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Harley my male cat is losing fur on his tail and ears and is full of scabs from scratching don't know if it is fleas or chiggers. I and my dog are itching crazy.. is there anything otc I can give them.

Harley my male cat is losing fur on his tail and ears and is full of scabs from scratching don't know if it is fleas or chiggers. I and my dog are itching crazy.. is there anything otc I can give them.

Updated On November 4th, 2019

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Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

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If you, Harley, and the dog are itching, I suspect something like fleas. I can give you a flea treatment program for them, but make sure that Harley gets the cat flea medication and the dog the medication specified for dogs. You cannot put a dog flea treatment on a cat, it could be fatal. First, I would give them Capstar. It's a one time pill that starts killing fleas within 30 minutes. Then follow up with a spot on treatment, such as Advantage or Revolution. This is a treatment that has to be used once a month. You will also have to disinfect the environment. Wash their bedding in hot soapy water, and vacuum the furniture and carpet surfaces. You can use a spray to kill fleas in the house, such as Indorex, or a flea bomb would work well to kill the fleas in the home.

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