Fleas need not be frequent foes

If you have a pet or are frequently around pets, chances are you will experience one or more brushes with fleas in your lifetime. Fleas can quickly overrun your life, and knowing how to effectively and safely treat your pet and living spaces for fleas is essential.

While there are no concrete statistics indicating how many cats, dogs and other pets are afflicted by a flea infestation every year, there is research that indicates fleas account for more than half of all dermatological conditions requiring veterinary assistance in pets and people.

Fleas are parasites that feed on the blood of warm-blooded animals. They are not finicky as to where they arrive at their warm meal. Consequently, it’s not uncommon to find that anyone in a household where fleas are present can become game for the hungry flea. The parasites use this blood meal to produce eggs — as many as 50 per day. In general, fleas are more nuisance than nemesis. Their bites inflict itching and redness. In hypersensitive individuals and animals, the irritation can be very intense.

To understand how to win the war on fleas, it’s important to learn about their behavior and preferences. Warm, moist weather is a haven for fleas, which is why many people equate the summertime with flea season.

However, in areas where the mercury rises above 60 degrees earlier in the year, fleas may be more than just a summertime concern.

Adult fleas spend most of their time feeding on a host animal. Eggs that are laid drop off into the surrounding areas, such as in carpeting or in a pet’s bedding. These eggs hatch into larvae, which feed upon flea dirt (dried blood feces) and other organic matter (like shed skin cells) that are in their proximity. The larvae then spin themselves into a cocoon, where they are virtually protected from any insecticide.

They will remain there until they sense the heat of a passing animal or the carbon dioxide from an animal’s expelled breath. Then the young flea hops onto its new target, restarting the cycle.

Treating both the animal and the environment is key to getting rid of fleas. However, many products are geared at treating one or the other. Typical flea carpet powders contain harsh, toxic chemicals, which cannot be used on animals and should be applied when people are not around. Flea collars and other medicinal applications are good for keeping fleas off of animals, but don’t address fleas in the environment. Plus, both of these types of products are virtually ineffective at tackling fleas outdoors.