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Fleas: Know your Enemy
Date Published: 04/12/2017 Date Reviewed/Revised: 04/26/2018 (This article can be found through the pet library link and is a product of VIN)
Ctenocephalides felis. Courtesy Dr. Amelia White
Although there are over 2000 flea species in the world, pet owners should be concerned with only one: Ctenocephalides felis, the cat flea. This is the flea that we find on our pets (cats, dogs, rabbits, and other species) in 99.9 percent of cases. In order to understand how to control the damage caused by this tiny little animal, learn all you can about it. Fleas can cause serious health problems for you and your pet Fleas aren’t just a nuisance! Fleas can kill Fleas suck blood and blood loss leads to anemia. A heavy flea burden is lethal, especially to smaller or younger animals. The cat flea has even been known to kill animals as large as dairy calves through heavy infestation. Fleas can cause serious skin issues Fleas can transmit infections and parasites Common Myths Even though fleas are the most common parasite in dogs and cats, there are many misconceptions about them. Myths that veterinarians hear about fleas almost every day are: Myth: My pet cannot have fleas because he lives entirely indoors. Fact: Fleas thrive particularly well in the well-regulated temperatures in the home. Myth: My pet cannot have fleas because if there were any fleas they would be biting (insert name of a person in the family reportedly sensitive to flea bites). Since this person is not being bitten, there must not be any fleas. Fact: The cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis, can suck the blood of a wide variety of animals. However, this flea definitely does not prefer human blood and won’t eat it unless absolutely necessary. Humans tend not to be bitten unless flea population numbers are high. Myth: We do not have fleas because we only have hard wood floors. Fact: Fleas love to develop in the cracks between the boards of hard wood floors. Myth: My pet cannot have fleas because I would see them. Fact: You cannot expect to see fleas because many animals will lick, groom, and chew after being bitten by a flea. This causes the flea to either jump off the pet or get swallowed. The Flea Life Cycle There are four life stages of the flea. For effective flea control, it is important to know how to break this life cycle in more than one place. The flea life cycle consists of egg, larval, pupal, and adult stages. Eggs are laid in the hair coat and are designed to fall off your pet and into your home. Larvae hatch from the eggs and develop in a pet’s environment by feeding on adult flea feces (i.e. digested blood) that fall out of the hair coat of the pet. Larvae eventually spin cocoons, often within carpet fibers, for pupation. Pupae are resistant to freezing, drying, and insecticides, and can lie dormant for many months! New fleas develop from pupae and can begin feeding within hours of finding a dog or cat. The entire flea life cycle can be completed in as little as three weeks. Flea Control Strategies New Products Break the Flea Life Cycle Year-round Flea Control Rotate Flea Products Sadly, fleas are here to stay one way or the other. Know as much about this pest as you do about the dogs and cats that it feeds upon. You cannot know too much when it comes to flea control! URL: https://www.pvahosp.com/pet-library.pml?id=7955321
Flea Control for Dogs and Cats
Date Published: 11/15/2003 Date Reviewed/Revised: 07/12/2018 Larvae hatch from the eggs and develop in a pet’s environment by feeding on adult flea feces (i.e. digested blood) that fall out of the hair coat, as seen here with a flea comb. Photo by Dr. Wendy Brooks.
Fleas are the most common external parasite of companion animals. In addition to causing itching and other skin problems, fleas can transmit diseases to animals and people. The majority of the flea population (i.e. eggs, larvae, and pupae) are found off the pet and around the home. The ideal flea control program uses products that target all of the various stages of the flea life cycle and treats the pet’s environment. The Life Cycle of the Flea: Ctenocephalides felis The flea life cycle consists of egg, larval, pupal, and adult stages. Eggs are laid in the hair coat and are designed to fall off your pet and into your home. Larvae hatch from the eggs and develop in a pet’s environment by feeding on adult flea feces (i.e. digested blood) that fall out of the hair coat of the pet. Larvae eventually spin cocoons, often within carpet fibers, for pupation. Pupae are resistant to freezing, drying, and insecticides, and can lie dormant for many months! New fleas develop from pupae and can begin feeding within hours of finding a dog or cat. The entire flea life cycle can be completed in as little as three weeks. Today's Flea Control Products In the past, veterinarians and pet owners had to try to control fleas by treating the environment of the animal for the immature flea stages. This approach was labor intensive and required frequent applications. Although some older flea control products could be applied to pets, these products did not kill fleas quickly enough or were not long-lasting. Today, veterinarians have some great flea control products in our arsenal. There are now many effective and safe new products to choose from. Flea Control Recommendations
ALWAYS wait until all surfaces have dried before allowing your pets back into a treated area. |