The Real Truth About Cats and Dogs.

Business Editors

SHAWNEE MISSION, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 24, 2000

Advantage(R) Flea Control Sets the Record Straight

According to the common formula, is a 20-year-old dog actually 140 in human years? Does a cat's purr always indicate happiness? Surprisingly, the answer to both of these questions is NO. Pet health information is available from so many sources that it may be difficult to distinguish fact from fiction. To educate pet owners, Advantage(R) flea control and Dr. Jeffrey Werber, CBS' The Early Show pet expert and veterinarian to the stars, clarify some misleading notions in pet care, including:

One pet year equals seven human years. According to Dr. Werber, dogs routinely live past the age of 15. In human terms, this formula would mean dogs would live well into their hundreds. Somehow this "one pet year equals seven human years" notion has crept into our popular culture but is only accurate in the middle of your pet's life span. In addition, smaller dogs live longer on average than larger dogs. A better formula to follow: the first year of a pet's life equals approximately 15 years; the second year equals about 10 years depending on the size of your pet; and every year thereafter is equal to four to eight "human years," depending on the breed. For example, a 10-year-old dachshund would be 57 in "human years" (15 + 10 + (4 x 8) = 57)--not 70.

A purring cat is a happy cat. A cat does purr when it is content, but it also will purr when it is in pain or when it is stressed. Cat owners are encouraged to discuss this topic with their veterinarian so they can better read the telltale signs of a troubled feline.

Shaving your pet's coat in the summer will keep them cool. Dogs and cats, unlike humans, do not cool off by sweating. Rather, they cool themselves by panting. The fact is, a pet's coat serves as insulation that actually helps keep most breeds cool. Pets whose fur is clipped too short may be susceptible to sunburn, just like humans.

Garlic and vitamins will rid a pet of fleas. New and trendy "natural remedies" on the market may spice up your pet's dinner, but they are virtually ineffective when fighting fleas. Fleas can be a serious health issue for your pets and pose numerous problems in the house for the owner--and there is an effective, proven solution. Advantage kills 98-100 percent of adult fleas within 12 hours of application, and 100 percent of reinfesting fleas are killed within two hours.

To start the fight against fleas, Dr. Werber recommends that pet owners check the "Flea Index" in their area by visiting www.nofleas.com. "Advantage, the flea specialist, developed this tool to help pet owners see when flea season starts in their area and how long it lasts," states Dr. Werber. "However, remember that fleas can survive on pets year-round and are therefore constant threats."

Spayed/neutered pets are prone to laziness and weight gain. While it is true spaying/neutering may change a pet's metabolism, the owner is most often to blame for weight gain and laziness since pets are reliant on their human counterparts for exercise and stimulation. Pets that are spayed or neutered don't require as much food--therefore, pet owners should reduce their pet's food intake according to their veterinarian's recommendations.

Pets don't have allergies. Cats and dogs are indeed prone to allergies. Fleabite allergies, which can result in the hypersensitivity skin disorder flea allergy dermatitis (FAD), are the most common, followed closely by allergies to airborne particles like pollen, and then food allergies. Studies show Advantage(R) flea control--available only through licensed, practicing veterinarians--may help reduce the incidence of flea allergy dermatitis(a). "Advantage is the fastest flea control," says Werber. "Once a flea jumps on an Advantage treated pet, fleas may stop biting within a matter of minutes."

If a dog wags its tail at you, it's friendly. While dogs often express their happiness and affection with a wagging tail, they also wag their tails when they are excited, ready to fight, tense, anxious and annoyed. Learn to read their entire posture including their ears. If the ears are leaning forward and the tail is high, chances are the pet is happy is see you. Advantage flea control and Dr. Werber encourage pet owners to visit their veterinarians with questions about their pet's health and behavior.

"Every family member--two-or four-legged--deserves the best care available, and knowing the difference between fact and fiction is vital," says Dr. Laurie Griffin, veterinarian and Advantage marketing manager. "As people are faced with multiple options for obtaining pet health information, it is important to remember veterinarians are an integral part of the human-animal bond and are the pet health experts."

The maker of Advantage, Bayer's animal health group, headquartered in Shawnee Mission, Kansas, is a worldwide leader in producing vaccines, parasite control and prescription pharmaceuticals for dogs, cats, horses, cattle, swine and poultry. It is a part of the Agriculture Division of Bayer Corporation, with the division headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri.

Bayer Corporation is a research-based company with major businesses in health care and life sciences and chemicals. The company had 1999 sales of $8.9 billion and employs approximately 22,200 people. Bayer Corporation is investing $9 billion in capital expenditures and research and development from 2000 through the year 2004. 2000 capital investment and R&D expenditures are projected to total $1.6 billion. Bayer Corporation, with headquarters in Pittsburgh, is a member of the worldwide Bayer Group, a $29 billion international life sciences, polymers and specialty chemicals group based in Leverkusen, Germany.

Note: For additional information on Advantage, see your veterinarian or visit the Advantage Web site at www.nofleas.com.

(a) Mehlhorn, et. al. Effects of imidacloprid on adult and larval 

stages of the flea Ctenocephalides felis after in vivo and in

vitro application: a light- and electron-microscopy study.

Parasitology Research (1999) 85:625-637.

The successive feeding activity of fleas on pets may elicit a

hypersensitivity skin disorder known as flea allergy dermatitis

(FAD). Treatment of pets with Advantage rapidly kills fleas and

may reduce the incidence of this condition.