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Flee!!! Fleas!!! Flee!!!
By Ruth Cunningham
www.YankeeBelleChihuahuas.com
More than 60% of households in the U.S. are homes to pets; over 60,000,000 dogs and 70,000,000 cats. Even the most diligent pet owner can't be free of the risk of fleas and all that goes along with the problem. It amazes me how many pet owners think their pets are free of fleas and yet the poor creatures are digging their skin raw. If examined closely you will find flea dirt on your pet more often than an actual flea. With all the advances in pet care, there is no need for any pet to suffer with fleas.
An adult flea is an ugly little creature that has a hard wingless body that measures anywhere from 1/16 to 1/8 inch in length. They have three pairs of legs with extremely long back legs to enable jumping. A flea can jump horizontally thirteen inches and vertically up to seven inches. Their body is flat like a sunfish to enable it to move between hair, fur or feathers. The life cycle of the flea is egg, larva, pupae, and adult. A flea can live anywhere from two weeks to eight months depending upon the temperature, food supply and species of flea.
A female flea lays anywhere from fifteen to twenty eggs daily which can total about six hundred eggs during her lifetime. Her eggs are laid loosely on your pet's fur and drop off anywhere your pet rests. Eggs hatch into larva within two days to two weeks depending upon the conditions. The larva changes into pupa and then matures into an adult flea in five to fourteen days.
Controlling a flea infestation requires treating all of the areas your pet has access to. This includes the yard, the house and the car. Eliminating adult fleas is just the beginning.
Eggs and larvae will be in the carpets, furniture, bedding, and even in the floor cracks. They can lie dormant for months before maturing. It takes perseverance to effectively eliminate fleas completely. Even this rigorous approach may not give 100% control, as there are other sources of fleas that are beyond your control such as the pets of other people and wild animals.
Do not take the "more is better" approach when using chemicals on your pet. Follow instructions carefully. Some products can be deadly. Your veterinarian can safely guide you to the products, which will work best for your particular pet.
Flea shampoo is a good first attack on fleas when your pet has visible fleas. Keep in mind that this is effective for a day or less. The chemical residual does not stay on your pet. Dips are stronger and the chemicals stay on your pet for 1-2 weeks. This is a lot of chemical and is recommended only if absolutely necessary as in a tick or mite infestation.
Flea collars emit a toxic gas that kills adult fleas on only the head and neck areas of your pet. A better use for flea collars is placing them in your vacuum cleaner bag to kill the fleas that you vacuum up.
Flea powder and sprays are effective mostly on adult fleas and for only 2-3 days. Spot treatments are preferred over this short acting treatment. Keep in mind; adult fleas are only 1% to 5% of the population! Spot treatments applied between the shoulder blades of your pet lasts about 1 month. Some brands include ingredients to inhibit larva from hatching. I have used Frontline Plus with great success. I do not apply it to my pregnant or nursing mothers, although, some breeders use it regardless and have reported no ill effects.
Insecticide sprays containing insect growth regulators can be used in your home in areas where flea eggs, larvae and pupae are likely to be found. It is recommended that you treat the entire home first and then concentrate on the hot spots, such as pet beds, carpets and furniture. Once hatched, flea larvae move away from light sources and burrow deep into carpets and into cracks along baseboards.
Oral medications work by stopping the larva from hatching. Fleas ingest the blood of pets on oral medications and then the female flea lays eggs that will not hatch. Oral medications do not kill adult fleas.
Only 10% or less of the flea population will be on your pet. You cannot control an infestation by treating only your pet. A single flea can bite your pet 400 times in one day, consuming it's own body weight in blood. The smaller the pet, the more danger of serious health problems. Last year I rescued a litter of Chihuahua pups that were lethargic and anemic from flea bites. When I applied Frontline Plus to their backs, I saw fleas dropping off in great numbers in no time at all. It took several weeks for their hair to grow in and for their anemia to be resolved. I educated the pet breeder and followed up to be sure she was giving proper care to her dogs since then. Frontline Plus not only kills adult fleas, but also prevents flea eggs from developing into larvae. (Do not apply within 2 days of bathing because it spreads by using the natural oils in the pet's coat.)
Some pets are allergic to the proteins in flea saliva and they can have permanent hair loss from scratching. Your pet's immune system is overreacting to the foreign substance called allergens. The most common symptom will be generalized itching and scratching. Another manifestation involves the respiratory system and may result in sneezing, coughing and wheezing. You may notice eye and/or nose discharge. The digestive system may be involved, resulting in diarrhea and vomiting. Steroids can be used to block the allergic reaction and give immediate relief.
Often pets with fleas also have tapeworm from ingesting fleas. Many people who had thought their pet could not possibly have fleas find an infestation when tapeworms are detected. The easiest way to check your pet for tapeworm is to watch his bedding for rice-like worms. They are difficult to find in stool samples. Your veterinarian has special worm medication for tapeworms. One of my rescued pups had such an extreme infestation of tapeworms and roundworms that she had intestinal blockage and nearly died. She had a complete workup by my veterinarian and was given the proper wormers, but was not able to keep food down. I gave subcutaneous fluids at home until she was able to tolerate food again. She made a complete recovery.
Fleas are not the only enemy. Tick bites can give your pet Lyme Disease, Ehrlichiosis and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. And these ticks can give you and your family members the same diseases. Please don't try to save a few bucks by cutting corners on proper pet care. Your pet and your family deserve the proper protection from these horrible diseases. With the assistance of your vet, your pet and home can be parasite free.
The fleas will flee! I don't know about you but I am itching like crazy.
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