| The most common pet pest, the flea, is actually a marvel of adaptability that would be much admired if they weren't so pesky. However, since they often carry tapeworms, can cause severe itching and even allergy, and often bite humans, their jumping and survival talents are reviled instead of revered.
 An adult flea is the slam-dunk champ of the insect world. About the size of a pinhead, it can jump about 100 times its own height. This ability to jump makes it possible to travel quickly from host to host and from host to hiding place for laying eggs.
By late spring, fleas begin to emerge from their pupae as adults and migrate to the nearest dog or cat for blood meals. An adult flea mates shortly after emergence and begins laying eggs within 36 hours. In her brief 50-day lifespan, a single female flea can lay more than 2,000 eggs. Female fleas need blood to complete their reproductive cycle. Baby fleas need blood to grow. Although fleas prefer dog and cat blood, human blood will do in pinch.
The female lays eggs on the host animal, but the eggs fall to the ground, carpet, sofa, dog bed, or owner's bed where they hatch in two-to-five days. The full life cycle of the flea takes about 35-40 days in spring and 17-21 days in summer. By late summer, cycles slow to two months or more. Fleas need humidity to survive. Household warmth even in the winter time can keep flea larvae alive until conditions are ripe for emergence of the adult flea. This means that flea eggs can hatch and re-infest a home several months after an owner thinks they have rid their home of the pests.
Signs of Infestation
Fleas are masters at hiding. Don't depend on seeing the flea to know if it's there. Instead, look for clues. If your pet scratches, he may have been bitten. If he bites at his rear end, especially around his tail or the inside or outside of his thighs, fleas are a possibility.
Flea dirt looks like sprinkled pepper on the pet. If you drop some of the flea dirt onto a damp paper towel it will turn reddish in color from the blood. This is a clear sign of flea infestation. Your pet may also develop a reddish, bumpy rash called "flea bite dermatitis" which can be diagnosed by your veterinarian.
Preventing an Infestation
Vacuum everything, from carpets, floors, rugs and drapes, to upholstered furniture, mattresses and cushions. Dispose of the vacuum-cleaner bag after each use. Clean wood and tile floors with special attention to grooves, cracks and baseboards. Wash all sheets, linen, pillow cases, and dog beds in hot water.
The best defense against fleas is monthly topical treatments that you purchase from your veterinarian's office such as Frontline Plus or Advantix/Advantage. Continuous usage of these products ensures that not only the existing fleas and flea eggs will be killed but that also they will not return with a vengeance.
|
