Fleas
Fleas don't just annoy your pets, but they can also invade your property where they can become a nuisance to your family as they bite and feed off humans as well.
In fact, at any given time, there can be up to thousands of flea eggs, larvae, and pupae living on your pet as well as throughout your property, which can quickly lead to an infestation if not properly treated.
In fact, at any given time, there can be up to thousands of flea eggs, larvae, and pupae living on your pet as well as throughout your property, which can quickly lead to an infestation if not properly treated.
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What are Fleas?
Fleas are 0.12-inch long parasitic insects with flat bodies, which are usually brown, and no wings as they do not fly. They also have strong claws that enable them to move about without getting stuck, as well as sturdy back legs that enable them to jump. In fact, the average flea can jump more than 6 inches. They also have mouths that enable them to suck blood after puncturing the skin. These tiny parasitic insects typically live outdoors on stray wildlife, such as raccoons, opossums, squirrels, and more; however, while you and/or your pet are outdoors, they will also jump into your pet's fur or on the leg of your pants or on your shoes where they will make their way indoors. Once on your pet, fleas will feed on more than 30 times their body weight in blood daily. Within just a few hours of jumping on your pet, they will also begin to mate and lay eggs in your pet's fur, which not long after will drop off in various places throughout your property. |
Do Fleas Pose any Risks?
Fleas have been shown to transport bacterial infections as well as tapeworms, which can be transferred through their bite.
Their bites can also cause itching and irritation at the site, similar to a mosquito bite, which can lead to scratching, biting, and pecking in the area, which can lead to hair loss in pets due to the excessive picking.
It can also cause flea allergy dermatitis, which is an itchy skin disease, as well as anemia due to significant blood loss.
Fleas have been shown to transport bacterial infections as well as tapeworms, which can be transferred through their bite.
Their bites can also cause itching and irritation at the site, similar to a mosquito bite, which can lead to scratching, biting, and pecking in the area, which can lead to hair loss in pets due to the excessive picking.
It can also cause flea allergy dermatitis, which is an itchy skin disease, as well as anemia due to significant blood loss.
Treating Your Flea Problem
Full-grown fleas spend most of their time in your pet's fur, and then once they lay eggs, which can be up to 40 or more per day, the eggs will fall off into your carpet, furniture, and other areas of your property, which can quickly lead to an infestation. Therefore, it is important to have your pet as well as your home treated to help prevent fleas.
Once the eggs hatch, the larvae will remain hidden in around your property in various materials where they will feed on adult feces. However, after some time, the larvae will develop into pupae within a cocoon where they remain for up to 4 weeks. In the meantime, these cocoons are impenetrable by insecticides, which means even if you treat your pet as well as your home during this time, the pupae will remain.
Therefore, the best defense against treating a flea infestation is to contact a professional technician who is highly knowledgeable and trained in flea habits and development and can implement the proper treatments to successfully rid fleas at every stage. The technician will also treat the surrounding yard to help prevent fleas on your property that can be transported inside.
It is also important to get your pet on a preventative treatment plan, which will help destroy any fleas before they have a chance to overpopulate. You should also be sure to vacuum indoors regularly, especially where the pet sleeps, as well as any other places where your pet likes to spend time, to help prevent flea eggs and larvae in your property.
Full-grown fleas spend most of their time in your pet's fur, and then once they lay eggs, which can be up to 40 or more per day, the eggs will fall off into your carpet, furniture, and other areas of your property, which can quickly lead to an infestation. Therefore, it is important to have your pet as well as your home treated to help prevent fleas.
Once the eggs hatch, the larvae will remain hidden in around your property in various materials where they will feed on adult feces. However, after some time, the larvae will develop into pupae within a cocoon where they remain for up to 4 weeks. In the meantime, these cocoons are impenetrable by insecticides, which means even if you treat your pet as well as your home during this time, the pupae will remain.
Therefore, the best defense against treating a flea infestation is to contact a professional technician who is highly knowledgeable and trained in flea habits and development and can implement the proper treatments to successfully rid fleas at every stage. The technician will also treat the surrounding yard to help prevent fleas on your property that can be transported inside.
It is also important to get your pet on a preventative treatment plan, which will help destroy any fleas before they have a chance to overpopulate. You should also be sure to vacuum indoors regularly, especially where the pet sleeps, as well as any other places where your pet likes to spend time, to help prevent flea eggs and larvae in your property.
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