Imidacloprid is the key ingredient in Advantage Flea that works to destroy the flea's nervous system, rendering the flea paralyzed and quickly ending its life. 98 to 100 percent of the fleas die within the first 12 hours of application.

Brands like Frontline flea and Advantage flea killers have almost instant results and long lasting protection. Your pet need not suffer due to fleas if the treatment is on hand. All you need to do is choose the best dog or cat flea medication for your situation.

Mites, or ticks as they are often called, are external parasites living off the blood of mammals, reptiles and birds. The American dog tick is arguably the best known of the five in North America.

Now for the scary stuff: Ticks are only second to mosquitoes in transmitting diseases to humans. Ticks can transmit diseases such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, equine encephalitis, and ehrlichiosis. Additionally, they are responsible for transmitting livestock and pet diseases.

Another type of mite living in the Rocky Mountains is the wood tick. Tick treatments for dogs include tick collars and flea & tick shampoos. In order for tick control to be effective during tick season, ticks should be checked for and removed completely if found. Part of the tick may be left in the wound, if you are not careful, thus increasing the likelihood of infection.

Heartworms are life threatening internal parasites that are transmitted by mosquitoes. Before becoming adults, the parasites must go through several stages. They enter the blood stream as larvae. Once mature, the heartworms move to the heart to survive off of the blood supply. Symptoms like coughing and difficulty in breathing may ensue, and the outcome of an untreated heartworm infestation is the heart failure of the host animal.

No owner would like to see their pet die of this terrible parasitic disease, fortunately treatment is available if the disease is caught early enough. Interceptor for dogs is one such treatment, which also tackles hookworms and ascarid infections.

Another common infection that your dog may experience is kennel cough. This is a very contagious strain of bronchitis that often spreads in places like kennels, where dogs are near many other dogs. Fortunately, kennel cough can be treated with antibiotics and prevented altogether by a timely vaccination for canine adenovirus, distemper, parainfluenza, and bordetella.