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Flea Control
Fleas are easy to find on a pet that is heavily infested. But when fleas are present in smaller numbers, it can be harder to see them. Cats and dogs are very efficient at removing debris from their coats and may succeed in removing all evidence of flea infestation. Even if your dog or cat shows no evidence of fleas, it is important to use a flea preventive. Shampoos, sprays, powders, and spot-on preparations are all available. Consult us at Arlington Park Veterinary Hospital to choose the most effective and safe flea products.
To check whether your pet has fleas, start by looking on the pet’s stomach, around the tail base, and around the neck. Sometimes you will see “flea dirt” rather than adult fleas. Flea dirt is fecal matter that contains partially digested blood, and it is a good indicator of the presence of fleas. Flea dirt looks like small black specks or coiled structures. When placed on damp white tissue, it dissolves, leaving a reddish-brown stain. You may find flea dirt in your pet’s bedding even when you cannot see it on your pet.
A pet may develop an allergy to fleas. Flea allergy is a common cause of allergic skin disease. One of the symptoms is excessive grooming. To investigate the possibility of flea allergy, we may advise rigorous flea control even when no fleas can be found.
Understanding the Flea Life Cycle
Successful flea control involves treating the environment as well as your cat or dog. Environmental control requires an understanding of the four stages of the flea life cycle. The entire life cycle, from egg to adult flea, can be completed in fourteen to twenty-eight days, depending on environmental conditions.
1. Flea eggs are initially laid on a host animal’s skin and then fall off into the environment. Eggs may hatch in as little as fourteen to twenty-eight days.
2. After hatching, the flea larvae move away from the light and burrow deep into carpets and other nooks and crannies. They feed on organic debris found in their environment and on adult flea feces.
3. Next, flea pupae produce a sticky, protective, silk-like cocoon. In this warm, humid environment, the pupae become adult fleas in five to ten days. The fleas can continue to survive in the cocoon for up to nine months. During this time, they are resistant to insecticides applied to their environment. The adult fleas emerge from their cocoons when stimulated by physical pressure, carbon dioxide, or heat. If they do not get food once they emerge, they can stay alive for only a few days.
4. Once they have emerged, adult fleas are attracted to light and look for a passing host to feed on. Two days after its first blood meal, a female flea begins egg production. In normal circumstances, the adult female will live up to three weeks and will lay approximately forty eggs a day.
Treating the Home Environment
Various products kill fleas at various life cycle stages. Products that can be used in the house include the following:
- Insecticide sprays
- Sprays containing insect growth regulators (IGRs), which are available from Arlington Park Veterinary Hospital
- Insecticides applied by professional pest control operators
Sprays that are designated for use in the house should be applied where the flea eggs, larvae, and pupae are likely to be. First treat the entire house, and then concentrate on your pet’s favorite dozing spots, such as soft furniture, beds, and carpets. Be sure to spray underneath cushions, furniture, and beds. Also spray baseboards and cracks in wood floors. Vacuuming prior to spraying causes newly developed fleas to emerge from pupae, making it possible for them to be killed by the insecticide.
Your pet’s bedding should be regularly washed in hot water or replaced. Regular and thorough vacuuming of your carpets, floors, and soft furnishings can remove a large number of flea eggs, larvae, and pupae. Throw away the vacuum bag to prevent eggs and larvae from developing inside the vacuum cleaner.
Using Insecticides Safely
Carefully follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using insecticides for flea control. Always seek our advice if you are not sure that an insecticide is safe for pets and people, and always tell us if you are using flea control products that we have not prescribed.
Some types of pets, including fish, amphibians, reptiles, and invertebrates, are particularly susceptible to certain insecticides. Consult us before using flea control products in a room in which these pets are kept.
Treating your pet for fleas has never been easier. With the many choices available today, Arlington Park Veterinary Hospital can provide the safest and most effective flea preventive for your pet’s needs.
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Disclaimer: The information contained on this Web site is intended to be general in nature and should not be construed as medical advice. Consult a veterinarian regarding the applicability of the information to you and your pet.
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Created by Sybil & Lucy. Last updated April 25, 2010
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