As anyone with allergies knows, springtime is not all flowery poetry, love and green grass. It's itching, sneezing and eye-watering time as well. And for dog owners, you can add fleas to that.

Flea allergy is the most common allergy in dogs and cats. Dogs with an genetic allergic predisposition will develop allergies younger, but there is no guarantee that a dog who has been flea allergy free for the first 5 years of his/her life won't develop an allergy at some point. Flea allergy dermatitis is a tail-head-tummy disease. These are the primary feeding areas. When the flea bites for its blood meal, its saliva is injected into the skin to prevent blood clotting. The saliva from the flea bite will stay in your dog's body for up to a week. So the itc hing can last for up to a week afterwards. After the flea bites, it lays eggs. They're not very sticky, so they can roll off the dog's back and start to develop in the environment (i.e. your home and backyard). So if your dog already has fleas, treating the dog is only one step. You will also need to treat the environment. The larvae and coccoons of the flea are found deep in carpeted areas or areas with a layer of organic material (a garden or flower bed). They're protected from insectisides in this hard-to reach area. High humidity and high relative temperatures provide that ideal environment for fleas.

So how do you get rid of these pesky critters? Effective flea control requires removal of fleas from the pet, removal of fleas from the environment, and control of the life cycle of the flea. Each of these aspects is important. For example it does little good to remove all the fleas from the pet, unless fleas are removed from the environment. Otherwise, fleas will simply jump back onto the pet and reinfest, leaving you where you started. If an animal is very itchy, we must break the itch cycle. Even if we get rid of all the fleas at once, remember that saliva is travelling

through your dog's system and he/she can stay itchy for up to a week. See your veterinarian to discuss options for treatment. Steroids can be used as long as the dog is not diabetic, does not have a heart disease and does not have a severe metabolic problem. Your vet may also recommend antibiotics to fight the skin infection.

To fight the fleas in your dog's environment, hand-held sprayers are the best way to deliver an insecticide to the home or other confined area. Commercial products are available, containing various effective insecticides as well as insect growth regulators. Sprays should contain a product that has good "knockdown" capability so that contact with a flea will kill that flea. In general, sprays should be applied every 7-14 days in houses with an active flea problem, and they should be applied immediately after vacuuming. Sprays are more effective at reaching areas under furniture and those nooks and crannies where cats like to hide. Be sure to read labels for restrictions and application instructions.

For the yard, there are several sprays commercially available. These generally contain insecticides that will kill fleas upon contact, have residual action, or both. In general, yard sprays are NOT necessary for effective flea control. However, problem areas in a yard may include areas under porches, under stairs, sheds or doghouses (which should be treated like the house), and areas under or around trees or bushes that are shaded. Organic material may protect fleas from exposure to the active ingredient. Always read labels for restrictions and application instructions.

Of course, prevention is our best weapon against fleas. There are a few pour-on products for flea control, such as Advantage, Frontline, Top Spot or Revolution. The active ingredient of these products is an insecticide, which acts as a neuroinhibitor and kills adult fleas. They are applied to the skin over the back, where it diffuses through the skin over the remainder of the body. Advantages: Fleas are exposed to the active insecticide upon contact : the fleas do NOT have to bite your pet in order to get a lethal dose of of the insecticide. They can kill 98-100% of adult fleas within 24 hours and prevent reinfestation for up to 4 weeks. These products are not systemically absorbed and therefore, the product is considered to be extremely safe. The label indicates that the product may be used on animals 4 months of age or older. Disadvantages: The skin may become quite greasy at the site of application....persisting up to several days

With all pour-on products, the efficiency of the product is reduced if the animal gets wet (rain, swimming) and re-application may be necessary. The best way to go about choosing a topical is to ask your veterinarian what is right for your dog or cat. Your vet can also give you advice about whether flea collars, oral insecticides, foams, sprays or powders are right for you. If you're an avid hiker, make sure to ask your veterinarian about effective tick control as well.

But don't wait. Get into your veterinarian now and be pro-active. It's something you can easily do for your pet to make sure their spring and summer are as enjoyable as they can possibly be.