LIFE CYCLE OF THE FLEA

The most common flea found on cats and dogs is the cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis). There are four stages in the life cycle of the flea.
1. Flea eggs are whitish and about 5mm in length. Eggs are laid by the adult flea after taking a blood meal. These eggs quickly fall off the pet and into the environment where they can hatch in as little as 14 days. High humidity and temperatures favor rapid hatching.

2. The eggs hatch into flea larvae which feed on organic debris and adult flea feces in the environment. Flea larvae prefer warm, shaded, moist areas.

3. The larvae develop into pupae which are protected inside a cocoon. Larvae can survive within the cocoon for up to 9 months. When stimulated by physical pressure, carbon dioxide, or heat, adult fleas emerge to feed upon their hosts (i.e. pets and people).

4. Adult female fleas begin producing eggs two days after their first blood meal and can remain on an animal for up to 3 weeks. The entire life cycle, from egg to adult flea, can be completed in 14-28 days depending on environmental conditions.


FLEA ALLERGY DERMATITIS

Flea allergy is the most common cause of itching and scratching in the dog and cat. Whe the flea bites, it injects a small amount of saliva into the skin. Dogs and cats can be allergic to this saliva and react with severe itching and scratching that lasts up to two weeks after the flea bites. Thus, a flea allergy dermatitis can be present without fleas being seen. Sometimes "flea dirt" provides evidence of fleas. "Flea dirt" looks like small black specks and is the feces of fleas. When placed on wet paper, it dissolves into reddish brown streaks because it contains partially digested blood.

In dogs, common signs of a flea allergy dermatitis are biting and itching around the rump and group areas; "hot spots;" and secondary skin infections. In cats, signs of a flea allergy are often less obvious. There may be scratching and areas of hair loss but more often small scabs and bumps will be felt on the cat’s neck and back (military dermatitis).

FLEA CONTROL ON YOUR PET
We recommend a topical product, such as Advantage (imidacloprid) or Frontline (fipronil), to kill adult fleas and prevent tem from biting. These products interfere with the nervous system of fleas only and do not affect pets or humans. They are also not absorbed into your pet’s bloodstream (i.e. they stay in the skin), thus making them very safe and effective. Application frequency is usually once a month but may be more often depending on the lifestyle and bathing needs of the pet. Frontline is effective against the dog tick as well.

Program (lufenuron) can also be used as a complement to Advantage or Frontline. Program prevents flea eggs from hatching, thereby acting as "birth control" for fleas and stopping their life cycle. For dogs, Program is a pill given monthly with food. Program also comes formulated in combination with a monthly heartworm preventative; the combo pill is called Sentinel. For cats, Program is given as an injection that provides flea protection for six months.

So what is the difference between Advantage or Frontline and the many over-the-counter topical flea products found in pet stores and supermarkets? The latter are generally pesticides that are not species-specific and thus, can be toxic to pets and humans. They can also enter an animal’s bloodstream and cause potentially fatal side effects, such as respiratory difficulty and seizures. Over-the-counter products tend not to be as effective as Advantage or Frontline and can be dangerous to animals who are sensitive to the pesticides they contain. Therefore, we recommend that these products be avoided.


FLEA CONTROL IN THE ENVIRONMENT

If topical and oral flea products still do not control a flea infestation, then your house and/or yard may need to be treated. Professional exterminators can do the job or you can treat yourself with a combination of an adulticide to kill the adult fleas and an insect growth regulator for the flea’s juvenile stages. It is important to focus on areas where your pet spends most of its time.