tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12475626.post2401338969092004362..comments2023-07-16T07:59:02.917-05:00Comments on Dr. Andy Mathis- The Animals and Other Stuff: Fleas Can Be FatalAndy Mathishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10111869432073546594noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12475626.post-18848745781000572072011-02-13T18:43:38.201-05:002011-02-13T18:43:38.201-05:00Poor little Belle...I have 6 cats, and I am over t...Poor little Belle...I have 6 cats, and I am over the top paranoid about fleas. The flea products can be expensive to use in multiple cat households...but during times when the budget's been really tight, I have literally used a flea comb and combed them 3 times a day to keep them under control. Whatever I had to do to make sure they weren't being sucked dry. Yes, it was a lot of work, but I didn't mind. <br /><br />I had a foam cup filled with water and dishwashing soap, and when the comb popped a flea off, I would put it in the water. The soap drags them to the bottom.<br /><br />I am sorry, Belle...you didn't deserve to go this way. RIP little girl.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00538093654601372319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12475626.post-51581773937504181122010-10-19T09:36:06.062-05:002010-10-19T09:36:06.062-05:00Thank you Andy for this insight. Poor wee Belle, ...Thank you Andy for this insight. Poor wee Belle, you made her comfortable in her last hours. And I hope there are many, many people who will read this and learn.Art with Lizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03433688529703445847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12475626.post-24513568857636024292010-10-17T16:18:19.644-05:002010-10-17T16:18:19.644-05:00That's true as well, Michele. About noticing t...That's true as well, Michele. About noticing that a pet might be ailing if one hasn't seen them in awhile. <br /><br />If one sees a pet everyday, it sometimes is difficult to tell if they are loosing weight. If someone only sees a pet once a month, they notice any changes sooner. <br /><br />I am forever weighing patients as they come in, especially older cats and patients. A cat might loose some weight but the weight loss is hidden by their fur and coat to look at them. It's when you look back at what they weighed a year ago, that's when it's noticed.Andy Mathishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10111869432073546594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12475626.post-77499849102007522032010-10-17T11:11:10.851-05:002010-10-17T11:11:10.851-05:00My heart goes out to the owner. I was even in tear...My heart goes out to the owner. I was even in tears. These days so many people cannot afford to provide themselves with medical care much less their animals. It reminds me of a good friend, who owned a black cat like me and who I had not seen in a long time because of getting sick and disabled. When I did visit, I could tell something was wrong with Skippy. (Everyone tells me how scary I am because I seem to be able to sense these things in animals...and people.) I told her she needed to take him in asap. She could not see what I saw. Which I felt bad for doing knowing she was having financial difficulties. But, she took him anyway and he died two days later. Then she had problems paying the bill. Since I felt responsible I helped her out (I was not working). I can see how money and not having it can cause people to put things off hoping that the illness passes. <br />We should help our friends we know are in financial straits when the need it. We do it when they need help with human illnesses, and if their pets are just as precious and vulnrable.<br />I can say we have never in the 23 years I have been owning pets, had fleas. In Hawaii they were prolific and I swore if I ever had pets I would make sure mine would never have them. Even a friends house was infested soooo bad, if your feet were on the floor, you had hundreds jumping on your legs. I left after seconds!! I could not believe they let it get so bad! <br />Thanks for the education, I will make sure to get the best stuff to insure I never get them on any of my animals. It is less expensive to treat prophylactically then to wait. We should open our eyes and help those we see that need a helping hand. Maybe these kinds of things can be prevented by others that care and can give assistance before it is too late.Michelehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09624081023958287230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12475626.post-29773377059343484402010-10-16T14:47:03.422-05:002010-10-16T14:47:03.422-05:00I think this is one of those situations where the ...I think this is one of those situations where the owner honestly didn't know how bad the problem was until I showed her the cat's gums. She took stuff home to help the dogs and other cat, before Belle passed away, so maybe she'll be able to get things cleaned up. She does feel bad that she got in such bad shape and passed away. <br /><br />Maybe she'll be better prepared to stay on top of the situation in the future. <br /><br />If the situation is a financial one where she can't afford to take care of the pets, then yeah, it would be the nice thing to try move them out of the house, either permanently or as foster care for a few months. However, if the pets leave the house, then they'll start biting her instead. <br /><br />Either way, someone is going to have to treat the house to clear up the problem. Pets or no pets. <br /><br /><br /><br />and about garlic- I don't think hungry fleas care if you smell and taste like fettucini alfredo, or not. :)Andy Mathishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10111869432073546594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12475626.post-45793477694407540362010-10-16T13:59:10.637-05:002010-10-16T13:59:10.637-05:00This owner is obviously neglectful and should not ...This owner is obviously neglectful and should not have pets. The house has to be infested. If this cat survives, please convince the owner to let it have a better life somewhere else.Preserve Jewelry Studiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08046848024811618101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12475626.post-78053309672438496362010-10-16T13:16:49.623-05:002010-10-16T13:16:49.623-05:00Thanks Andy. Very educational and sad. How about...Thanks Andy. Very educational and sad. How about garlic?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12475626.post-20753214271738347002010-10-16T13:16:02.902-05:002010-10-16T13:16:02.902-05:00Thanks Andy. It was very educational and sad.Thanks Andy. It was very educational and sad.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com