What if I already have a flea problem?
A successful flea control program
must involve the household, the affected pet, and all other animals
in the household. Battling a flea infestation requires patience and
perseverance!! Because the life cycle of the flea is 3-4 weeks, it
will take at least that long to completely rid your pet and the
environment!
#1 - VACUUM. Thoroughly
vacuum floors, rugs, carpets, upholstered furniture, crevices and
baseboards DAILY to remove flea eggs & larvae. Vacuuming is
very effective in picking up adults and stimulating preemerged
adults to leave their cocoon. (Remember fleas hatch from cocoons
when they detect heat, vibration and carbon dioxide - your vacuum
therefore mimics an animal/host!) When you are done vacuuming, make
sure to destroy the bag or place it in a sealed ziploc bag so the
fleas can't develop or escape!
#2 - Launder pet bedding in hot,
soapy water at least once a week.
#3 - Use insecticides, if needed,
inside the home.
#4 - Outdoor treatment may be
necessary if your pet spends considerable time outside.
#5 - Consult your veterinarian for
advice or any questions concerning your individual flea
problem.
#6 - Read all insecticide label
directions carefully before buying insecticides and again before
applying them to ensure their proper use!
Fleas are more than an annoyance, they can make
life for you and your pet miserable. Not only do fleas create a
never ending cycle of biting and scratching, but these little bugs
can also cause serious health problems including flea allergy
dermatitis, anemia, or tapeworm infections in some
pets. You're not safe either because fleas will bite people
(although they prefer an animal).
Flea Life Cycle
Fleas are
blood-sucking parasites that go through four stages: egg, larvae,
pupae, and adult.
Eggs: Adult female
fleas lay eggs (up to 50 per day) on your pet. These small eggs are
not sticky and quickly fall off your pet into nearby bedding,
cracks, carpet / furniture areas frequented by your pet.
Larvae: Eggs hatch
tiny worm-like larvae which molt twice, then spin cocoons, where
they grow to pupae.
Pupae: Pupae
remain inside a cocoon for a few weeks (or up to a year depending
on environment) and are resistant to insecticides. The adult
fleas emerge from the cocoon when they detect heat,
vibrations and carbon dioxide - indicating that a host (animal)
should be nearby.
Adults: Adult
fleas hop onto a host, mate and begin the life cycle all over again
in as little as 3 weeks. An adult flea lives approximately 30-100
days on the host and can lay up to 2,000 eggs in it's lifetime.
Adult fleas spend almost all of their time on your pet.
In a typical flea population, only
5% are in adult stage, while the eggs and larvae make up 85% of the
flea population.The adult flea lives on your pet-the eggs, larvae
& pupae live in the environment-in your carpet or floor cracks
etc.
Flea Prevention
The best approach to managing fleas
is prevention!!! There are currently safer and more effective
products on the market rather than the traditional pesticide -
spray/dip methods of the past. The best way to control a flea
problem is to prepare for fleas before they become a problem! Your
pet can pick up a flea from the environment anywhere and
anytime-when you least expect it!! We recommend and provide the
following products to protect your pet against fleas:
Sentinel
SENTINEL is a once-a-month parasite
protection pill. It combines the advantages of Interceptor
(heartworm- roundworm-whipworm-hookworm protection) with protection
against flea infestations.
Sentinel contains the ingredient,
Lufenuron, which sterilizes flea eggs so that you stop the flea's
life cycle (remember that 1 flea can produce 2,000 eggs for 2,000
new fleas...). It is not a pesticide, so you do not have to worry
about pesticide residues on your pet or in your home.
If there is a need to kill any
adult fleas, there is another pill, Capstar, that can be given to
kill the adult fleas.
Frontline
FRONTLINE is a helpful product that
is used topically once-a-month to kill fleas and ticks. The
ingredient of Frontline is fipronil and is placed on one skin spot
between the pet's shoulder blades. Frontline is much safer to use
on pets than traditional permethrin pesticides! Frontline is an
important product to utilize if there is any possible exposure to
ticks.
Flea Warnings
Don't be fooled by 'inexpensive',
over-the-counter topical flea products. Generally, they do not work
very well and use the old permethrin insecticides that have
caused severe toxic reactions in pets!! Remember, you generally get
what you pay for.
Traditional flea shampoos, sprays
and dips containing permethrins are still available but are not
nearly as effective or as safe to use! These products are
especially toxic to cats.
Flea collars are not recommended
for pets. They are very slow to kill fleas and do not control fleas
on all areas of the pet's body, including near the tail and back
legs where most fleas are found!
As a final note, whether or
not you actually see fleas on your pet, they may be
there...preventing them is much easier and safer than trying to
treat them after you find them!!
