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| (SPCA) |
Fleas start out as an egg and make their way to an adult. Depending upon the humidity and temperature, the fleas' life cycle will vary. The dog and cat are the main hosts for this external parasite.
A single "female flea can lay several hundred eggs over her life span." (PetMD) She lays around twenty to thirty eggs a day on the host. The eggs will then fall off and hatch when environmental factors are in the fleas' favor. This is when the flea, with it's powerful legs, jumps onto it's host and starts the process again from the beginning.
Signs Your Pet May Have Fleas
Itching and hair loss are the two main signs to look for on your pet, if you think he or she may have fleas. The base of the tail and tips of the ears are the places to look for hair loss. Flea combs are very helpful in finding the external parasite as well. Owners can also look for what we call "flea dirt," which is flea feces containing dried blood, that look like small specs of dirt.
Prevention is Key.
First and foremost, prevention is key. It is easier to prevent then treat because fleas breed so fast. There are several flea prevention products on the market that you can purchase at a veterinary office. Your veterinarian will choose the appropriate prevention for your pet based on its' health and environmental needs.
My Pet Has Fleas, Now What?
The products available for flea prevention also help in flea treatment. It will seem like the infestation will never go away, but stick with it. Every animal in the household should be on flea prevention in order for treatment be successful. The main thing I think owners do not understand about flea control and treatment is that the fleas are not only on their pet, but also in the environment. While treating your pet, the environment (household, bedding, etc) needs to be treated as well. If the fleas are being treated on your pet, but are still on their bedding the fleas will not go away. There are several products, from an exterminator or your local veterinarian, that you can purchase to help treat the environment. The fleas will eventually be taken care of and from there a rigorous flea prevention plan will have to be put in place.
Bring your pet in today and we'll start he or she on a flea prevention plan! If you have any questions about the flea, call Tenth Street Animal Hospital today!
Please comment and let me know what topics you would love to read about!
Here's to a tail waggin' day!
Noelle
*Information obtained for this blog from: Petmd.com
A single "female flea can lay several hundred eggs over her life span." (PetMD) She lays around twenty to thirty eggs a day on the host. The eggs will then fall off and hatch when environmental factors are in the fleas' favor. This is when the flea, with it's powerful legs, jumps onto it's host and starts the process again from the beginning.
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| Flea Dirt (Google User) |
Itching and hair loss are the two main signs to look for on your pet, if you think he or she may have fleas. The base of the tail and tips of the ears are the places to look for hair loss. Flea combs are very helpful in finding the external parasite as well. Owners can also look for what we call "flea dirt," which is flea feces containing dried blood, that look like small specs of dirt.
Prevention is Key.
First and foremost, prevention is key. It is easier to prevent then treat because fleas breed so fast. There are several flea prevention products on the market that you can purchase at a veterinary office. Your veterinarian will choose the appropriate prevention for your pet based on its' health and environmental needs.
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| The Flea, Ctenocephalides (Orkin.com) |
The products available for flea prevention also help in flea treatment. It will seem like the infestation will never go away, but stick with it. Every animal in the household should be on flea prevention in order for treatment be successful. The main thing I think owners do not understand about flea control and treatment is that the fleas are not only on their pet, but also in the environment. While treating your pet, the environment (household, bedding, etc) needs to be treated as well. If the fleas are being treated on your pet, but are still on their bedding the fleas will not go away. There are several products, from an exterminator or your local veterinarian, that you can purchase to help treat the environment. The fleas will eventually be taken care of and from there a rigorous flea prevention plan will have to be put in place.
Bring your pet in today and we'll start he or she on a flea prevention plan! If you have any questions about the flea, call Tenth Street Animal Hospital today!
Please comment and let me know what topics you would love to read about!
Here's to a tail waggin' day!
Noelle
*Information obtained for this blog from: Petmd.com
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