ALLRECIPES.COM 100 APRIL/MAY 2019

Some Allrecipes

community members

love their pets so much

they use a pet photo

for their profile picture.

We get it: Pets are

part of the family!

This issue’s featured

Allrecipet is Bella, a

bunny who lives in Fort

Myers, Florida, with

her proud mama, Linda

Torlay, aka Linda(LMT).

MEET

BELLA

THE

BUNNY

FLEA’S A CROWD

As the temperature rises, so does the potential for fleas

on our furry friends. We asked Dr. Jerry Klein, chief

veterinary officer at the American Kennel Club, for tips

on spotting, treating, and preventing fleas. By Ashley Flaws

two is cozy.

help to remove fleas

and flea eggs from

dog and cat fur. Simply

dunk the combs in hot,

soapy water between

strokes to wash away

and drown pests.

1

KNOW THE SIGNS

If your pet is scratching up

a storm, fleas are a likely

culprit. To be sure, run a

fine-tooth comb through

your pet’s fur and look for

“flea dirt,” bug droppings

that look like black pepper

specks. For the best view,

examine areas where fur

tends to be thinner, such as

the armpits, the stomach,

or inside the hind legs,

and stay close to the skin.

In more severe cases,

you might even spot the

fleas themselves.

2

TALK TO YOUR VET

If your pet has fleas, your

vet will know the safest

flea-fighting products and

likely will recommend one

that can either be consumed

or applied to pet fur. Pills

work quickly by absorbing

directly into your pet’s

bloodstream, while topical

treatments applied between

your pet’s shoulder blades

typically take 24 to 48 hours

to kill fleas. P.S.: If one pet

has fleas, it’s smart to treat

all your pets at the same

time to prevent flea transfer.

3

BREAK THE CYCLE

To prevent re-infestation,

wash all bedding in hot,

soapy water. Vacuum all

floors, then discard the

vacuum bag. If your pet

spends time outside, treat

the yard with a flea-repellent

spray or nontoxic pellets.

For all-natural deterrents,

release nematodes (flea-

eating bugs available at

garden stores) or plant

marigolds, lavender,

mint, or lemon balm in

your yard. For extreme

cases, call an exterminator.

1. HERTZKO DOUBLE-ROW FLEA COMB

$14 at amazon.com

2. HONBAY DOUBLE-SIDED FLEA COMBS

$6 for a 4-pack at amazon.com

PHOTOS: (DOG) GETTY IMAGES. (COMB) ANDY LYONS. (RABBIT) LINDA TORLAY

Allrecipets

FAMILY

“I rescued Bella seven years ago

when she was only a baby. Sadly,

she was abandoned in a field after

Easter. Rabbits are so unique and

wonderful. Because they are fluffy

and cute, people tend to think

that’s all there is to them. But they

are so much more.

“Bella is shy and timid during the

day. She loves sleeping in a cushy

dog bed under her triangular wicker

tent. She will grunt like a little piggy

if approached too quickly when

she’s in her ‘hidey’ place.

“But at night, when we let her out

of her penned area, she runs laps

around the couch and then stretches

out on the floor, appearing to be

watching TV. And when she sees me

each morning, she joyfully bounces

up in the air: She knows that

breakfast will soon be served.”

“I COULDN’T BE

HAPPIER TO

HAVE BELLA IN

MY LIFE. SHE

IS A JOY AND

A WONDERFUL

COMPANION.”

—Linda(LMT)

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