All dogs and cats should be treated with flea prevention year-round according to the Companion Animal Parasite Control. Flea bites can cause intense itching, skin irritation and can cause disease for your pet. If your pet becomes infested with fleas, your home can also become infested. Once established, fleas can bite humans in the household and cause flea bite dermatitis, and zoonotic diseases.
The Flea Life Cycle
- An adult flea that jumps on your pet will begin to feed on your pet’s blood immediately and excrete flea dirt or digested blood so the flea larvae can feed on the flea dirt later.
- Adult male and female flea mate on the host (your dog or cat).
- Each adult female will lay up to 50 eggs per day 1-2 days after it gets on your pet.
- The flea eggs and flea dirt on your pet, will drop off of your pet on to your carpet, sofa and bedding.
- In 2 -5 days, the Larvae will hatch from the eggs and the larvae develops by feeding on the flea dirt and organic debris. Larvae development time is between 5-21 days depending on the environment and nutrition.
- The larvae will develop into a pupae by making a cocoon.
- Pupae development takes about 8-13 days, but can take up to 30 weeks in poor conditions.
- New adults emerge and are waiting for a new warm-blooded host to feed on.
Diseases Caused by Fleas
- Flea allergy dermatitis is the most common problem. Your pet will become itchy and will cause a severe irritation and inflammation leading to secondary skin infection.
- Heavy flea infestation can lead to anemia (low red blood cells) and in very young animals, this could be serious and even lead to death.
- Fleas can transmit a variety of diseases: Rickettsial diseases, Bartonella henselae, Dipylidium caninum, Acanthocheilonema, Yersenia pestis (plague), Trypanosoma lewisi, Mycoplasma diseases, Francisella tularensis.
Diagnosis
Fleas look like a small black sesame seed. It moves quickly between your pet’s coat. The best way to see fleas on your pet is to run your hands against the grain of the coat. You will see the flea moving very quickly trying to escape. You may also see flea dirt (digested blood meal) which looks like black pepper. The larvae and pupae are difficult to see because it is small and blends into the environment.
Preventing Fleas
Preventing fleas is much easier that treating fleas so it is best to prevent your pets from getting fleas. The best way to prevent fleas is to use a product that has efficacy against all stages of the flea life cycle. While there are many flea prevention products in the market, Simparica and Nexgard are very effective monthly flea prevention.
Flea Treatment for Dogs and Cats
If your pet is infested with fleas, a comprehensive elimination program should be implemented.
- Immediately place your pet on prescription strength comprehensive flea prevention such as Simparica or Nexgard to kill the fleas and to prevent re-infestation.
- Bathe your pet to remove fleas, and flea dirt. Repeat bathing as needed.
- Vacuum all floors, sofas, beds and rugs thoroughly and frequently.
- Flea life cycle will take several months to break so monthly flea prevention is imperative to eradicate flea infestation.
- In areas where there is heavy flea population, professionally treating the yard may be needed.
Health Risks for People
The common flea of the dog is Ctenocephalidies felis. This flea can cause a number of diseases which can be transmitted to people. Bartonella henselae causes cat scratch disease, Rickettsia typhus causes flea borne typhus, Dipylidium caninum causes tapeworms to name a few. Dogs and cats can acquire rodent fleas. When these fleas leave the host and bite humans, flea bites can cause bubonic plaque (Yersenia pestis).
At Vetsavers Pet Hospital we follow the Companion Animal Parasite Control Council guidelines for flea and tick prevention to ensure your pet will get the best possible care and successful outcome.
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