The easiest way to tell if your pet has fleas is to see the live insects on your pet. Pay close attention to the flea’s favorite spots (on the face and chin, on the rump by the tail, and in the more sparsely haired areas on the belly). Sometimes, though, there may not be many fleas and they can hide while you are searching for them. In this case, a flea comb is helpful in determining your pet’s flea status. A flea comb will pick up two things--fleas and flea dirt. Flea dirt (tiny black specks about the size of poppy seeds) is actually flea feces composed of digested blood. If you find small black specks and are not sure if you are finding "flea dirt" or just plain dirt, place the specks on a damp paper towel--if you see red then it is flea dirt.
Other signs range from scratching and biting at the skin to more severe dermatitis. Your pet can be highly allergic to fleas (flea allergic dermatitis is the most common skin disease in pets) and although you may not see fleas, they may still be present so check your pet any let’s stay flea free this year.
--Dr. Melinda, Hartz R&D Team
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Dr. Melinda is the resident veterinarian at Hartz and a regular contributor to Wag Reflex.
Liz on May 30, 2009 at 03:04 PM
Please don't suggest that pets should use Hartz flea control products. They have been proven to cause neurological problems/seizures in a high percentage of animals. The pesticide used to control fleas in Hartz products is toxic to pets as well. Our local news recently did a segment on this. While Frontline and Advantage are more expensive (and only available through prescriptions), they are much safer.
Molli on June 24, 2009 at 05:02 PM
I have used Hartz products with great success for years. I found them to be reliable and work. I asked my vet after reading some of the comments and they assured me the products were safe. The vet also informed me there is a new website I could check out to find out more information www.thetruthabouthartz.com. Based on the website and the EPA Frontline and Advantage are not safer.
pet on August 03, 2009 at 11:03 AM
Ive been using Hartz products and everything went well, till the day i found an article saying that it proven to cause neurological problems/seizures as it said before
Matt on September 04, 2009 at 09:36 PM
Hartz has one of the worst safety records in the industry. Their products containing the pesticide neurotoxin phenothrin have accounted for a significant number of the adverse incidents reported to the EPA over the years. Their appalling safety record goes back to the ’80’s and ’90’s with their product, Blockade, which was pulled from the market because of an unacceptable number of animal injuries and deaths. They have been forced by the EPA to make numerous labeling revisions and they have been cited and fined for not promptly and accurately reporting adverse incidents to the EPA. Their cat and kitten products were terminated in 2006 when the EPA issued a Cancellation Order against Hartz because of their deplorable safety record. Please–when you get the opportunity take one important step to help yourself and other pets and pet owners. Please take the time to report any incident to the National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC). This organization works with the EPA to compile the database of incidents and statistics that will be analyzed and used as a basis for corrective action. The NPIC can be reached at 1-800-858-7378. They are very professional, courteous and efficient. This is a critical step in the public forcing the EPA–one of the most lax oversight agencies in the federal government–to do the right thing and get these neuro-toxin pesticide ingredients out of the marketplace. Also, please call Hartz Mountain and report this incident to them. They WILL NOT be happy to hear from you, but they–-like all the manufacturers–-have an obligation under federal law to forward your report to the EPA. As I mentioned, Hartz Mountain has been cited and fined for not properly and promptly reporting these incidents in the past…put the pressure on Hartz by giving them the details and forcing them to report to the EPA. Also, they should be asked to reimburse your medical expenses. Hartz has a truly reprehensible safety record with their flea and tick products.