Phone: 614-292-5274 Fax: 614-292-9783
e-mail: extento@postoffice.ag.ohio-state.edu
William F. Lyon
Pets are important to the American family. More money is spent annually for pet food than baby food in the United States. Often dogs, cats, birds, etc. as pets become so popular that they are practically considered family members. Due to this great companionship, recreational and importance in our way of life, it is essential that the pet's health be safeguarded. Unfortunately, pets are often attacked by fleas, ticks, lice, flies, mites (mange) and other troublesome pests.
According to Dr. Nancy Hinkle, extension veterinary entomologist at the University of California, Department of Entomology, Riverside CA 92521, telephone 909-787-2422, there are four markets for flea control, including veterinarians, pet groomers, pest control operators and independents (homeowners). Flea treatments generate more than $1.5 billion through veterinarians by way of flea allergy dermatitis (over $900 million) and tapeworms ($104 million). About $2.8 billion is spent at the veterinarian's office on flea-related conditions.
Pet groomers generate about $1.6 billion per year, independents (over-the-counter sales) at $4 billion per year, and pest control operators estimated at $348 million per year.
It is estimated that over one-half of all households in the United States have a pet, mainly cats and dogs. (There are more than 55 million United States households with 100 million cats and/or dogs, which does not include feral animals.) Veterinarians report that 70 percent of the dogs and 55 percent of the cats seen have fleas; also, 75 percent of the dogs and 40 percent of the cats get some phase of flea dermatitis. Flea control alone is a multi-billion dollar industry and still growing. By comparison, the United States termite market is estimated at about $2 billion each year.
Pest attacks sometimes persist throughout the year. Infested dogs and cats often scratch to relieve irritation, rubbing off patches of hair around the neck, back, shoulders and body. They lose their appetite, becoming weak and susceptible to disease; also, birds become nervous, lose their appetite and appear unhealthy.
Today with the proper use and timing of pesticides, it is possible to greatly reduce and usually eliminate these troublesome insect and mite attacks. The pesticide recommendations in this bulletin are up-to-date, effective, safe and registered by the Environmental Protection Agency for use on pets at the time of printing of this publication. Nevertheless, it is possible that some of the pesticides recommended in this bulletin could lose label status before use. County Extension agents, agriculture, and state extension entomologists are notified of changes in the pesticides label status as they occur.