Wycliffe Village Veterinary Clinic, Richmond Hill

What are fleas?

Fleas are small, dark brown or reddish brown, from 1 to 4 mm long, with flattened bodies. They are wingless therefore they jump to get from place to place.

The Flea Life Cycle
Fleas have four stages of development: egg, larval, pupa and adult. Depending on the species, temperature, humidity and food availability it can take from 2 weeks to several months to go from egg to adult. After each blood meal, females lay 4 to 8 eggs. Eggs hatch into very small, hairy, wormlike larvae that are whitish with brownish heads. They feed on organic debris, their own cast skins and dried blood in adult flea excrement. Larvae can survive up to 200 days even in unfavourable conditions and travel up to 30 cm per minute. They will spin cocoons and later emerge as an adult flea. Adult fleas may remain in the cocoon for several months until favourable conditions arise, such as a rise in temperature and carbon dioxide levels. Vibrations created by the presence of humans and pets will also stimulate their emergence and activity.

Did you know...

Fleas can jump distances up to 200 times their body length.

Fleas cause discomfort and irritation to both pets and people. They are not just an annoyance, some people and pets can suffer allergic reactions to the flea's saliva resulting in rashes. Flea bites create a similar spot to mosquitoes. Small, hard, red, itchy spot, slightly-raised and swollen with a single puncture point at the center. These spots can remain for up to several weeks and appear in clusters or lines. Hair loss can result from excessive scratching and biting by pets and in extreme cases can cause excessive blood loss (anaemia).

They can also transmit disease. For example, tapeworms can be transmitted by fleas as well as endemic typhus fever. In history the flea was responsible for transmitting the bubonic plague between rodents and humans by carrying the bacteria that is responsible for the disease.

When food supplies are plentiful fleas usually feed several times a day although they can survive several weeks without a meal. While they will leave the host after feeding; flea eggs, larvae or pupae may be found on pets. Flea season peaks in most parts of Canada from early August to early October outdoors. If the summer months are excessively dry and hot fleas will dehydrate and die.

How can I manage them?
Treatment of the home, pet and the yard need to be done to break the flea cycle successfully.

Daily vacuuming of carpets and cushioned furniture, cracks and crevices on floors including the baseboards. Don't forget to clean the basement. You can use a steam cleaner on carpets as the hot steam and soap will kill all stages of the flea. Every 2 - 3 weeks clean all bedding including yours and your pets. Make sure to lift blankets by all four corners to avoid scattering the eggs and larvae. If the infestation is severe, dispose of old pet bedding.

Inspect your pets regularly, especially during peak flea season. You are looking for black particles the size of milled pepper on the skin. Use a flea control product once an infestation has occurred. Consult with your veterinarian to determine the best treatment for your pet. This will help limit the amount and combination of chemicals you and your pet are exposed to. Be sure to follow label instructions when using a flea and tick control product on your pet -- dog products for dogs and cat products for cats.

To remove some fleas their feces and dried blood use a flea comb, focusing on the neck or tail. Use hot soapy water to kill fleas as you catch them. Flea collars will not provide adequate control once an infestation has occurred. Flea collars can cause some animals to develop a skin rash. Topical or spot-on treatments are very effective against fleas when applied between the shoulder blades near the neck of your pet. They provide longer term control, approximately for a month. A flea shampoo will kill fleas on direct contact but they provide little residual control.

Always read label directions carefully. Treatments may need to be repeated to break the life cycle as most insecticides do not control flea eggs. Make sure to treat around doors, window frames and foundations with a residual insecticide to help prevent entry into the home. Check that all screens are in good repair. Treat the yard and around areas where pets rest and play. Cover children's sandboxes when not in use.

How can I control fleas in and around the home?
Do not use products for the home on your pet.

Products containing pyrethrin disables the insects. Look for products that contain micro-encapsulated slow time-released pyrethrin formulation so the residual activity will assist in complete control. Some individuals can have allergic reactions to pyrethrin products even though they have a very low toxicity for humans and pets.

Products with insect growth regulator act on the immature life stages of fleas, preventing adults from developing and emerging. These can be effective for three to seven months and are considered to be of very low in toxicity to humans. It can be used safely inside infested rooms.