Fleas: Detection, Treatment, and Prevention

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Pay special attention to flea prevention in the spring and early summer months. Although fleas can be a problem for your pets all year, flea populations typically explode about 5-6 weeks after the weather starts to warm up.
Black specks on your pet or in your dog's bed may be "flea dirt" - the fecal matter from adult fleas. There are two easy ways to check for black specks:

• Flea Comb – available from your veterinarian (the metal ones are the best). Run the comb over your pet, making sure the comb reaches the skin through the coat. If black specks are on the comb when you pull it off, they might be flea dirt. If fleas are on the comb, drown them in a bowl of soapy water before they can get away or jump back on your pet.

• White paper towel – place a white paper towel beneath your pet and rub your hands across its fur. If black specks appear on the towel, it may be flea dirt.

If infested with fleas, your pet may become very nervous, annoyed and may scratch excessively.

When you discover fleas on your pet, your home is probably already part of the problem. There will be eggs, larvae, and pupae wherever your dogs like to lie around or sit.

In addition to extreme discomfort, fleas and ticks can also cause serious health problems in pets and people.

When a flea bites your dog, it deposits a small amount of saliva in the skin. Your dog can develop FAD (Flea Allergy Dermatitis) in reaction to this saliva, which causes severe itching. In addition to your pet scratching or biting excessively around the tail, groin or backside, scabs or bumps may also appear on your pet's neck or back.

Anemia may occur in pets if too many fleas suck their blood. The signs of anemia include pale gums, weakness and lethargy in your pet.

Dogs may become infected with tapeworms by ingesting an infected flea. Pets may have intense anal itching, and tapeworm segments may be seen around the anal area or in the feces.

There are 4 main ways to treat a flea infestation:

• Kill adult fleas that are already on the pet.

• Kill newly-arriving adult fleas on the pet. It may take 3 or 4 months to kill all the fleas emerging from pupae in the household environment.

• Prevent further infestation of the home by using an Insect Growth Regulator (IGR) to inhibit the hatching of viable flea eggs and prevent the development of larvae into adult fleas.

• Clear the home and the environment of flea eggs, larvae, and pupae that are already there.

Points 1, 2, and 3 can all be achieved by treating your pet regularly with a product that contains two active ingredients such as FRONTLINE® Plus (one to kill adult fleas, the other to prevent the development of eggs and larvae.)

Flea pupae are protected by their cocoons - all pupae will have to hatch out and be killed as adult fleas on the pet. It can take several weeks for all pupae to hatch from an infested environment.

If undisturbed, pupae can exist for many months in the environment, which is why encouraging them to hatch (by allowing your pets to roam their usual haunts) and regular flea treatment are important in helping to rid a home of an infestation.

Treat all dogs and cats. Some dogs and cats are good at masking the signs of a flea infestation. But if one pet is infested, all pets in the household can be.

In addition to applying FRONTLINE Plus, the following steps can also be taken to prevent fleas from infesting your pet:

• Vacuuming - Frequently vacuum the areas your pet is around, especially carpeted areas in your home, any furniture that is frequented by your pet, and in your car (if your pet rides in your car). This will clean up as many immature fleas (eggs, larvae and pupae) as possible.

• Washing - Regularly wash your pet's bedding, blanket and other washable items in the hottest water possible (check the laundering instructions to make sure that washing in hot water isn't a problem).

• Yard Work - Mow your lawn and rake up any leaves, brush or clippings.

• Direct Sunlight - Hang door mats, rugs and other non-washable items in direct sunlight.

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