Why Flea Control Is Important

Fleas are a common type of animal parasite. They are not restricted to dogs as some might believe, also being found on cats, and many other mammals, including wild animals.

They are true survivors and can be found in almost every area of the world, even in cold climates.

The Flea Life Cycle
There are four stages to the flea life cycle.

The Egg Stage
Eggs are laid by the adult female flea on the warm-blodded host but they all don't stay there. Some eggs roll off into the environment whereever that animal might be and after a few days they mature into larvae.

The Larvae Stage
These larvae survive by eating flea feces, flea egg shells, organic debris, and other flea larvae. They are hardy survivors. They can crawl and sometimes move as much as six inches per day. This stage lasts a few days, pretty much dependent upon the available food resources.

The Pupal Stage
After a few days, larvae mature into pupae. Pupae have very thick shells, designed by nature to withstand harsh environmental conditions while they sit and wait for a suitable host to come by.

The Adult Stage
Once the pupae detect a suitable warm-blooded host is present, they quickly mature into adult fleas and hop a ride on said host, thus starting the lifecycle all over again.

Flea Treatments a Veterinarian Can Provide

First, there is no one drug or chemical that can kill all four stages of the flea. The most common types used for adult fleas are Activyl, Frontline, Advantage, Comfortis, Capstar, and Revolution.

You must be careful however, some of the older products are highly toxic to cats.

As for the Larval Stage, Lufenuron and methoprene are chemicals that work. No chemical is currently available to effectively kill the pupal stage.

Why See An Animal Doctor About Fleas

Fleas are the number one allergen source for dogs and cats and can cause severe skin disease and itching if left untreated. They also can carry and spread several serious diseases, such as tapeworms, cat scratch disease (Bartonella), murine typhus, and even the bubonic plague.

Your veterinarian can help you with a flea control program

depending on what kind of pet you have and the level of flea infestation present. Contact the veterinarian at Claws N Paws website www.clawsnpawshospital.com today for more information.