Regular baths with a flea shampoo are one of the best ways to kill fleas living on pets.

One of the most important ways of keeping our pets healthy and happy is making sure they're free of parasites like fleas and ticks. When the weather turns warmer, these bothersome insects can make life difficult for ourselves and our four legged friends, and it's important to have an effective flea control strategy ready as summer approaches.

Veterinarian Dr. Dana Bleifer has studied veterinary medicine all over the world, is a member of several professional vets' associations, and is co-owner of Rose City Veterinary Hospital and Warner Center Pet Clinic in Woodland Hills, CA. Here she offers expert advice for keeping your pets flea-free in summer:

• Brush and bathe regularly.
  In the summertime, flea control is one of the most important things that Bleifer discusses with her clients. The first defense against these insects is routine brushing and bathing, an excellent way of killing any live fleas.
  
• Try pyrethrin shampoos.
  There are a number of flea shampoos on the market. Shampoos made with pyrethrin, a pesticide, are very effective.
  
• Use citrus oil shampoo.
  Natural flea shampoos are another option. The citrus oil delimaline is an excellent flea killer, and shampoos made with this ingredient are also very safe for use on young puppies and kittens.
  
• Use nematodes on the lawn.
  Nematodes are natural worms that eats flea larva, and can be a nice way of controlling the flea population in the yard, where a pet is likely to pick up more fleas as it walks around.
  
• Get aggressive.
  According to Bleifer, the natural products are often better at repelling insects than they are at actually killing them. This means that you may have to use products containing pesticides, like flea shampoos, to truly solve a flea problem. Make sure to ask your vet if a particular product is safe to use on your pet.

Dr. Sue's Summer Pet Care Tips
www.dcn.davis.ca.us/vme/DrSue

The Anti-Cruelty Society: Summer Pet Care
www.anticruelty.org/pet_info/pet_info_dogcat_summer

The Humane Society of the United States: Summer Care Tips
www.hsus.org/ace

Care for Animals: Summer Pet Care Tips
www.avma.org/careforanimals

ASPCA
www.aspca.org

Petwork: Flea Tips
www.petwork.com/flea_tips

Next: Pet Safe Summer