Would You Rather Be Bitten by Dracula or a Deadly, Plague-Infected Flea? #12Bravecto

Before you answer that impossible question, did you even know fleas carry PLAGUE? The disease* that wiped out millions of people in the Middle Ages, up to 60% of Europe's entire population, and remains the world's worst pandemic ever?

Y'all! My family came out to Arizona after BlogPaws this summer and we visited the Grand Canyon. As we approached the most visited overlook on the South Rim, THIS warning sign met us (five seconds AFTER I had already seen a tame squirrel on the path). I had not seen the word plague used in an actual present-day warning in my entire life. I didn't even know the plague was still a disease that people got! And to be honest, I wasn't convinced the National Park Service wasn't spreading tall tales just to scare the daylights out of people who ignore "do not feed the wild animals" signs! Until I googled "grand canyon squirrel fleas plague" on my iPhone...

And that the disease remains alive and spreadable in the world, including the United States? And the fleas that carry it can jump off their hosts (frequently rock squirrels) and bite pets and people? And if it's not diagnosed and treated with antibiotics early...well, you know. [insert funeral music 💀]

* The bubonic plague, to be exact. The disease--caused by the bacteria Yersinia pestis--led to gangrene (dead, rotting tissue) in human extremities, and was referred to as Black Death.  (source: CDC)

But back to my question...What's it gonna be? Dracula or the flea? (Go ahead and take 10 seconds to think about it...)

This post is sponsored by BRAVECTO® and the BlogPaws® Pet Influencer Network™. I am being compensated to help share information about BRAVECTO.  But we only share information we feel is relevant to our readers. Neither Intervet Inc., nor Merck & Co Inc., are responsible for the content of this article and have not written, reviewed, or edited it in any fashion. For more information about BRAVECTO please click here.

The one on the right is a fiend!

EW, look at the flea in that picture! Talk about a blood-sucking monster! SO nasty! The thought of those jumping all over my poor dogs (and/or cats) makes me feel sick to my stomach! (But not as sick as when I looked at this other, much worse, blood- and plague bacteria-filled flea photo from the CDC while researching this post. [retch!])

Where was I? Oh yeah! The "would you rather" question!

But whoops. I might have swayed you with those scary images. So, you know what? Scrub them from your retinas! Check out this comparison chart I made and then answer the question!

THINGS THAT WILL HAPPEN IF YOU GET BITTEN BY...

Dracula* * Including various aliases & alter egos	Nasty Plague-Carrying Flea (that was on your dog first, and jumped on you after your dog brought it into the house)* *And you don't have access to a doctor or antibiotics
Immortality	An itchy, red bump (and possible severe allergic reaction)
Sun allergy	The plague bacteria streaming through your veins to all your vital organs
Silver allergy	Bacteria eating stuff inside you and pooing toxins
Bad attitude	REALLY BAD SICK
Quick, (mostly) painless death* *I don't know why some people die and some get immortality, but there's a 100% chance it'll be one or the other.	REALLY, REALLY BAD SICK
An unusual affinity for counting things	UNSPEAKABLE SICK
A craving for chocolate flavored cereal	DEATH
The ability to turn into a bat (the mammal, not a Louisville Slugger)	Your name and picture in the national news, and forever association with the importance of flea bite prevention

Raise your hand if you'd rather get bitten by the plague-flea! I'm waiting. OK, time's up! Count Chocula for the win! Who wants milk?!

OK, SERIOUSLY. "Would you rather..." is a twisted game meant to shock and disgust your friends and family. And while I'm being honest, the risk of contracting the plague in the U.S. is slim (though greater than getting bitten by a Count). Read all about it at the CDC here.

No one makes flea costumes for dogs, OK! I know why, too: it's because dog-sized fleas are TOO UGLY AND SCARY FOR ANYONE TO LOOK AT, ESPECIALLY DOG ACTORS NAMED LELE. Scorpions are like ladybugs in comparison. 

FLEAS AND TICKS ARE BLOOD-SUCKING MONSTERS THAT CARRY ALL SORTS OF DISEASES BESIDES PLAGUE

Just when you thought it was safe to go outside... All of these diseases are carried by fleas and/or ticks, putting your sweet pets (and you) at risk!

• plague
• parasitic dermatitis (severe allergic reaction)
• Lyme disease
• bartonella (causes "Cat Scratch Fever" in humans)
• erlichiosis
• rickettsiae (responsible for typhus, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, flea-borne spotted fever and tick bite fever)
• meningoencephalitis 
• tapeworms (EW!)

FLEAS AND TICKS BITE OUTDOORS AND IN, NO MATTER THE SEASON

It only takes one outdoor fall flea to turn into an indoor winter infestation. (Read my flea infestation horror story here.)

PROTECT YOUR DOG FROM DISEASE-CARRYING FLEAS AND TICKS YEAR-ROUND WITH BRAVECTO® (Fluralaner)

* BRAVECTO is approved for use in dogs only. Ask your veterinarian about flea and tick prevention for your cat. 

Get out and enjoy the great Autumn outdoors with your dog, worry-free! Nasty blood-sucking monsters beware!

BRAVECTO, delivered to your dog in a tasty chew treat, starts killing fleas within two hours and kills all fleas, plus ticks, within 12 hours. And then continues to provide protection for up to 12 weeks*! That's about four doses per calendar year (compared to 12 with a monthly preventative). So easy!

* BRAVECTO kills fleas, prevents flea infestations, and kills ticks (black-legged tick, American dog tick, and brown dog tick) for 12 weeks. BRAVECTO also kills lone star ticks for 8 weeks.

DO YOU HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH FLEA- OR TICK-BORNE DISEASE? HOW DID YOU DEAL WITH IT? IS YOUR DOG PROTECTED FROM FLEA AND TICK BITES WHEN THE WEATHER COOLS OFF?

BRAVECTO is FDA approved and available only from a veterinarian or clinic. Ask your dog's veterinarian about it today. (Locate a veterinarian or clinic that carries BRAVECTO. P.S. It's accurate; I've used it myself!)

Money-saving tip: Register at My Pet Rewards for deals, such as cash rebates!

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Actual rock squirrel I met at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon in June. ♥ I did not touch or feed him (evil plague fleas!!), but I SO wanted to!

When everyone else is looking out over the #grandcanyon and you're like #SQUIRREL! And a #babysquirrel to boot! These guys are tame and beg for food at #matherpoint on the #southrim. There are #do not feed the squirrels" signs. But no "do not ogle and talk to the squirrels using your baby voice" signs. 😊💕🐾 I could not help it. #animallover #ilovesquirrels #squirrelsofinstagram #wildlife #nature #grandcanyonwildlife #tamesquirrel #adorable #love #abertsquirrel

A photo posted by Elizabeth Keene (@chroniclescardi) on Jun 27, 2016 at 1:55pm PDT