Although a wet winter and humid temperatures are causing a record number of fleas across the nation, Utah remains relatively bite-free.
The big problem, vets and groomers say: owners misidentifying the blood-sucking parasites.
"We see a lot of people (bring pets) in with parasitic conditions, which is itchy skin, and they feel that it's fleas," said Dr. Britt Hosken at Olympus Cove Veterinary Clinic. He said from national commercials, advertisements and other media outlets, the public assumes any itching on a dog or cat is a flea problem. "That's where we get our biggest confusion."
A dog or cat might be itching because of allergies, he said. About 70 to 80 percent of cases he sees where an animal is itching relate to a food allergen. Dr. Anthea Schick at the Dermatology Clinic for Animals in Salt Lake says 90 percent of itchy pet cases she sees are because of allergies.
"Fleas are a really common thing to think about when your dog is itchy," she said. "It's actually pretty uncommon."
The insects are particularly rare in Utah, where dry, arid weather and high altitude are not the ideal conditions for them. Fleas like a humid, warm environment. Although states such as Utah, Arizona and Nevada are virtually flea-free, Schick said, areas such as San Diego and San Jose in California are having huge flea problems.
Numerous local groomers said it's rare to see a flea on man's best friend or feline that has been in Utah.
"Fleas aren't prevalent in Utah," said Julia Rodgers of A & A Julia's Grooming in West Jordan. "We're really lucky that way."
A common way Utah pets do get fleas, said Dr. Keith Lund with White Pine Veterinary Clinic in Park City, is if a pet comes from or travels to another state. Some groomers say this is common in show dogs. But there is no need to lock your pet up all summer.
"All these toxic sprays and dips we used in the '70s and '80s . . . are a thing of the past," Lund said. "It's pretty amazing to see the advancement."
Modern flea products have revolutionized the way pets are treated, eliminating the need for harmful pesticides. Rather than using over-the-counter products, vets say prescription flea control such as Frontline, Advantage and Revolution are the best way to treat a pet. These topical treatments require a once-a-month drop between the animal's shoulder blades.
Schick recommends that owners with numerous animals, especially cats, treat all their pets for fleas if one is found to have them. The parasites reproduce rapidly. By regularly vacuuming and than throwing away filled vacuum bags, aggressive fleas can be stopped.
Properly identifying fleas can save a pet owner time and money. Schick recommends getting a flea comb and start searching your pet's skin in sensitive, thin-skinned areas. Although fleas and larva are hard to locate, the feces are easier to find, she said. The excrement is digested blood and looks like dirt. By moistening the material and smearing it on a paper towel, you can identify if it is actual dirt or feces. If the smear is red, the pet has fleas.
While risks are high for not treating a pet with fleas, like diseases, anemia or parasitic conditions for a pet and an infestation on humans, Hosken said once the fleas are gone, he recommends stopping the treatment.
"Some recommend using products on a year-round basis, but that's not my approach," he said. "They're not inexpensive products."
If you think you find a flea in your home, Hosken recommends that it be captured, put on an adhesive tape and brought to a vet for identification.
"They're highly visible and they crawl real rapidly," he said.
E-mail: astowell@desnews.com