You may already know that fleas can thrive in one of your pet’s favourite and most frequented playgrounds – your garden. Fleas like moisture, shade, soil and grass. However, even if your pets spend most of the time indoors, there is still a risk.
UNDERSTANDING FLEA BEHAVIOUR
Fleas are a common and significant health risk found on pets. They can jump 30 cm vertically in the air and can leap onto your pet, making it easy for dogs and outdoor cats to bring fleas home.
A flea that jumps onto your pet will start feeding within a few minutes and may suck blood for up to 2 ½ hours. This flea may live on your dog or cat for almost 2 months!
Cats and dogs aren’t the only ones who suffer once a flea hitches a ride. They can propel themselves onto humans too, landing in our hair or bedding, carpets, and furniture cushions, and infesting our home.
Fleas reproduce abundantly and quickly, and just two fleas can quickly cause an infestation. The key to stopping fleas is to stop the flea life cycle.
WHY ARE FLEAS A DANGER TO OUR PETS?
Flea infestations quickly get out of control because fleas produce a lot of eggs. One female flea can produce 40 to 50 eggs per day for over 50 days, and over 2,000 eggs in her lifetime.
Some pets develop severe allergies to flea saliva, called flea allergy dermatitis, and develop signs such as itching, that may persist and can be present even when no adult fleas are seen on your pet.
Fleas also transmit the tapeworm, Dipylidium caninum, to dogs, cats, and even humans, and can spread potentially fatal bacterial and viral diseases.
BREAKING THE FLEA LIFE CYCLE
The entire flea life cycle can take up to 8 weeks or longer, while many flea treatments last only 4-5 weeks and offer limited protection. Therefore, using effective long-lasting flea treatments on a regular basis is the best way to make sure your pet stays protected against fleas and that your home is kept free of these pests.
Choosing the best treatment for you and your pet is a decision that is best made in a discussion with your vet.
Prevention is always easier and much cheaper than treatment of disease, and there are flea and tick products available that reduce the risks from parasites. There are a number of products available with different lengths of efficacy, administration options and types of parasites covered.
Choosing the correct approach for you and your pet is a decision that is best made through a discussion with your vet. The right option can kill fleas throughout their life cycle and eliminate fleas in the house for good.
Your vet plays a big role in your pet’s health. Enter your location and get a list of vets near you.
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