When is a scratch handicap a bad thing? When you're infested with fleas.
Not many people get typhus. It is treatable. It is rarely fatal. There are no known cases in Studio City or Sherman Oaks. Relax, I'm just saying...
A recent typhus outbreak in Texas did lead to one fatality, though, so we need to remind ourselves to stay flea-free. Typhus pops up in our region nearly every year.
If you get bites, like I just did, wash the area where you were bitten.
This weekend I started itching. It was my feet, the area beneath my big hiking socks. As I reached down to scratch my instep, I heard my canine buddy, OP, thumping under my desk. (He resides under my feet, where he sends inspiration up to me.) I realized OP was scratching, too.
Did he get his recent dose of Frontline? I am looking into alternative treatments, but I haven't acted on them yet.
There are many natural alternative treatments for the home, the dog, and the yard. Traditional methods—Frontline and Advantage—are very effective for dogs and cats.
Ask any of the fine pet supply stores in our neighborhood, and they can offer suggestions about alternative, environment-friendly and pet-friendly methods for treating the animal and household as well as your yard.
Was I careful to put the topical treatment on my dog's skin...and not spilling it on his fur?
Was I careful to put it on his skin and not lose the potency by flitting it into his curls? (This happens, and I have done it a few times. I need to remind myself each time, just like I remind myself to get my keys, wallet, and cell phone.)
If you get bites, like I just did, wash the area where you were bitten. The flea feces left in the bite area is the primary culprit for typhus infections. If you have bites, stop and wash them out.
Rats, wild cats, and opossums can carry fleas containing typhus
Rats, wild cats, and opossums can carry fleas containing typhus. They also carry plague, for that matter, but no recent plague outbreaks have California concerned at the moment. Typhus is a current concern. (Plague does pop up in Mexico and parts of Southwest.)
A victim has died in Travis County, Texas, and that is a warning to be careful in Arizona, California, and Hawaii—places where Typhus cases have been popping up this time of year.
Flea-transmitted typhus is caused by murine typhus (Rickettsia typhi) or flea-borne spotted fever (Rickettsia felis), and is spread mainly by the rat flea and cat flea.
Eliminate outdoor food and water sources including pet food and fallen fruit from trees.
Vacuum your house, wash dog and cat beds in hot water, use soap water for flea-combing your pet, dipping the flea comb into ammonia. Dab ticks with nail polish to suffocate them.
Treat your pets regularly with flea prevention medications. Consult your veterinarian for recommendations.
Avoid contact with opossums, rodents, feral (wild or stray) cats and other animals that may have fleas.
Seal openings to attics and crawl spaces (beneath mobile homes or trailers) and keep vent screens in good repair to prevent wild animals from entering houses or other structures.
Report dead opossums, cats or other animals to your local Animal Control agency for removal.
Report dead opossums, cats or other animals to your local Animal Control agency for removal.
Remove or trim overgrown ground cover where wild animals may hide or nest, trim bushes and overgrown vegetation.
Keep trash cans covered at all times and eliminate outdoor food and water sources including pet food and fallen fruit from trees. This is also a good idea since we have so many coyote sightings in the neighborhood. Limiting their access to food and drink is a win-win for preventing rodents and other strays.
I chose not to flea bomb my place, which is a pain and toxic.
I chose not to flea bomb my place, which is a pain and toxic. You have to bundle up and hide your foods in ice boxes or garbage bags and then totally wipe and wash your sheets and exposed clothing after. But the flea problem dies down immediatly, if you do.
I'm going to use one of the alternative methods for treating my apartment and outer patio areas.
In the past I'd drop a flea bomb or two, go to the beach, clean up later. This time I want to make a less toxic effort, since I'm already exposing my dog to chemical warfare with his topical treatment. I'll let you know which method I choose to try. But, please, post any successful suggestions which work for you and your family.
