J.Lindh

As you no doubt already know, the flea is by far the most common external parasite your pet will encounter. This parasite, whose bite can cause either localized irritation or a more generalized allergic reaction, is also the carrier of the common dog tapeworm, Dipylidium caninum. As a result, diligent flea control is a must! This includes treating not only your pet, but also your house and yard as well.

Many of the effective flea products available from veterinarians (i.e. Frontline) incorporate themselves into the skin's sebaceous "system". This means that every time new oil is secreted from the hair follicle onto the skin surface of the dog, so is more flea killing product. So what is the most effective method of stimulating the skin to secrete new oil? Brushing.

It stands to reason then that the more you brush, the more active ingredient of the flea medication you are using finds its way to the surface of the skin. The mechanical action associated with brushing also keeps any flea interlopers on the move, making them more likely to come in contact with the flea treatment. It's a win-win for you and your dog. And your dog will love the extra attention!

And by the way, did you know that a single dose of Frontline (and many other similar medications) can control fleas for up to three months (it actually states this on the label)? In other words, monthly application for fleas is not necessary (monthly application is only necessary if you are trying to keep ticks off your pet). Many users don't realize this and needlessly apply this expensive product to their pets on a monthly basis to control fleas alone. If fleas are all you are worried about, extend the interval between applications and combine this with frequent brushing. Do so and you could conceivably cut your current flea prevention bill in half!