FLEA FACTS

Flea Infestations are the most common parasite problem of dogs and cats in our area. It is estimated that American pet owners spend over 500 million dollars each year on flea products most of which do not work! During the past few years much research has centered on studying the life cycle of the species of fleas that attack dogs and cats in an effort to develop better flea control methods.

Here are some facts you should know:

• Flea eggs are white and about the size of a grain of sand. The eggs are laid while the flea is on the pet and easily roll off the fur into the environment. Eggs usually hatch in 1-10 days, depending on the temperature and humidity. Once the eggs hatch, the larvae move deeper into the carpet to get away from light and to search for food. When the larva is mature, it produces a silk like cocoon. Because the cocoon is sticky, it quickly becomes coated with debris from the environment that helps camouflage it.
• Adult fleas emerge from the cocoon when stimulated by heat, vibrations, and exhaled carbon dioxide. The entire life cycle can be completed in as little as 12-14 days, or as long as 140 days. Under average conditions, the entire life cycle takes 3-4 weeks.
• Adult fleas are attracted to house pets by movement, body warmth and exhaled carbon dioxide. Fleas have tremendously powerful back legs, which they use for jumping on your pet. It is reported that fleas can jump as high as 13 feet.
• It is now known that the adult flea species that attacks dogs and cats spends its ENTIRE Adult Life on the pet. Once the adult flea begins to feed on your pet, it must have almost constant access to a blood supply for it to survive. Adult fleas cannot live more than 3-4 days without a blood meal.
• Egg production begins within 48 hours of the first blood meal, reaches a peak of 40-50 eggs per day and can last well over 100 days. Female fleas can produce over 2000 eggs during their life. This is equivalent to producing their body weight in eggs every day of their life. While only a fraction of these eggs will eventually develop to adults in the natural environment, this high rate of reproduction ensures that there will ALWAYS be fleas!
• New adult fleas must have a blood meal within 2-3 weeks after hatching. Fleas consume 15 times their body weight with every blood meal. An infestation of 220 female fleas could consume 10% of a 1-pound kitten's blood volume in one day. The majority of blood consumed is passed out as partially digested feces ("Flea Dirt") that serve as essential food for flea larvae in the carpets and other areas.
• FLEAS CAN COMPLETE THEIR ENTIRE LIFE CYCLE IN YOUR HOUSE!

ESSENTIAL STEPS FOR FLEA CONTROL

Treat the House:

You can either use a professional exterminator or treat the house yourself. If you choose a professional, make sure you get a written guarantee to solve the problem.

Treating the house yourself requires several steps:
• Vacuum the house thoroughly, at least once each week to remove fleas and flea eggs. Make sure you vacuum the furniture as well. Throw away the vacuum bag because the eggs will continue to hatch inside the vacuum bag.
• Wash all of the bedding thoroughly once a week
• Treat the house with either a premise spray or flea bombs. Both will kill adult fleas, immature fleas and flea eggs. We recommend either Siphotrol Plus II Premise Spray or Knockout room & area Fogger. Both of these products are available from us and our staff would be happy to explain how to use these products safely and effectively in your home.

Treat All of the Pets (Cats and Dogs):

FLEA COMB: Use a flea comb to remove as much of the fleas, flea eggs and flea dirt from your pets as possible. Flea combs contain very narrow spaces in between the metal teeth which trap fleas and flea dirt. Use a flea comb on your pets at least once a week to help cut down on the flea numbers as well as help you monitor the flea problem. Flea combs are available from us. Feel free to ask for an explanation or demonstration on proper flea combing technique.

FRONTLINE PLUS, K9 ADVANTIX, ADVANTAGE, REVOLUTION: These are topical products that are applied to your pet's skin once a month. These products will kill and control fleas for 1 month. Frontline Plus, Advantage, and Revolution are safe for both dogs and cats but K9 Advantix should be used on dogs only. These products are available only through a veterinary hospital. As there are differences between the 4 products, it is best to ask our staff to help you decide which product is right for your pet(s). Shoreline Animal Hospital STRONGLY recommends that all dogs and cats (even indoor only cats) be treated with one of these products every month year round.

