April 2011 Newsletter
Happy April Folk's.  This month's newsletter is a recap from a FLEA newsletter done last year.  Already clients
are coming in with flea issues and the tips listed here will help you combat fleas all at once or you'll have a 
year of fighting them and hundreds of dollars later.  We all hate flea situations and as pet owners it's not if 
they will get them but WHEN.  Just to remind you, when your pet comes in with fleas there are additional 
charges.  Why?  Because I've never been known to have a client leave with their pet having fleas from my 
salon and I don't want to start.  Flea charges start at $20 and includes extra time soaking in flea shampoo, the 
pet gets a capstar pill, and lastly I have to spray the salon since the moment your pet walked in eggs could 
have been dropping all over.  If your pet has fleas treat at home before spreading them to other pets.  They 
are so hard to combat and costly pests.  Read below for the Flea Newsletter (which is also listed on my 
website under the "newsletter" link:

Information:
Groomer position is still open so if you know a Groomer please send him/her my way!
http://dallas.craigslist.org/ftw/trd/2231170773.html

Hours of Operation:
By appointment only grooms.  At least five business days to book appointment usually.  Mon - Thur day or 
night appointments available.  Leave a voicemail and your call will be returned in 24-hours.  

YouTube & More
Make sure you join my Youtube channel so you can get updates when I load new videos.  There are some on
there now and you should definitely check them out because they might include your favorite family pet :)  
www.youtube.com/myfavoritegroomer

I also am apart of the Send Out Cards Program which is how I send you most of your cards if you want to 
send one today use this link:  www.sendoutcards.com/myfavoritegroomer

WOMENS NETWORKING GROUP: Once a month I go to a Free Women's Networking Group.  If you'd like to 
join me please reply.

Find me on FACEBOOK (befriend Dede Croy).  I use Facebook often; your pet photos, groomer tips, your pet
videos, pet events, and more can be found there.  Fridays I post where we are that weekend for Vaccinations.
 You will see much more on my personal page regarding pets though so be sure to add me.
http://www.facebook.com/myfavoritegroomer

Low Cost Vaccination Clinics and also where we conduct nail trimming and other services (call if you need 
anal glands first to see where I will specifically be or check Facebook Friday night:
http://www.myfavoritegroomer.com/LowCostVaccinations.html

Read Dukes Memorial Today; you won't regret it & you will learn a few things about senior pets and their 
care!  http://www.myfavoritegroomer.com/LovingMemoryDuke.html

Tip of the Month:
What to do about Fleas!?
I had one of the worst cases of fleas in 2009 with a 2 year old Cocker Spaniel.  He was so infested with fleas 
that we ended up shaving him down just because of that alone.  He didn't look like he had one flea on him 
until I looked through his coat and he had about 1000 of them.  And that seemed to be an understatement.

 It was so bad the fleas were diving off of him like he was a diving board.  Here is what you need to do to get on track with your flea situation.  These are things I've learned through reading and treating my own pets over the years.  The picture you see is the ear photo showing the flea poop-black pepper like spots.  There were so many fleas
that all that poop built up from their multiplying.

Make sure your pet is treated (Frontline, Sentinel, Comfortis etc) DO NOT SKIP IN THE WINTER.  As much as
we want to save a few bucks.  I prefer Frontline (application on the back) or Comfortis (a pill just like frontline 
vet prescribed only for pets that have skin issues or no hair at all.  It will hurt your pet in the long run to stop 
treatment in the winter because then the fleas have time to manifest.  Yikes.  I learned this from Duke.  Over 4 years ago when I was trying to save money.  One flea bite broke him into a swarm of saggy skin and painful itching with hot spots from his
munching.  He was allergic to the flea bite.  Even after we did a flea bath he was suffering.  If
you use Frontline apply 3 days after or before a bath or groom as a preventative in wasting the product.

If you end up having fleas on your pet here are some things you can do to help:
1-Capstar is a pill you can give that will last 24 hours. (I sell this).

2-Bathing in a flea shampoo ( a good brand, not generic) will kill the live fleas and eggs.  Make sure to let it sit
on the pet for the alloted time specified on the bottle.  It needs a little time to start working.

(I carry flea shampoo).  However, if your pet has open wounds and hot spots from all the damage this shampoo is going to be like fire on his / her body.  Flea shampoo in this case may not be wise but Dawn dish detergent will be.  However, Dawn is only effective during the bathing situation. 

3-Have your yard and house treated if you can afford it.  I can refer my folks out to you, just give me a call.  
One in home spray was all it took for me 4 years ago.  For your back yard, Seven dust could work or I sell Diamataceous Earth as well (Like Ground up Sanshells that are like razor blades on a fleas body; instant contact).  But, these dusts work only until it rains and needs to be reapplied.  Byfenthrin is another product I sell in a spray form.  It is what the state sprays on their kid play grounds and inside some restaurants use in their kitchens.  I use it inside my shop and inside my home and all over the exterior of my home.  It works great.  I sell this as well and I show you how to use it.  This only needs to be reapplied every 30 days even after it rains!  If you have a pier & beam home treat under the house and if you have an attic treat in the attic too.

4-Vacuum your home.  Vaccuum in between cracks of wood, under and near baseboards.  Anywhere a flea can get into and lay eggs.  Then change your vacuum bag and throw it out side.  If you have a bag less empty all the dust and possible eggs outside in a bag and send the bag straight to your trash container.  If your trash container is inside the garage be aware!  Spray the trash container and around it.  Then put a new vacuum bag in your vacuum along with a
little bit of a flea collar cut up in the bag. I sell flea collars too.  Then vacuum daily for 2 weeks straight.  If you don't have carpet vacuum the base boards real good and if you have wood focus on the cracks between the boards.  If you have a
bagless vacuum, be sure to empty into a bag and take the bag outside everyday.  We don't want new fleas to
hatch and spread through your house and vacuum.

5-Clean all the bedding of your bed and your pets bed to make sure not to put your treated pet right back into
the situation to get fleas again.  Vacuum your car if that is a possibility too.  We're talking about eggs here folks.  

6-Have a good quality flea and tick collar on the pet.  This helps keep em off the dog period.  They work great.

Item of the Month:
Picture number 2 is a Pet front pack designed for small pets like Chihuahua's.  I personally invested in these 
bags so I could carry my blind and deaf Chihuahua around when at pet events during the summer.  She loves
it.  They start at $40.  



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Advice and suggestions are my own opinion.  I am not a VET.

www.myfavoritegroomer.com
817-676-1585
Owner, Dede Croy