Question: What’s black and white with a smell strong enough to gag a maggot on a gut wagon? Answer: Everyone’s favorite member of the weasel family, the skunk. These lovable mammals tend to be very shy unless they feel threatened. Then they will hose the offending party down with liquid made from their urine. Impressive, considering they can launch this stuff past 15 feet and hit their target with their back towards you!

The most common victim of this incredible marksmanship is the dog. What to do if a skunk bullseyes the dog? The first thing is not to seek revenge. The skunk population is loaded with rabies. Give them a wide berth. If you don’t heed these words and try to dispatch a skunk, make sure you are upwind. The second thing is getting rid of that funky smell. This skunk info link has some very good information and some home solutions that are worth a try. Most dogs only get sprayed by a skunk once. Getting sprayed more than once is a sign of holding a grudge or not too bright. If this is the case, then having a bottle of “Skunk Off Shampoo” on hand can be a nose saver. Be prepared and pick up a bottle at Wells Brothers.

One day everything is fine, and the next your pet is scratching like crazy. What is that bite on my leg?! Oh no! The dreaded flea infestation! Don’t worry, there are many solutions to get rid of these pesky parasites.

When combating fleas on your pet, there are two routes you can go. The first is the all- natural route. The most popular here at Wells Brothers are cedar oil based products. One of these products is Vets Choice pure cedar oil. This can be mixed with water to make a spray or dip. Another product is the highly popular Wells Brothers premixed Pet and Animal Spray. This is a cedar oil product that is premixed in a spray bottle and ready to use. All you have to do is spray the animal thoroughly until the fur is saturated to the skin. Then just let the fur dry naturally. Cedarcide Original Spray is another option. This spray can be used directly on the pet, or on surfaces and bedding. All cedar oil based products are contact killers and repellants of all sorts of pesky insects.

One more natural flea option is called Flea Away. Flea Away is an oral tablet that is given daily to cats and dogs that creates an undesirable environment for fleas, ticks, and mosquitos. Flea Away works because unwanted insects come to a dog or cat because they smell Co2 (or carbon dioxide). The ingredients in Flea Away work to mask the smell of Co2 on the animal.

So, you’ve tried all your natural options, and you still have a problem. It’s time for all-out chemical warfare. Again, you have many options. Over the counter options are as follows:

Sprays, dips, shampoos, collars, and room foggers for the house. Whichever option you choose, be sure that the product includes an ingredient called IGR (Insect Growth Regulator). IGR disrupts the growth cycle of immature insects and provides up to 2 months of control of pre-adult fleas. Don’t forget about flea collars. A lot of products only kill adult fleas, so you will think that you have everything under control. Then BAM! Another re-infestation. Wells Brothers carries many of these products by Adams (spray, dip, shampoo, fogger) that include IGR technology.

Wells Brothers also carries monthly spot-on treatments by Bio Spot and Frontline. (Please note that if you use spot-on treatments that you will NOT be able to use any other chemical options for the rest of the month without the risk of poisoning your pet) You CAN spot treat with natural options though. When using spot-on treatments the fleas do not die until they actually bite the animal in most cases. To prevent these not quite dead pests, you can spray the animal down with a natural product before coming into the house.

The final option for flea control products are ones that you can only get at the vet. These products includes spot-on and oral products.  When used on a monthly basis these products are very effective for controlling parasites of all kinds. If interested in this type of solution consult your own vet, or come see Dr. Wood, our mobile vet that comes to the store every 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month from Noon-4.

The old saying that “A stitch in time saves 9” is a very true statement in regard to flea prevention and your pet. Preventative measures will help ensure a flea free pet and house. A flea free pet is a healthier and happier pet.