Fleas

Fleas have quickly become a year around pest, we see indoor and outdoor pets afflicted just the same. Some pets develop a hypersensitivity or allergy to flea bites. For more information about fleas, their life cycle and prevention, keep reading!

Ctenocephalides Felis - The common cat flea is the most common type of flea on pets

Flea Life Cycle

• Adult fleas take a blood meal and lay eggs within 24 hours. Females can lay 40-50 eggs per day!
• Eggs are laid on the pet and subsequently roll off into the environment
• Dogs, Cats, Opossums and Racoons are common hosts for the common cat flea
• Eggs develop into adult fleas within 3 to 8 weeks
  • Eggs develop into larvae within 2-10 days
  • Larvae develop into pupae within 7-21 days
  • Pupae develop into adults within 7-200 days! Dependant on environmental temperature and humidity
• Pupae have a sticky outer coating that allows it to hide deep in the carpeting and not be easily removed by light vacuuming or sweeping
• Thus fleas noted on your pet have been deposited into the environment 3 to 8 weeks prior
• Fleas can remain dormant for upwards of a year!
• Adult fleas spend the majority of their time living on the host while they feed, breed, and lay eggs, and can live anywhere from a couple of weeks to several months on the host animal.

Prevention and Eradication

• Application of Insecticides to eliminate adult fleas within 24 hours 
• Initiation of an insect growth regulator (IGR) to eliminate reproduction
• Application of IGRs/insecticides to the premise to control the environment
• Vacuuming regularly for several weeks and thoroughly washing bedding and toys in hot soapy water to remove eggs, larvae, and pupae
• It can take 3 weeks to several months to rid of an infestation, all pets in the home must be treated!

Medical Problems associated with fleas

• Annoyance/Itch
• Flea Allergy Dermatitis
• Anemia/blood loss
• Cat scratch disease (Bartonella)
• Tapeworm infection (Dipilydium)

Flea Prevention Products
1. NexGard (Merial) - Canine - Monthly Soft Beef Flavoured Chewable Tablet for Dogs - for the treatment and control of flea infestations and adult ticks
2. Bravecto (Merck) - Canine - Chewable tablet given once every 12 weeks (3 months)  For the treatment and control of flea and tick infestations 
  * Must remember to administer this medication every 3 months with food, some require more frequent dosing - Coming soon for cats!!
3. Advantage II (Bayer) - Canine & Feline - monthly topical solution for control of adult fleas - contains an insecticide and IGR
4. K9 Advantix II (Bayer) - Canine - monthly topical solution - For control of fleas and adult ticks. Allows for killing on contact vs biting and has some repellant activity
  * Duration of protection may be shortened by shampooing, water immersion or exposure to rain.
  * Product is toxic to cats when ingested. 
5. Revolution (Zoetis) - Canine & Feline - monthly topical solution for control of adult fleas - product is absorb systemically 
6. Simparica (Zoetis) - Canine - new once monthly oral chew - new this year! for control of fleas and ticks
7. Capstar (Elanco) - Canine & Feline - once daily (Every 24 hours) oral tablet to rid adult fleas within a short time of ingestion (typically 20 minutes)
8. Credilio (Elanco) - Canine & Feline - once monthly chew for control of adult felas and ticks