Dog Fleas:

Fleas are blood sucking insects that infest the haircoats of animals and occasionally feed on people. These insects cause irritation and distress to infested pets while severe infestations may lead to anemia via blood loss. Very young or debilitated pets can die from flea bite anemia. Fleas spread dog and cat tapeworm as well as various viral and bacterial diseases. Flea bites may also cause skin allergies, rashes and sores on both pets and their owners. Flea infestation is determined by either direct visualization of the fleas (especially at the rear end of the pet) and/or the finding of flea dirt (ie. tiny, black granules that resemble black pepper). This material is flea feces and consists of digested blood from the pet. To distinguish this material from dirt, place it on white paper and add a drop of water to it. If the material disperses (ie. dissolved flea feces), your pet has fleas even if none are found. Fleas multiply rapidly. A single breeding pair of fleas may produce tens of thousands of offspring within months. Feeding females can produce hundreds of eggs which drop off the pet into cracks, crevices and carpeting. Eggs hatch after 2-12 days into larvae that feed in the environment; larvae molt 2 times within 2-200 days; and larvae spin a cocoon in which they can remain for 1 week to 1 year! An adult flea emerges from the cocoon when stimulated by a passing pet. As you can surmise, flea control requires treatment of both the pet and the pet's environment.

Dog Fleas Treatment:

Treatment of the pet is best accomplished with safe (eg. pyrethrin) shampoos to minimize the pet's current flea load followed by one of the once a month veterinarian prescription products. Consult your veterinarian. The environment can be treated via thorough vacuuming with flea collars or moth balls within your vacuum bag to kill any fleas which are picked up. Once a month veterinarian prescription products which render flea eggs non-viable can also be used. Do not treat the yard nor utilize flea collars on your pet, since neither practice effectively diminishes flea problems and also subject pets and people to unnecessary toxins!

Dog Fleas Prevention:

Prevention is best accomplished by year round use of monthly topical flea medications (eg. Frontline, Advantage, Comfortis, etc.).