Fleas are often found in gardens, furnishings, carpets, and soft bedding in the form of larvae and eggs. As a pet owner, it is vital to protect your pets against ticks or fleas through flea treatment.
Fleas can be tough blighters that are constantly breeding or developing quietly in a warm place inside your home, ready to pop out anytime and bite or feed off any passing pet. However, with the help of a good flea treatment from Fleamail, you’ll be able to eliminate fleas successfully. But, why is this kind of treatment so important?
For you to understand the importance of regular flea treatment, you have to first understand the life cycle of fleas. Fleas have a total of 4 life stages, which include egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Usually, adult fleas are the only ones you see on your pets. While their bites do not harm your pet, it is when your pets have an allergic reaction to the bites that problems may start. Keep in mind that adult fleas can mean more eggs, so the life cycle will continue.
Solution
Fleas travel by jumping and they feed off the blood of your pets. They are also able to survive for up to 100 days without any blood meal. In short, if fleas haven’t made it onto your pet’s skin, they’ll certainly cause damage once they do. This is why immediate flea treatment is recommended.
Below are the other reasons why you should prioritize flea treatments for your cats and dogs:
source: google-image
Flea Bites Are Very Itchy
Many pets will react to flea bites by scratching and thus develop small spots of irritated skin, known as flea dermatitis. However, some pets are allergic to the bites of fleas. These can be very itchy and cause your pets to chew their skin raw, resulting in skin infections and trauma for which your veterinarian may need to prescribe antibiotics.
Also Read: Essential Oils For Fleas In Your Dog
Fleas Are Adapted To Living In Your Home
Adult fleas make up only 5 percent of the flea population. The rest of the life cycle is spent in environments like your home. For this reason, treating the affected pet isn’t enough. It is essential to treat every animal in your home as well as your surroundings.
Adult female fleas may start laying more than 40 eggs in a day or two after having their blood meal. Such eggs are freely spread into the environment and would start hatching into larvae after 2 to 7 weeks. Larvae will stay hidden in a dark place and will live off the blood from the feces of fleas. Then, they’ll cocoon themselves and may lay dormant for 6 months at room temperature. When they emerge from their cocoons, their life cycle will start again.
Although good housing insulation, heating, and air conditioning can help you prevent fleas, it’s best to consult professionals for the right flea treatment.
source: google-image
Fleas Transmit Tapeworm And Some Diseases
If your pets groom themselves, they could eat fleas that are carrying tapeworm and become infected. Oftentimes, tapeworm infections are asymptomatic even if they cause an itchy bottom. In more serious cases, fleas may cause weight loss and diarrhea.
Take note that, even though it’s rare, humans may also be infected with tapeworm if they accidentally eat fleas. Kids are more at risk in this case, making flea treatment more important.
In addition to that, once fleas take a blood meal, they may also transmit the bacterial infection Bartonella henselae or cat scratch fever to your cats. Fleas may also transmit diseases like flea-borne typhus to humans through bites, though it is not very common.
Flea Prevention You Can Do At Your Home
There are various ways of preventing fleas in your pets and home. One of these is by using household flea sprays. But, make sure to read the label and instructions provided carefully before using them to get the best results. This will also ensure that you are following the right steps in using the spray.
You should also spray all floorings, curtains or soft furnishings, clothing, and blankets that contain ticks or fleas. If possible, wash them properly on high heat. After using your flea spray, don’t forget to vacuum regularly. The vibrations and noise of the vacuum clean help stir the fleas from every corner and provides you the chance to collect them effectively.
source: insectshield.com
Bottom Line
Pets may catch fleas from activities like walking in the park or running around your garden. But, you can keep fleas at bay through regular flea treatment, which can help you get rid of the fleas and prevent them from laying more eggs.
If you don’t know the best flea treatment for your pet, it is best to talk to your vet to find the most suitable or prescribed treatments.