Information about fleas in pets

What are Fleas?

Fleas are small, blood-sucking parasites that affect both cats and dogs, causing intense itching, discomfort, and sometimes more serious health problems like allergic dermatitis, anemia, and the spread of tapeworms. Recognizing a flea infestation and applying proper treatment is vital for pet health.

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Signs of Flea Infestation

• Excessive scratching, licking, biting, or restlessness
• Flea dirt (small black specks) or live fleas in your pet's fur, bedding, or around the ears and rump
• Red, irritated skin, hair loss, and sometimes pale gums due to anemia
• Bites on humans can cause red, swollen itchy spots, often on the legs or feet

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Flea Lifecycle

• Each female flea can produce 40-50 eggs a day, and can live on your pet for almost 2 months. That’s up to 2,000 eggs a lifetime!
• Only 5% of an infestation is adult fleas – the ones you see on your pet! The environment actually holds 95% of fleas, making it hard to know just how big the problem is. Breaking the flea cycle is a vital first step in stopping repeat infestations.

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Controlling the outbreak‍

Step 1. Kill the adult fleas with flea treatment
Products such as Capstar will kill all adult fleas on your pet and lasts 24 hours. Keeping the fleas away will require a longer acting product such as Bravecto, Nexgard, Frontline, or Simparica.

Step 2. Vacuum entire house and treat with flea control product

Step 3. Wash bedding with hot water and spray with flea control product

Step 4. Vacuum daily for up to 8 weeks, to keep flea infestation under control

Consequences of flea infestation

• Flea Allergy Dermatitis: Some pets develop a severe allergic reaction to flea saliva, resulting in intense itching and skin wounds.
• Tapeworms: Fleas can transmit tapeworms to pets when they ingest them during grooming.
• Anemia: Severe infestations, especially in kittens or puppies, may lead to blood loss.