Fleas Suck

July is typically the peak of flea season in our area but because we've had high heat, relatively moderate humidity, and low rain fall the past 4 weeks they haven't really been an issue. Much to the chagrin of my vet my boys don't get flea medication on a regular basis. Here's my reasoning: 1) We generally don't have a problem with fleas around my apartment complex. 2) I firmly believe that only the high end meds are effective and they are very expensive. 3) While the meds I use are safe I hesitate to expose my pets to pesticides unnecessarily. 4) I check my boys for fleas regularly and the minute I see a single flea on any one of them I apply medication to all 3 of them and then I thoroughly vacuum the house. The meds I use (Advantage) are fast and effective and I don't have to worry about fleas for another 3-4 weeks.

I realize an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, but in our case, the system I have in place works. What works best for you and your pet(s) depend on your lifestyle and environment. Check out this article on the University of California Agriculture & Natural Resources Integrated Pest Management website for more detailed (and conventional) information on flea management. The article also includes instructions on how to handle a flea emergency.