual checkup that includes a tooth cleaning, to help prevent dental problems in your pet.

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By Sherril Steele-Carlin

If fleas aren’t bad enough, some cats have allergies to flea bites. (They’re actually allergic to the saliva of the fleas.) Once a flea bites your cat, the allergy will take over, and your cat will begin itching and scratching at the flea bite, but they’ll also break out in an allergy, and itch, and scratch that, too. Sometimes, cat owners suffer from the same kind of allergy, and just one flea bite can trigger an attack in human or feline.

The best way to solve this problem of cat allergies is to prevent fleas in the first place. First, you have to make sure your home is completely free of fleas. Because fleas can lay thousands of eggs during their lives, you’ll have to make sure you repeat these steps until all traces of fleas are gone.

• Vacuum your floors and furniture every day, especially areas where your cats sleep, eat, or rest.
• Thoroughly wash your pet’s bedding at least once per week, more if you’re in the middle of a flea infestation.
• Use a flea prevention product, like carpet powder, in your home to help control fleas.
• Use a flea prevention product on your cat, as well.

Remember that you’ll have to continue these steps for several days, because flea eggs will continue to hatch if they are present in your home.

Use a preventative medication, such as Frontline Plus or Advantage Flea Control to keep your cat flea free. These medicines are still the best in market and it starts working right away. Frontline and Advantage both kills all adult fleas within 24 hours and continue to work for the rest of the month (one application). The only advantage that Frontline Plus has over Advantage Flea Control or any other flea product is that it also kills flea eggs, ticks, and flea larva. Both of the medicines are waterproof.

Once you’ve managed to rid your home of fleas, keep your cat on a monthly dose of medication to continue to prevent fleas. Remember, fleas can gat into your home from other animals, from nuisance animals like rodents and such in your yard, and they can even live in your landscaping and then transfer into your home. There are products available that you can use on your lawn and landscaping to help prevent fleas outside, too.

If you live in a flea-prone area, and your cat suffers from flea allergies, take these steps to prevent more flea infestations in and around your home.

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By Bonnie Shull

I got my first cats about five years ago. Our community’s feral population was expanding rapidly, and our small municipality didn’t have an animal control budget. The townsfolk worked together to round up the wild cats, get them spayed and neutered, and find homes for the multitude of kittens. I, and almost everybody else for ten square miles, wound up the proud new owner of multiple young felines.

I have to admit that I was smitten, and I’ve been a cat collector ever since. I did rescue and foster work for the first few years, but now I’ve settled down. My husband and I have four house cats that will
live with us for the rest of their lives. I can’t get another, or I will have crossed into crazy cat lady territory.

I love my cats, but I hate their litter boxes. Living in a multi-cat household only makes the problem worse. I’ve tried just about everything out there in the past few years, and I’d like to share what
I’ve learned with you.

I started out manually scooping the litter box. There were only a few electric boxes on the market at the time, they were expensive, and I’d heard horror stories about them. I concentrated on trying to find the
most odor free manual box and litter combo possible.

The Booda Dome Clean Step litter box combined with either Feline Pine or Swheat Scoop litter worked the best for me. The Booda Dome design really did help to control odors and prevent tracking, with the added plus of making it difficult for my dogs to eat the cat leavings. Both Feline Pine and Swheat Scoop did a much better job of controlling odors than any of the clay based litters I have tried.

Feline Pine started having trouble containing the odor once there were more than two cats using the box. I would have stuck with it if I had been able to spread the load across a few litter boxes, but BoodaDomes are big and my house was small. I think that Feline Pine is the more ecologically sound product, since it is made from a byproduct of the lumber industry and SwheatScoop is using a primary food grain in the midst of  global food crisis. I also greatly prefer the clean-up of a
Feline Pine litter box.