WARNING: We strongly advise you to avoid using any over the counter topical flea products. While the OTC products try to appear the same as the above mentioned products, they do NOT contain the same active ingredients. These OTC products are very ineffective and potentially dangerous. They can be associated with a risk of neurological side effects especially in cats. These effects can be fatal. Although it is tempting to use these products because they are cheaper, you end up spending more money total because the products are ineffective and the flea infestation multiplies. Also, be aware that if you purchase Frontline Plus, Advantage, Revolution, or K9 Advantix anywhere other than a veterinary hospital, the manufacturer will not guarantee the products as there have been some instances of counterfeit products being sold through third party means. The manufacturers directly sell these products ONLY to veterinary hospitals.

Common Misconceptions About Fleas

• My cats are 100% indoor only - they can't have fleas! Actually, because the flea can complete its entire life cycle in your house, indoor only cats can often have a flea infestation. And because many people with indoor only cats do not know to check their cats for fleas and often do not use preventatives, many indoor only cats have severe flea infestations.
• My pets are not scratching (and neither am I) - they can't have fleas! Actually, most pets do not scratch at themselves excessively when they have fleas. Only those pets that are truly ALLERGIC to the fleas will scratch excessively and potentially develop skin disease. Also, only rarely are people bothered by fleas. Fleas prefer to live on and bite pets over people.
• I don't see any fleas on my pets - they can't have fleas! Actually, most people do not see the fleas on their pets. You have to know where to look and what to look for. Fleas are very small and often it takes combing your pet with a flea comb to trap them. Most cases of flea infestations are best diagnosed by identifying the flea dirt (also best trapped with a flea comb). Flea dirt can be distinguished from normal debris by placing it on a wet paper towel and watching for the tell tale red/rust color which is digested blood.
• It is winter and the ground is frozen - my pets can't have fleas! Again, because fleas can complete their entire life cycle in your house, pets can have significant flea infestations in the winter time. It is also important to note that flea infestations are often at their greatest in the mid to late fall, a time when many people think that they can safely discontinue the topical preventatives. Because flea infestation is a year round threat, Shoreline Animal Hospital strongly recommends that all of your pets receive topical monthly preventatives all year.
• Fleas don't really bother my pets and don't cause any true harm. Actually, in addition to the nuisance factor, fleas can often spread disease and cause serious medical problems for you and your pets. Fleas suck blood when they bite which can cause anemia (decreased red blood cells due to blood loss). A severe infestation in a puppy or kitten is not only debilitating but can be fatal. Pets that are allergic to fleas can develop flea allergy dermatitis characterized by extreme itchiness and secondary infections with bacteria and yeast. Fleas can transmit cat scratch disease, which can be spread from cats to people. Fleas can also transmit tapeworms (harmful intestinal parasites) to your pets. Shoreline Animal Hospital recommends specific routine de-worming for all pets that have a flea infestation. Please contact us to get more information on the best de-worming products for your pets as there are many different products (and only certain ones work for tapeworms).
• Only one of my 3 pets has fleas. Actually, when one pet in a household has fleas, all of the pets have fleas even if you don't see them on all of the pets. Fleas can jump and travel great distances and will seek out all of your pets for a blood meal. If all of the pets are not treated for fleas, then you will never get rid of the infestation. The untreated pets act as a reservoir for the fleas. Also, remember that fleas are very difficult to see and many pets do not show signs such as scratching.
• I treated my pets with frontline or advantage last month and they still have fleas - the products must not be working! Actually, the products are probably working very well. Because of the extended life cycle of the flea (several months in some cases for eggs to hatch and become adults), there is a constant source of re-infestation by fleas from the environment. This is why you must continue to treat all of your pets with preventatives once a month all year round. And this is also why it is important to treat the house as well to cut down on the number of flea eggs allowed to hatch. It can take several months for the war to be won against fleas.
• The over the counter products work just as well as Frontline, Advantage, Revolution, or K9 Advantix. Actually, the OTC products do not contain the same active ingredients. The OTC products are significantly less effective and have many potential side effects. We strongly recommend that you avoid using these products.

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