Fleas

When the word “fleas” is said, people take notice. They are a pet owner's worst nightmare, especially if you've already experienced dealing with them on your pet and in your house.

Fleas can have a huge detrimental effect on pets, in addition to being a nuisance. On small or young animals, a heavy infestation can potentially kill them. Other problems that can be caused by fleas are flea allergy dermatitis, flea anemia, and feline infectious anemia. A common tapeworm infection can be caused by fleas too, which could also increase the risk of anemia.

Not So Fun Facts

There are 4 main stages of a flea's life cycle: egg, larva, pupa and adult.

The adult can lay up to 40 eggs a day. These eggs fall off the host and into the environment.

The larva is the most prominent stage of the life cycle that can be in someone's house.  The larva grazes on flea dirt that falls off the host. When they get to a certain age they spin a cocoon and become a pupa.

The pupae can lay dormant in this stage if they don't detect a host. Without a host nearby, they can stay dormant for months, or even years! That’s the reason you can move into a place that has be vacant for a while and suddenly have fleas even if you don't have pets: they sense a possible host and finish their life cycle. While in the pupa stage, they are resistant to pesticides.

The adult flea is the stage most people see and are aware of. They are small but visible to the naked eye.  Once the flea has bitten her host, she is able to start producing eggs within 24 to 48 hours. The average life span of an adult flea is 4-6 weeks. On average the time for an egg to turn in to an adult flea is 3 weeks.

Treatment

Treating fleas can be quite the ordeal. You will need to treat your pets as soon as possible. Renew treatment monthly. The Larvae, the Pupae, and Eggs in your house will also need to be treated. You will need to start a regiment of vacuuming your floors, carpets and rugs thoroughly. Dispose of any vacuum bags immediately. Empty any vacuum canisters immediately. Do not keep your vacuum disposal in the house!

Proceed with vacuuming room by room. If you are utilizing any pesticides, spray or treat rooms after vacuuming, closing the doors behind you. Do not leave children or animals in any room that you’ve sprayed. Keep the room closed off for 24 hours before allowing children or pets back inside.

Linens, bedding, and clothing should be washed thoroughly. Mattresses, couches, and other furniture should be treated as well.

After proceeding through this, wait 2 weeks for any pupae that may have been missed, and are beginning to awaken. Vacuum again in a similar fashion. If you are using pesticides, follow their directions carefully before reapplying.

Getting rid of fleas is quite the hassle. Remember the old adage: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”.