Feline Pine doesn’t clump. It starts out as pellets which slowly dissolve into sawdust as they absorb urine. You know that the litter box needs to be changed when it has completely turned to sawdust. Its
easy to scoop the solids out during daily cleaning, and when its time to dump the litter box there isn’t that cement like residue that clumping litters leave behind for you to deal with. If you only have
one or two cats, I strongly advise you to give it a try.

Swheat Scoop’s odor control is amazing. Even when you’re on your hands and knees scooping the dirty litter box all you can smell is a pleasant odor reminiscent of Cheerios. The only time I surpassed the
odor absorbing capabilities of Swheat Scoop and the Booda Dome was during a brief period when I fostered two momma cats and their sixteen kittens.

Last year I decided to get an electric litter box. After a good bit of market research I settled on the PetMate Littersweep Ultra. The system costs less than $100 and bears a strong resemblance to the Booda Dome. Its motor is a little loud, so I keep it tucked away in the laundry room. Its not perfect, but I’ll never go back to manual litter box maintenance.

I have to empty the receptacle bin every few days, and give the box a good cleaning about once a month. I have occasionally let the bin get too full, or failed to realize that the litter was no longer usable
and caused the scooping mechanism to bog down. I actually broke my first unit because I didn’t maintain it properly. But you get used to the routine, and I think its vastly superior to the daily scooping
routine.

Swheat Scoop has recently come out with a new multi-cat product that is perfect for electric litter boxes. My only complaint with the electric box so far has been that the clay litters that I have had to
use with it are nowhere near as good at odor-control as the natural alternatives I had been using. I can’t wait to try out Swheat Scoopt in my Littersweep.

I would love to hear about your experiences with litter boxes. Feel free to leave a comment!

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By Sherril Steele-Carlin

Just like people, our pets can suffer from the pain and stiffness of arthritis, as they grow older. There are several different types of arthritis that can attack your pets.

• Osteo Arthritis – This is a slow, progressive disease that happens when the cartilage in your pet’s joints breaks down. Without cartilage, the bones rub together, causing pain and immobility. It’s the most common type of pet arthritis, and glucosamine and chondroitin are especially helpful for treating this type of arthritis.
• Rheumatoid Arthritis – This type of arthritis is very similar to human rheumatoid arthritis. This type of arthritis occurs when the body mistakenly attacks joints in your pet’s body. Researchers don’t know why this occurs, and it can be difficult to treat
• Traumatic Arthritis – This type of arthritis occurs after your pet suffers some kind of trauma to their joints. It can lead to the development of osteoarthritis.

Some of the symptoms of arthritis include swelling and inflammation, difficulty in walking or moving, and stiffness. Your pet will probably experience growing pain as the disease progresses, as well. You should always check with your vet for a formal diagnosis of arthritis in your pet, before you start any treatment options. However, the good news is, there are many treatments available to help your pet regain their mobility, and keep them relatively pain free.

Your vet may prescribe an anti-inflammatory drug for your pet, to reduce the swelling and pain of arthritis. If your pet is overweight, they may prescribe a weight-loss diet as well, because obesity can add to the pain and stress of the disease. In some severe cases, the vet may recommend surgery, such as a hip or knee replacement, to bring relief from the disease.

There are also many supplements you can add to your dog’s food, or your dog can chew, so they are easy to administer. Many of these supplements include glucosamine and chrondroitin, two ingredients that are thought to help reduce the swelling, inflammation, and pain of the disease. These are natural ingredients that help reduce the breakdown of cartilage, and help form new cartilage, according to several medical studies.

One of the products, Dasuquin Joint Health for dogs, includes soybean and avocado in the supplement, two more natural ingredients that help improve joint function and help prevent pain. When you choose an arthritis supplement for your pet, make sure it’s easy to administer, or your pet won’t get the full value of the medication. Tablets that taste good and are chewable are the easiest way to administer arthritis medications, so look for them when you shop for arthritis medications.

Look for high quality ingredients that are backed by a manufacturer’s guarantee, as well. Unfortunately, some supplements are made with poor quality, inferior ingredients, so always purchase your medications from a reputable pet pharmacy too.

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