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How much do you know about Fleas?

Fleas can be a big problem! 
Credit (http://www.petsandparasites.org/dog-owners/fleas/)
That picture is gross, right? Most of us know that fleas are no fun. But once you get them in your house, do you really know what to do in order to get rid of them? As there are four stages of the flea life cycle, you must be sure to manage all of them in order to keep fleas at bay.
 Let's go over the Flea Life Cycle.

 Credit (http://thefollisreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/flea-life-cycle-time.jpg)

The flea egg is deposited by the female and usually fall to the ground or carpet once laid. They usually will hatch within 1-12 days and make up about 50 percent of the infestation. 
The larvae stage for fleas can be tricky as they are pretty small. They can hid in crevices and cracks located within the home. When vacuuming, one must definitely pay attention to the areas that your pet stays the most; like bedding or spots on the floor where they lay. You must also be sure not to leave the residue in your vacuum or the fleas can get out. We recommend a bag-less vacuum that you can wash the canister once dumped out and take the trash bags out to the dumpster.
  
The adult flea is a very common parasite on the dog or cat, though surprisingly are a small percentage of the flea infestation. They move quickly, jump far, and hide between your pets' hairs. When you normally notice them is when your pet keeps scratching. You can also look for flea dirt if you suspect fleas, but have not seen any yet. As the female adult flea feeds, it then can lay eggs within 48 hours of the 1st meal. The cycle continues with the eggs.

At this point, one can ask if you have had your pet on a flea prevention. They commonly come paired with either a Heartworm Prevention or a Tick Prevention such as Sentinel and Parastar for dogs and Revolution or Easy Spot for Cats. 
If you have any questions, please feel free to give us a call at 317-846-8710. We are located here in Carmel and can help you and you pets with the fleas season for the surrounding areas. 


written by Danielle Fuller ~ RVT


Comments

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