Do you know why fleas don’t have the same effect on all dogs & cats?
When approached from a holistic perspective, long-term flea control does not begin with insecticide flea sprays, dips or shampoos. It begins only after the pet guardian reaches an understanding of how fleas live, behave, and how they select their hosts. From this perspective we can see that it is the EFFECTS of fleas, and not their existence, that cause so much misery to our dogs & cats – the fleas themselves are only a single symptom of deep-seated and complex health problems.
To clarify, let’s take a look at what I call the “FLEA VS. HOST” scenario.
Dogs and cats have been host to fleas, as well as thousands of other parasites, for millions of years. Certainly, like all cross-species relationships, nature maintains certain checks and balances that allow parasites and their hosts to coexist in symbiotic harmony.
But in the case of fleas and domesticated canines & felines, we keep seeing the same scenario repeat itself: the Host is completely TORMENTED by fleas while his companion, although in the same house, seems relatively trouble-free. WHY? Because the natural countermeasures that exist between flea and Host are no longer working. The parasite-host relationship is OUT OF BALANCE.
Flea problems do not actually stem from the mere presence of fleas, but from HEALTH-RELATED and environmental circumstances that allow parasites to wreak havoc upon a weakened host.
Like all parasites, fleas are opportunistic, preying on the easiest meal they can find. While it is true that pets with healthy skin and coats are usually less bothered by fleas than those with flaky, dry skin and constantly shedding coats, this is only part of the picture. Deeper toward the root of the problem are issues involving the Host’s immune system and the way his body reacts to flea bites. The Host is ALLERGIC to flea bites, and for reasons that have little to do with the fleas themselves, his body system can neither repel nor tolerate their bites.
Fortunately, there is real help for sensitive animals. For more information on ways to prevent and treat fleas and flea bite allergies, contact a HOLISTIC VET!