Mention fleas and you can
see owners and pets start to scratch. We live in a warm humid climate, the
perfect place for fleas. If you find yourself confused about all the different
products and advice you hear then this newsletter is for you. You’ll learn about
the flea life cycle, the different categories of products available, the current
recommendations and also some fun facts.
The
Flea Life Cycle
There are over 2000 species
of fleas worldwide but only one flea is of concern in our area, the cat flea.
The cat flea will live on both cats and dogs.
The female flea lays eggs
on the host 3 to 4 days after her first meal. They are not sticky so they fall
into the pet’s environment. These eggs hatch into larvae after 1 to 10 days and
then move downwards into carpets, cracks in wood and under soil surfaces. They
feed on organic debris (especially adult flea feces). There are three larval
stages before the insect enters the pupal stage. The pupal stage can last 5 to
140 days. From this stage the adult will emerge and jump onto the host.
The life cycle is completed
in most households in 3 to 4 weeks but this can be as short as 12 days and as
long as 174 days. Humidity and temperature speed up the life cycle. A sudden
emergence of fleas can be stimulated if pets are removed from the home (eg. on
holidays) and then returned.
Fleas can live more than
100 days on the host (dog or cat) but an adult flea can only live up to 12 days
off of the host.
One female flea can lay up
to 50 eggs per day.
One female flea, laying 20
eggs per day, can produce 20,000 adult fleas and 160,000 preadult forms in 60
days.
Common
Myths
Fleas do not jump from host
to host but usually spend their entire life on one host. Pets pick up fleas that
are emerging from the environment.
There are no such creatures
as grass fleas or sand fleas.
Boarded pets don’t usually
bring fleas into the home but their return can cause a sudden emergence from
dormant preadult forms.
Fun
Facts
Fighter pilots become
uncomfortable at accelerations of greater than 6 times the force of gravity.
When fleas jump they accelerate at 140 times the force of gravity.
In George Washington’s time
part of the school curriculum included flea-picking etiquette (do not claw at
fleas in public).
In the 18th
Century women wore flea traps around their necks - cylinders with small holes
which probably contained a sticky substance.
The lapdog became a popular
pet because it would divert the owner’s fleas.
The flea can jump the
equivalent of a person leaping over 30 school buses lined up end to end.
Allergies and Tapeworms
Pets can develop
hypersensitivity to flea saliva. This causes intense scratching and chewing,
most commonly on the back near the tail. The saliva from one flea can be enough
to initiate the reaction. Allergies usually worsen as the pet ages.
Fleas are the host for one
species of tapeworm and therefore pets with fleas should be regularly dewormed.
Flea
Control Products
(For more information on FLEA PRODUCTS click
here)
Preventatives: These products are
important for reducing the amount of immature flea forms in the environment.
Over 90% of fleas are in their immature forms and are found in the house.
One such product is
Program. Program contains the insect growth regulator lufenuron and
works as a "birth control" for fleas. The offspring of the female flea are no
longer viable. It is given orally once a month to dogs and cats, or cats may
receive an injectable form that lasts for 6 months. This product is extremely
safe because it does not affect any biochemical pathways in mammals.
Another egg control product
is the Ovitrol Flea Egg Collars. They may decrease (but not eliminate) the
number of eggs in the environment.
Adulticides:
These products are important for providing immediate relief to the pet,
especially if they have an allergy to the flea saliva. There are numerous types
of agents available in this category ranging from products such as Advantage, to
sprays, powders, shampoos and collars. Not all are effective or easy to use.
Advantage
is the easiest to use and is the most effective of all the adulticides
available. Advantage is also the safest of all the adulticides.
Advantage contains imidacloprid, a compound that acts on nerve receptors in
invertebrates but not in vertebrates (such as mammals, birds, or reptiles). This
feature makes Advantage very safe to use. It is applied monthly to the skin
along the back.
Shampoos and cream
rinses kill the fleas on the pet
but provide no residual effect. They provide no protection against fleas that
now are in the pet’s home environment. Many flea shampoos cause reactions and
are often more expensive than regular grooming shampoos.
Flea powders and sprays
contain insecticides. They may not penetrate the dense undercoat of pets and
repeated applications can cause dry skin.
Environmental Control:
Fleas are sensitive to heat
and dessication. Therefore they do not tend to develop on pavement or short cut,
sun exposed lawns. They will readily develop in cooler moister areas such as
crawl spaces, under decks, long grass, uncultivated fields and woodlands. Try to
remove organic debris and limit pet access to areas that are likely to be
infested. The family car can be another source of re-infestation. Do not use
pesticides within a car (fumes develop as the car sits in the sun)- but do
vacuum thoroughly and frequently.
Most pets become
re-infected from emerging fleas in the house. Vacuuming and carpet
cleaning can help although professional cleaners are usually necessary. Remember
to clean the furniture and pet bedding as well. This is of greatest concern when
moving into a flea infested home. Prevention is preferable to the use of
insecticides.
The
Goal
There are two goals to flea
control. The first goal is to limit the number of immature flea stages that are
present in the environment. The second goal is to provide relief to the pet by
killing the adult fleas. Fleas can develop resistance to control products very
quickly and therefore it is important to use an integrated flea control program
that is highly effective.
