The following information applies to dogs and cats only.
When an animal picks up fleas its surroundings (usually your house) quickly become infested with eggs and larvae. Once the animal's surroundings are infested it is a lot more difficult to eliminate fleas.
Prevention is better than a cure!
Why treat My Pet for fleas?
- Fleas cause itching and distress to your pet.
- The skin can become infected when the pet scratches itself.
- Flea bites can trigger an allergic reaction in some pets, this can cause even more itching and distress.
- Large infestations of fleas can suck so much blood from an animal that it can become anaemic (low in red blood cells). This occurs most often with kittens.
- Fleas can carry tapeworm. Pets can become infested with tapeworm if they swallow a flea when grooming.
- Fleas can bite humans causing itchy red marks on some people.
How Do I tell if my pet has fleas?
- In a heavy infestation you may be able to see fleas. Fleas are reddish brown, wingless insects approximately 3 -4mm long.
- You may be able to see black particles of 'flea dirt', droppings formed by the adult fleas. To differentiate these from sand or dirt perform the wet paper test (below).
Wet paper test:
1. Comb your pet's coat vigorously
2. Collect any debris from the comb onto a piece of white, wet paper.
3. Leave aside for a few minutes.
4. If flea dirt is present you will see black particles surrounded by a rusty red pigment.
5. The red pigment is your pet's blood which has been swallowed by the flea. If you see this it means that your pet has fleas.
- Occasionally pets will lick and groom themselves so much that you won't see any of the above signs, even if they have fleas. If your pet is itchy always suspect fleas. The best way to rule out fleas completely is to treat regularly with a flea product recommended by your vet.
Preventing and Treating Fleas
To understand how to eliminate and prevent fleas you need to understand their life cycle.
- The pet picks up a flea outside the house, most commonly from another animal.
- Female fleas lay eggs in your pet's coat.
- The eggs fall off the pet into the house or kennel.
- The eggs hatch into larvae.
- The larvae change into fleas which lie waiting in cocoons. These can survive in the house for months.
- Fleas hatch out of the cocoon when they are stimulated by heat and vibration when your pet is nearby.
- Newly hatched fleas jump onto the pet and the cycle begins again.
Flea eggs will be dropped everywhere your pet goes with the biggest concentration in its sleeping areas.
In general, fleas are only a problem when they have infested the pets living area. If you see fleas on your pet it usually means that your house is also infested. To prevent house infestation treat your pet for fleas regularly, even when it doesn't have fleas.
To get rid of fleas you need to:
1. Treat your pet
2. Treat your house
3. Treat all other dogs and cats in the house
Treating your pet:
Get advice from your vet about the best form of flea treatment for your pet. Many 'over the counter' preparations do not work very well. To prescribe prescription only medicines your vet will need to see your pet.
Flea treatment products can come in 'spot on', spray, tablet or injection form. Flea powders and collars are also available but are generally not very effective. Flea treatments work in two main ways:
1. Killing the fleas
2. Preventing reproduction (including preventing eggs from developing into fleas)
- If your pet has fleas it will need treatment that works in both ways. Some products do both. Two products can be combined to get both effects.
- If your pet does not have fleas at the moment products that prevent fleas reproducing will usually be sufficient protection. They mean that any fleas picked up outside will be unable to infest the house.
- If your pet has an allergy to fleas it may require flea treatment that works in both ways - ask your vet for advice.
Treating the house:
1. Wash all of your pet's bedding on a high temperature washing cycle.
2. Turn the heating on and vacuum the entire house. The heat and vibration will stimulate the fleas to hatch out of their protective cocoons.
3. Use a knock down spray to spray the entire house. (House sprays can be poisonous for fish and caged birds - check the instructions before spraying.)
4. Spray underneath furniture.
5. Follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully.
