MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
Fleas may be less noticeable during stretches of hot, dry weather, but a retired Hutchinson veterinarian says that doesn't mean the pests have disappeared.
Dr. Randy Smith, retired veterinarian and former owner of Apple Lane Animal Hospital, joined the KWBW Morning Show Thursday to discuss fleas and ticks, routine veterinary care and grooming.
Smith said adult fleas can die off more quickly during hot weather, but flea cocoons can remain in the environment and eventually create problems inside a home.
"The fleas in the hot weather, the adults will die off quickly," Smith said. "For the most part, they kind of tail off because it's just too hot and dry. But they'll come back."
Smith said flea cocoons can be picked up outside and carried into a home by an animal. Once inside, household temperatures and humidity can provide favorable conditions for fleas.
"They love it," Smith said. "The temperature, the humidity's right. The temperature is going to be, you know, the mid-70s, and then you got a problem."
Fleas can establish themselves in carpets, cracks between hardwood floors and underneath baseboards. Smith said flea cocoons can remain until environmental conditions, including temperature, carbon dioxide and vibrations from animals or people, trigger them to emerge.
Smith said fleas and ticks should not be viewed solely as a problem on the animal.
"Fleas and ticks are an environmental problem," Smith said. "If they're not in your environment, they're not going to be a problem."Smith also encouraged pet owners to keep up with vaccinations and routine veterinary appointments.
"Don't put those off," Smith said. "They're there for a reason."
He said a vaccination appointment provides more than the vaccine itself because it also gives veterinarians and veterinary staff an opportunity to examine the animal.
Smith said routine exams can uncover problems involving a pet's ears, nails, eyes and teeth, as well as evidence of fleas and other conditions that an owner may not have noticed.
Dental health can be particularly important because animals cannot tell their owners when they are experiencing tooth pain.
"I always told people that dental problems are the number one source of unnecessary pain and discomfort in animals because they can't communicate that their tooth hurts," Smith said.
Professional groomers can also play a role in identifying potential health problems. Smith said reputable groomers examine the outside of an animal as part of their work and can recommend veterinary attention when they notice something concerning.
"Part of their job is looking over that animal on the outside and telling you to get to a veterinarian to get a proper diagnosis of whatever the problem is," Smith said.
Smith also said owners of long-haired animals should pay attention to coat maintenance during hot weather. A long coat does not necessarily mean an animal needs to be shaved to stay cool.
Instead, Smith said keeping the coat clean and free of mats allows an animal to better dissipate heat.
"It's not the length of the hair; it's the cleanliness of the coat," Smith said. "Keep that coat clean, mat-free. Keep the mats out."
Smith compared an animal's ability to release heat to a radiator, saying a matted or poorly maintained coat can interfere with that process.
"If you've got things stuck against your radiator, you can't dissipate heat," Smith said.