Ectoparasites
What are ectoparasites? These are parasites that live on the skin of their host such as fleas and ticks. Neither fleas nor ticks spend their entire life cycle on their host however. To learn more about the life cycle of fleas and ticks, visit our April '02 newsletter. In the past, control of fleas was a battle that had to be fought on many different fronts. Today however, the products we have available to us are so effective that most of us can approach flea and tick control from only one front (and only once a month!).

Flea and Tick Control
Spring is officially here and along with the warm weather comes the promise of fleas and ticks. Our pets don't need to suffer from the onslaught of all these bugs. There are many products available for treatment and, better yet, prevention of flea and/or tick infestation.

• Frontline Plus® - for flea and tick control on dogs and cats - Once-a-month topical product. Frontline® works within 24-36 hours to kill fleas living on your pet and stop the development of immature fleas.
• Revolution® - also a once-a-month topical solution. It kills adult fleas and stops the eggs from hatching. Revolution® controls infestations of American Dog Ticks, on of the most common ticks in this area.
• Sentinel® - a once-a-month chewable tablet that works by preventing flea eggs from hatching. (For use in dogs only.)
• Advantage® - a once-a-month topical that kills fleas
• Capstar® - an oral tablet that kills adult fleas rapidly, usually within 30-60 minutes. This product can be used once a day for heavily infested pets to once a week as needed.
• There are a number of shampoos, sprays, collars, powders, dips, and environmental pest control products that are also effective against fleas. There are situations where use of some of these items is indicated. Be sure to closely follow label directions if you do choose to use any of these products.

Heartworm Prevention
The warm weather also brings out the mosquitoes. Heartworm disease is transmitted by the mosquito. It is a fatal disease if left untreated, but it is fully preventable. To learn more about heartworm disease and its transmission, visit our April '02 newsletter. In this part of the country we recommend keeping your pets on heartworm prevention year-round. If you did stop for the winter, now is the time to restart. There are several products available for the prevention of heartworm.

Ectoparasites in Exotic Pets
Some exotic pets are subject to ectoparasites also. We are going to list here the products that can be used for prevention or treatment. We strongly caution you against attempting to use these products on your exotic pets without veterinary supervision.

Ferrets - for flea control
• Advantage®
• Top Spot®
• Program®
• Capstar®
• Revolution®
• Pyrethrin spray/powder
• Mycodex® flea shampoo
Rabbits - for ear mites, lice, and mange
• Ivermectin
Rabbits - for fleas
• Carbaryl powder 5%
• Pyrethrin spray/powder
• Program®
• Advantage®
Mice, gerbils, hamsters, rats - for mange
• Ivermectin
• Amitraz dip
Mice, gerbils, hamsters, rats - for fleas
• Advantage®
Guinea Pigs - for fleas
• Pyrethrins
• Carbaryl powder 5%
• Advantage®
• Top Spot®
Guinea Pigs - for mange
• Ivermectin
Chinchillas - for fleas
• Pyrethrins - **use extreme caution**
Hedgehogs - for mange and lice
• Ivermectin/Revolution®
Hedgehogs - for fleas and ticks
• Revolution®
• Amitraz

Cypress, who is now almost five years old, was found at the age of six months. My friend Tonya and I were having lunch, and as we left the restaurant we heard a kitten meow. Wondering where the sound came from, we investigated. To our surprise, the sound was coming from under the hood of a car in the parking lot! After convincing the owner of the car to not drive off, Tonya and I spent the next half hour under the car trying to get the kitten out. We finally succeeded and I brought Cypress home! He had an upper respiratory infection, common in homeless cats, but otherwise was fine and soon recovered from his rough start in life. He has become a curious cat, too smart for his own good. He is loved by everyone that meets him!

Escher, named for the artist M. C. Escher, was found by my boyfriend, Greg. He was at work and discovered a litter of kittens covered in sawdust. Apparently abandoned, as no mother cat was seen all day, the kittens needed homes. Greg and each of his co-workers took one kitten home. In the process of cleaning the kitten, up we discovered he was missing a toe! We took him to a veterinarian who told us that his little foot would be fine. We were told to feed him a specially formulated food every four hours until he was old enough to start eating solid foods. This, needless to say, was a big change of pace for two people with no children, but it was well worth it. Escher is now the happy one and a half year old brother of Cypress, and the two just love each other!

In closing, I am very happy to have them in my family. Being a part of East Hilliard Veterinary Services has been a wonderful experience for my cats and me.

Another Good Reason to Stop Smoking
An article in Prevention magazine (January '04) states that researchers from Tufts University and the University of Massachusetts have shown a three-fold increase in the risk of feline lymphoma in cats exposed to secondhand smoke. In households where there are two smokers, the risk was four times higher. Tobacco smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals, including carcinogens (cancer causing substances) and substances that raise the risk of heart disease and reduce lung function. So aside from breathing the smoke-laden air in their house, cats also ingest these chemicals through self-grooming, increasing their risk for cancer as well as asthma and respiratory infections. Quitting smoking will benefit everyone in your household.

Another Weight Loss Champion
This is Jamison. Last fall Jamison weighed over 80 pounds! He and his family worked hard over the winter and at last month’s weigh-in, he weighed 66.3 pounds! He joins Lefty, Maggie, and Juliet Anthony as an East Hilliard Veterinary Service Weight Loss Champion!

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