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FLEAS: WHAT EXACTLY ARE THEY?
Fleas, according to the definition provided by The National Pet Health and Care Network (NPHCN), are small and wingless insects that feed themselves by sucking the blood of their ‘hosts'. They usually live on the skin of most mammals like cats or dogs and, in rare occasions, birds. Fleas place their eggs below carpets, in curtains, in piles of garbage, and other places that offer them food and shelter. They are known to survive in these settings for months while waiting for a victim.
Although there are many different species of fleas, the most common type are the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis, and the dog flea, Ctenocephalides canis. Fleas are most common from spring through fall. They like temperatures that range between 62 and 83 degrees Fahrenheit with 52 to 92 percent humidity— just about the same temperatures under which we keep our homes.
A FLEAS' LIFE-CYCLE
According to the NPHCN, the typical flea population consists of the following: 50 percent eggs, 35 percent Larvae, 10 percent Pupa, and 5 percent Adults. Fleas have a four-stage life cycle which presents the following stages: A female flea can lay an average of 40 to 50 eggs daily. Fleas will remain as eggs at this stage for about one to two weeks, depending on certain conditions such as humidity or temperature or the surroundings. After this period, the eggs then turn into larvae, feeding itself from organic tissue. A few days later, they turn into pupae or a cocoon. Adult fleas emerge from these cocoons a few weeks later. The adult will remain in the cocoon until vibrations indicate that a victim is close by, a waiting process that can extend the life cycle. Fleas' long and powerful legs allow them to jump up to relatively high altitudes.
SYMPTOMS: HOW TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE FLEAS
Ordinary household fleas do not transmit diseases to humans and pets. They are mostly an annoyance that can cause itching and scratching. You can observe general signs that your pet has fleas by looking at your pet's behavior. If you become aware that your pet has been acting uncomfortable lately, biting or scratching around its tail and back, or if you notice the presence of small scabs or bumps on your pet's neck or back, weakness or lethargy, your pet may have fleas. Fleas can also cause discomfort due to an allergic reaction to the flea bite. Itching, another symptom caused by fleas, is not solely due to the biting but also to the sensation created as they crawl over the skin.
To see if your pet has fleas, you can always start by searching for flea dirt—tiny black flecks, or poppy-seed like excrement, found on your pet's skin or on the places your pet likes to ‘hang out'. Flea dirt essentially consists of feces from adult fleas, which contain blood sucked from its host or hosts. To properly determine that the specks you find are in fact flea dirt, wet them with a drop of water. If these specks turn red, then your pet has, without doubt, been infected with fleas.
Using a flea comb is another helpful method to check your pet for fleas. Flea combs are available at any pet store for a very low price. Run the comb through your pet's fur and if you observe or find either flea dirt or the fleas on the comb, then your pet is positively infected. If you discover that your pet has fleas, you will need to follow a treatment for both your pet and your home. Fleas can be eliminated by wiping out the adult fleas and by making their ‘home' as inadequate as possible for the larvae to develop. Washing your pet's bedding thoroughly and frequently will also help to keep the presence of fleas under control.
FLEAS AND TREATMENT
If you are unsure about the treatment, consult your veterinarian. He or she will be able to provide you with more informative and useful advice and should be able to give your pet ‘showers' to eradicate the fleas. These processes may need to be repeated every once in a while as needed.
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved new types of prescription flea-control products including the following: Proban, an oral insecticide for dogs given once every three days or twice a week as needed; Pro-Spot applied to a spot between your dog's shoulder blades once every two weeks; Program – two different products, for cats older that six weeks and for dogs, given once a month with a full meal. Program contains insect growth regulator (IGR), which works by interrupting the flea life cycle.
WHEN USING FLEA AND TICK PRODUCTS,
REMEMBER THE FOLLOWING:
• Carefully read the product's entire label before using it. If for some reason you are unsure about any of the specifications and advice given, consult with your veterinarian.
• When using these products, make sure that you wear latex gloves and be certain to carefully follow the instructions as recommended.
• Do not use cat products on dogs and vice versa.
• Due to their hazardous contents, keep these products out of the reach of children.
• For the same reason, keep these products away from food.
SOURCES USED
• FDA
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