Important Facts about Fleas

and Flea Prevention

• Fleas are wingless insects that feed on the blood of such animals as dogs, cats, ferrets, rodents, rabbits, birds and humans.
• The life-cycle of the flea consists of the eggs, three larval stages, pupa and adult.
• The adult flea prefers to stay with the host animal. A few fleas may leave occasionally only when populations exceed 200 or more for an average size dog and there is another lesser parasitized animal nearby. For every flea on the host there are hundreds of eggs and larva in the environment, most heavily located in carpet or areas where the pet rests.
• The life-cycle of the flea, from egg to adult, can vary from 14-140 days depending upon the temperature and humidity. Despite the fact that temperatures below 50 degrees induce hibernation of fleas outdoors, this does not in any way reduce or end indoor infestation problems. Infestation problems will persist until both the animal and the environment in which it lives has been treated.

Although fleas can be a problem for your pets all year, flea populations typically explode about 5–6 weeks after the weather starts to warm up. EGG STAGE A female lays about 2,000 eggs in her lifetime. In one day, a single female flea can lay up to 50 eggs. The eggs aren't sticky – they  quickly fall off your pet and into areas of your home. In 2-10 days, the eggs hatch. LARVAL STAGE After hatching, the larvae head toward dark places around your home and feed on "flea dirt" – flea feces containing partially  digested blood from your pet. The larvae grow, molt twice, then spin cocoons, where they grow to pupae. PUPA STAGE Immature fleas spend approximately 8–9 days in their cocoon. During this time, they continue to grow to adulthood, waiting for the signals that it is time to emerge. ADULT STAGE Full-grown adults detect heat, vibrations and exhaled carbon dioxide from inside their cocoons, telling them a host is nearby. The adults leave their cocoons, hop onto a host, find a mate and begin the life cycle all over again. The entire life cycle can be as short as 2-4  weeks. Adult fleas on your pet are only the tip of the infestation iceberg: FRONTLINE® Brand Products break the flea life cycle by killing adult fleas before they can lay their eggs. FRONTLINE Plus provides additional flea control by killing flea eggs and larvae.

Flea Allergy
Certain individuals can develop allergies to the bite of the flea (flea saliva), which results in severe itching, rash and skin infections. An allergic animal or human can suffer immensely from bites of a small number of fleas that a normal individual would hardly notice. These allergies can be difficult to diagnose at times due to the very small numbers of fleas required to cause severe symptoms in a hypersensitive animal.

Tapeworms
One common intestinal parasite, a species of tapeworm requires the flea for part of its lifecycle. Animals that have fleas can ingest the fleas by grooming and thus become infected with the tapeworms. Tapeworm segments look like grains of rice, and are frequently noted around the anus or tail of the animal or in the stool.

Flea Anemia
Although most frequently seen in very young or small animals, flea anemia can occur in any individual if heavily infested. Since fleas eat blood, with a heavy flea burden or if parasitized over a long period of time, blood loss can be extensive. Weakness, decreased appetite and death can occur if not treated in time.

Feline Panleukopenia (Distemper)
Studies have shown that feline distemper can be transmitted from infected cats to susceptible cats via saliva from fleas that have jumped from one animal to another.

Why over-the-counter (OTC) products (topicals, collars, shampoos, dips) don’t work?

• Most OTC products contain insecticides that only kill the adult flea. This does not help control flea problems since much of the flea population are eggs, and larva.
• Most OTC products require that the flea bite the animal in order to get the insecticide or don’t prevent fleas from biting before they die. This does not protect the allergic animal. Hypersensitive animals will continue to itch and have skin infections due to continued bites.
• Most OTC products only treat the day of application or for only a few days. Although the current population of adult fleas may die following a treatment, re-infection immediately following the treatment or soon after is very common.
• Natural products such as brewers yeast have not been show to work in scientific studies, and certainly should not be used in allergic animals.

• 98-100% of all fleas, eggs and larvae are dead within 24 hours of application.
• Can prevent Lyme disease by killing ticks before they have a chance to spread the disease.
• Provides protection from new fleas by spreading through the skin within 24 hours
• Provides protection for 30 –60 days depending on the individual. Allergic animals should have the product applied every 30 days.
• Does not wash out. Animals can be groomed or swim. ( We have found that the product is not as effective when applied the day before, of, or after a bath. The natural oils which help the product spread are lessened by bathing. Thus we recommend that the product not be applied the day before, of or after a bath.)
• Approved for use in very young animals, as well as pregnant or nursing mothers.

Frontline can be used year-round which is important for an allergic animal or seasonally if you choose. We recommend prevention for the non-allergic animal between April and November. This can vary greatly depending upon the weather patterns and temperatures for a given year,

A note about Advantage: This product is also excellent at flea prevention. We are not using this product at this time because of the new line of the product for dogs called Advantix. Advantix is effective against fleas and ticks and was produced to compete with Frontline for the duel use. The product, however, is toxic to cats. Our concern with this new product is that Advantix could be inadvertently applied or rubbed on to a cat by a dog in the same household and lead to a toxic or fatal reaction. In addition, cats on regular advantage are not protected from ticks.

• Vacuum the carpet. Make sure you throw away the bag or clean the canister or the eggs and larvae will just hatch and jump back out.
• Clean bedding or blankets in hot water.
• Purchase a flea fogger or call a professional.

Groton City Animal Hospital
794 Cortland Rd. (Rte. 222)
Groton, NY 13073
(607)898-4482