Fleas Won’t Go Away!

Do you struggle with keeping your pet flea free in the warmer months? Don’t be alarmed because you are not the only one!  During the warmer months fleas are getting ready to attack our pets and make their lives itchy and uncomfortable. The answer to a flea free pet is simple; prevention. Understanding more about fleas and the way the work might also unlock some answers as to why you struggle keeping fleas off your pets.

What are fleas?

Fleas are tiny dark brown parasitic insects that infest the coat and skin of pets. They have an amazing skill allowing them to jump up to 150 times their own length. That’s like a human jumping over 300 meters. Their remarkable jumping skills allow them to transit easily between hosts and the surrounding environment.

How do you tell if your pet has fleas?

One of the first signs of a flea infestation is that your pet will be scratching and seem quite irritated. On closer examination you could find adult fleas in the coat or at the base of the fur on the skin. You may even find flea dirt that looks like small black specks of grit, similar to finely ground pepper. This is actually digested dried blood. 10 adult fleas can multi ply to more than 250,000 fleas in only 30 days.

How do pets get fleas?

Flea eggs can remain dormant for astonishingly long periods of time under a variety of conditions. They lay dormant in the garden, or in your carpet and furniture, until they are able to hitch a ride. They jump great distances to find a host and travel on pets and even on people.

Why is it important to treat and prevent fleas?

Fleas are the number one cause of skin disease in pets and can cause problems ranging from simple itchiness to weeping sores, scaly skin and a strong smell. Some dogs are even allergic to flea bites (a condition known as Flea Allergy Dermatitis), where one bite sets off a horrible reaction. All skin conditions require veterinary treatment.

Why do fleas spread so quickly?

Fleas breed at an enormous rate. The fleas you see on your dog represent only 5-10% of the fleas in the environment. The rest of the population is represented in the egg and larval stages found in your carpets, furniture, bedding and garden.

The lifecycle explained…

5% of fleas live in the environment as an adult

95% of fleas live as eggs, larvae or pupae

For effective flea control it is essential to break the lifecycle in the environment

This life cycle can take as little as 2-3 weeks and as long as 12 months. To rid your household from fleas, you must break this cycle. Prevention is the key to flea control. There are many different flea products available today and the options can be confusing. Not all products are suitable for different pets due to the variation in coat types, ages and owner capabilities. Adult Fleas: jump onto your dog or cat, feed on their blood and then start laying eggs.

Eggs – one female lays up to 50 eggs per day, they drop off in carpets and bedding before hatching.

Larvae – the hatched eggs release larvae which move away from light, deeper into carpets and under furniture before developing into pupae. The larvae feed on organic debris and at this stage can consume tapeworm eggs, allowing them to become an intermediate host for the development of tapeworms.

How do you protect your pet from fleas?

Smelly and potentially toxic chemicals are a thing of the past, now we can enjoy more recent innovations.

When undertaking flea control you have to consider the various stages of the lifecycle. In severe infestations,

it is sometimes necessary to treat both the pet and the environment. However, due to the effectiveness of modern flea insecticides, treatment of your pet is oft en all that is needed.

Products to rid fleas on your pet

Advanced effective treatment – The latest “spot on” drops are recommended and are very easy to use and last 3-4 weeks.

Oral medications – Daily tablets for instant relief and a quick knockdown.

Monthly tablets – Work as an effective birth control for fleas, hence stopping the life cycle process.

Shampoos & rinses – Kill fleas that are on your pet but offer no residual protection.

Control the environment – Adopt control strategies including: Vacuum the carpet 2-3 times a week to remove eggs, wash pets blankets weekly (in the washing machine), spray the house, kennels and yards with an adult flea killer weekly, fog the house to prevent larvae developing.

Your pet’s skin…

If your pet is scratching or has any skin damage then it is best to have a veterinary check. It will require more than flea control alone to resolve the itch. If your pet does require flea control products, Accuvet Veterinary Hospital is fully trained in flea management and can assist you in choosing a product most suitable for your pet.

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