Pet Health Guide - Flea Control

Dogs, cats and eventually their owners seem to have a never ending battle against fleas and the problems that are related with an infestation. Regardless of where you live, fleas can reek havoc on the quality of your pet’s life causing constant itching and scratching, iron deficiency anemia, tapeworm transmission and Flea Allergy Dermatitis (FAD).

The most insidious of these conditions, FAD, leads to hot spots, loss of hair and skin lesions from excessive itching and scratching. These lesions are commonly located along the back, base of the tail, legs, chest and belly. FAD occurs when feeding fleas inject saliva, containing a variety of histamine-like compounds, enzymes, polypeptides, and amino acids, into the skin of your dog or cat. Cats, when afflicted with FAD, are one of the major causes of feline miliary dermatitis. FAD is most prevalent in the summer, although in warm climates flea infestations may persist throughout the year.

The lifespan of a flea is about 90 days. The lifecycle of the flea is between 21-30 days. Fleas require warm weather (>80 o F) and moisture/humidity (80%) to complete their life cycle.

Adult fleas are quiet athletic and can easily jump onto your pet where they attach themselves in order to feed on a blood meal. Because feeding stimulates fleas to mate, egg production usually begins 24-48 hours after taking their first blood meal. A single female flea can lay as many as 60 eggs per day and up to 2000 eggs over her lifetime. Flea eggs eventually fall to the ground contaminating floors, carpet, furniture and wherever else your dog or cat travels.

From these eggs, larva develops and begins to feed on organic material and debris often found in the fibers of flooring and other materials. Flea larvae avoid direct light and actively move deep in carpet fibers or under organic debris (grass, branches, leaves, or soil). Larvae are very sensitive to indoor or outdoor environments were the relative humidity is 50% or less. Under these conditions, flea larva are destroyed.

Flea Larva Magnification

Outdoors, fleas develop where the ground is shaded and moist Indoors, flea larvae survive only in the protected carpet fibers, between hardwood flooring, in humid climates and in damp basements. Depending on the availability of food and environmental conditions, the larval stage lasts 5-11 days but may extend for 2-3 weeks.

The final lifecycle phase, developing from the larva, is characterized by a cocoon enclosed pupa. These pupas are very resilient and resistant to most chemicals, heat and sunlight which explains why they can survive for up to 2 years in the home. This pupa stage is very difficult to destroy which explains the reemergence of fleas after bathing your pet and treating the home and yard. Pupa are often stimulated to hatch into adults from the vibration coming from steps as you or your pet walk across a floor or lawn, carbon dioxide or heat.

Treatment & Prevention

There are approximately 2200 species of fleas throughout the world. In the United States, most dogs and cats are afflicted with Ctenocephalides felis ( the cat flea). The most commonly infected hosts are the dog, cat, rabbits, ferrets, opossums and raccoons. Cat fleas are susceptible to cold temperatures. Below 37degrees F, no stage of the life cycle (egg, larva, pupa, or adult) can survive for more than a few days.

Three treatment steps that must be carried out simultaneously in order to effectively eliminate any flea infestation are:

• Elimination of fleas on your pets.
• Elimination of environmental infestations.
• Prevention of subsequent re-infestation.

The first step, the elimination of fleas on your pet is necessary to eliminate pet discomfort. Remember that topically applied formulations such as Frontline, Advantage, Advantix, Advantage Multi and Revolution take several hours (12-36 hrs) until they reached sufficient levels in the body to eliminate all existing fleas. Faster, quicker elimination of adult fleas within 20 minutes, lasting up to 24 hours, can be accomplished with a topical flea spray or Capstar which is administered by mouth. If bathing your dog or cat with a flea shampoo, remember to use a non-soap based product. Soap will remove the protective barrier of most topical flea formulations and render the product ineffective.

The second step is to eliminate fleas from the home and yard environments. Perhaps the most effective manner of removing fleas from the home is by vacuum cleaning every day. The action of the vacuum cleaner removes the outer wax layer on the fleas body which causes them to die from dehydration. Pet beds, sofa cushions, pillows and chairs should be removed and vacuumed. Special attention should be given to crevices in sofas and chairs and to areas beneath sofas or beds. This is where flea eggs and feces may drop from your dog or cat and accumulate. Other helpful household procedures include washing pet blankets, throw rugs, and pet carriers regularly in hot water.

Area home foggers and pump sprayers (broadcast treatments) that can be positioned throughout the house are a very effective means of destroying fleas. Insecticides applied by broadcast treatment must penetrate the surface of all rugs and carpets adequately. Special attention to exposing areas where flea eggs and larvae accumulate, such as carpets, cracks, grooves in hardwood floors, behind baseboards, under the edge of rugs, beneath furniture and within closets is needed. A second treatment in 7-10 days may be required due to continued emergence of adult fleas from cocoons which are resistant to most insecticides.

The outside yard using commercial yard sprays (Virbac) should concentrate on those areas where fleas live and development. This includes, dog houses, garages, under porches, beneath shrubs or trees and under other shaded areas. Areas of the yard that receive full sunlight are not places where fleas thrive and develop. Spraying these areas is not necessary.

The third step, the prevention of subsequent re-infestation, can be accomplished using preventative measures. Keep stray animals away from the outside environment. Periodically spray the yard to keep possible flea development arrested. Use a product like Capstar on your pet after visiting neighbor, friends, veterinarians office or coming from a groomer. This will prevent adult fleas from coming into your home. Using a topical or oral preventative, Frontline, Advantage, Advantix, Advantage Multi or Revolution, throughout the year will keep your pet flea free.

Alternative Flea Treatment & Prevention

You can trap fleas by placing a dish of soapy water under a night light near where your pet sleeps. Fleas are attracted to warm light and will easily drown in the soapy water. This works for adult fleas only, but with diligence, can be very effective in reducing the flea population.

Try using about a teaspoon of brewer's (or nutritional) yeast daily for cats and small dogs and a tablespoon for a 50-pound dog. Some animals are yeast intolerant and will react with a skin allergy. Discontinue use if this occurs. Combine the yeast with the garlic in your animal's food, and consider doubling the dosage during peak flea season. Use a Brewers Yeast & Garlic supplement to accomplish this remedy without the hastle of mixing. The use of garlic (as well as onions, shallots and chives) has been shown to cause damage to feline red blood cells which can result in hemolytic anemia and eventual death. Raw garlic and onions can also cause ulcers and irritation of the mouth, esophagus and stomach of cats.

Other natural repellents include vitamin B1 (thiamine) and apple cider vinegar. (See your veterinarian for the correct amount of a vitamin B1 supplement for your pet). The dosage of apple cider vinegar is about one teaspoon daily in the pet's drinking water. Apple cider vinegar also helps strengthen the immune system.

Set eucalyptus leaves inside and out because fleas can't stand the smell. Buy bunches at a craft store, cut them up and place the leaves and stems in open glass jars or other suitable arrangement. Set one or two arrangements in each room of the house, garage and basement. Also, hang pod-filled plants from branches around the shaded areas of the yard.

Topical Flea Medications

We feature only those products that additionally kill the egg stage of the flea life cycle:

• Advantage for Dogs
• Advantix for Dogs
• Advantage for Cats
• Frontline Plus for Dogs
• Frontline Plus for Cats
• Adult Flea Control
• Capstar for Dogs
• Capstar for Cats
• Herbal-Organic
• Richard’s Organics Neem Oil
• Brewers Yeast & Garlic Tabs
• Herbal Flea Powder
• Herbal Flea Spray