Page 5 - Small Talk - Summer 2014

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Almost every pet will experience an infestation of
this tiny insect at one point in their life, but whilst
easy to become infected, it is not always as simple
to banish this unwanted guest.
Fleas could easily win a place in the long jump
stakes, with an ability to leap an astonishing 150
times their own body length. This allows them to
hop from the surrounding environment, onto your
pets with ease. Once cosily settled into your pet’s
fur coat, a female flea will bite and start to suck
blood. In order to support and nourish the 50 eggs
she can lay daily, a female must drink up to 15 times
her own bodyweight in blood every single day.
Couple this with flea’s saliva being reported as
one of the most irritant substances on the planet
and you have one very bothersome problem
on your hands. Quite impressive for an insect
only 1mm long!
What many people don’t realise is that adult
fleas, those which you can see scurrying
around on your pet, only make up 5%
of the total flea population within a
household. The remaining 95% of
fleas are in the form of eggs,
developing larvae and pupae
which have dropped from your
pet’s coat into your home. A
sobering thought is that typically
by the time you notice a pet has
fleas, the adults visible are those
which have hatched from eggs
laid 2 months previously in the
home! By this time the juvenile stages can be
found all around you - on sofas, in bedding, hidden
deep in carpet pile - but they are so small and
light-phobic you can’t actually see them.
Nevertheless, treating the environment to protect
your pet from re-infestation is becoming an
important strategy in winning the war against fleas.
Historically fleas were a seasonal issue, with
problems usually experienced only during the
balmy summer months. However, modern homes
are putting paid to this, especially with the dawning
of the age of central heating. Keeping our homes
warm and toasty during the winter months not
only makes us happy, but actually encourages
fleas to remain active and continue developing
through, what used to be, their hibernation period.
Months free of fleas are therefore becoming a
thing of the past.
So what is the best way to
keep fleas at bay?
As these parasites can cause distress and
discomfort to your pets, it is important to protect
these special family members directly. This is
commonly achieved through use of topical spot-on
treatments; your vet will be able to recommend the
most suitable choice for your animal. With fleas
becoming ever present in the home domain, it is
important to continue this treatment all year round.
Whilst this will protect your pet, you may still fall
victim to irritating flea bites, especially around your
ankles, for many more months due to fleas still
hatching within your home. The best way to
achieve total flea protection is therefore to treat
your house as well as your pet. This can be
achieved through using safe, effective household
treatment sprays. These are applied directly to
home surroundings where juvenile fleas develop,
helping to make your sofa and carpets a flea-free
zone for your family all year around.
Following these simple tips for success, you’ll
soon be saying fleas -
what fleas?
…And the gold medal for the most common
and aggravating external parasite of dogs
and cats goes to - Fleas!