During the hot and humid weather of summer, fleas can become a major problem for pets and their parents. Fortunately, for dogs with a flea problem in Zachary and the surrounding area, there is help available! The Animal Center of Zachary has been selected to participate in a national clinical study to evaluate a new flea control medication. Participating households will receive FREE flea medications, as well as FREE study-related exams, for up to three dogs in their household for the 3-month study duration. If these households have cats, up to three cats will also receive FREE flea medication during the study.

“We start to see more dogs with fleas as the weather gets warmer and fleas start to emerge. One of the first signs of a flea infestation is an itchy dog. By the time the fleas have multiplied enough for your dog to start to itch, there is usually a significant amount of developing immature fleas hiding in the home. This study is a great opportunity for pet owners that find fleas on their pet because it provides free treatment not only for the fleas visible on the pet but also will help control the flea infestation in the environment,” Dr. Jason St. Romain of The Animal Center of Zachary explains.

Want to participate in the study but are not sure if your dog has fleas? Look on your dog’s skin, like their belly or along their rump. Move your hand against the direction of your dog’s coat to part the fur and you may see fleas or dark specks, called 'flea dirt,' which is a sign of fleas. Also, any signs of itchiness in your dog should be a sign to check for fleas!

If you think your dog has fleas, PLEASE DO NOT treat your DOG OR YOUR HOME with any type of flea control product. Call The Animal Center of Zachary at (225) 654-2649 as soon as possible! You may be eligible to enroll your pets in the study to receive FREE flea control and other important medications that protect your dog from other common parasites. DOGS MUST HAVE VISIBLE LIVE FLEAS AT THE TIME OF INITIAL ASSESSMENT. THE DOG OR THE HOME CANNOT HAVE BEEN TREATED WITH FLEA CONTROL PRODUCTS PRIOR TO STUDY ENROLLMENT. Contact Dr. Jason St. Romain for more information. For full eligibility and clinical study details, pet owners can also visit Clinical Studies for Pets.