Fleas are a wingless insect that live on and off dogs, cats and some wildlife. They survive by biting through the skin and drinking blood and can reproduce at an alarming rate (a female can lay 200+ eggs per day in the home and yard). You rarely see the adult fleas as they are very small, run very quickly through the fur and can jump very long distances. In warm climates such as ours, they can also live in the grass, home and yards for many hours without dying, waiting for their next meal. They will occasionally bite humans, but they prefer the taste of dogs and cat’s blood - so relying on seeing bites on yourself is not a good indicator of whether your pet has fleas.
Fleas also don’t discriminate between very clean and hygienic pets and homes or dirty animals - they don’t care. Washing your pet will not eliminate fleas (but it will wash off the flea feces).
If your pet is not on flea control every month, they will eventually or even frequently get bitten by fleas which can quickly lead to an infestation.
Unfortunately fleas are hard to eliminate - older “over the counter” products like Frontline and Advantage do not work very well. Also retail brands like Hartz, PetArmor and Zodiac are also not good at killing fleas anymore - as fleas have mostly become resistant. Therefore do not waste money on pet store or grocery store products.
It is important to discuss the best product and dose for your dog or cat with your veterinary team. They know what will work best for your family, as well as have the best prices and. product guarantees.
Newer products like Simparica, Nexgard and Revolution Plus are very safe, work reliably and quickly and are easy to administer.
If you already have fleas, you will need to treat ALL pets in your home for at least 3 consecutive months - AS WELL AS treating the home and yard with an environmental spray, fogger product or use a pest control company. The home and yard treatments can be purchased from home improvement stores like Home Depot and Lowes. Be aware that cats and people with respiratory problems can be very sensitive to the sprays, so hopefully another family member can apply them (and move cats out of the home for a few hours). If you have an indoor fish tank, please cover it and switch off the pump for 1-2 hrs while applying household sprays.
Wash all the pets bedding on a hot wash , including any sheets and bedlinens that your pet sleeps on as well. Vacuuming everywhere - particularly mattresses, the couch, under furniture and around the edges of the room in hard floor areas. The vacuum actually attracts the fleas and larvae out as it is warm and vibrates (like an animal). Then empty the vacuum into a bag, seal it and immediately dispose of it in trash outside.
** It is a myth that fleas will only live in carpets and turf grass, they will happily live in hard floors, leather couches, artificial grass and hardscape surfaces as well, they prefer darker areas **
** It is also a myth that homes in gated communities cannot get fleas - fleas have zero respect for gates, walls or security guards **
Fleas also transmit other illnesses - the most common are tapeworms - tapeworms look like rice grains and you might see them near your pet’s anus, or on the surface of the feces. Tapeworms hatch from the flea when your pet grooms itself and accidentally eats the flea.
Fleas can also transmit typhus -which is a bacteria that causes fever and illness in humans (typhoid fever).
Flea bites can also trigger allergic reactions in dogs and cats causing severe itching, skin and ear infections and necessitate much more intensive medical care.
Fleas can be picked up at the groomers, on walks from grass, from the park or beach. If you live in a condo or townhouse, fleas will easily jump from one unit to the next. Please inform your leasing office or landlord if you notice fleas, as they may cover the cost of a pest control treatment to prevent a big infestation.
So, don’t panic if you find a flea - just call us and we can fix that problem quickly and safely. You are not alone - we see fleas every day!