Fleas

Fleas Why Are They a Problem?

Fleas generally live on household pets, but the eggs fall off into places such as carpets and upholstered furniture where they hatch and develop into adults, and then wait for a host to come by and provide a food source (any warm-blooded being will do). There are over a thousand species of fleas, but the cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis) is most commonly found in homes and on pets. Despite its name, the cat flea is not specific to cats. It’s also a common nuisance to dogs and other domestic animals.

Flea Biology

Of all the blood feeders, the notorious mosquito included, none can be as frustrating as the common flea. Their tiny size, incredible reproductive rate, extraordinary jumping power and wide range of habitats make fleas a tenacious and worrisome pest, especially for pet owners. A flea develops from egg to adult in as little as two weeks, but, depending on environmental conditions, this process can take up to five months. In colder climates, fleas commonly survive the winter protected by their impenetrable cocoons. Once an adult female flea has landed on a suitable host, she will remain there for the rest of her life, producing an average of five eggs per day and 150-800 eggs in her lifetime. A female flea can consume 15 times her body weight in blood every day.

How to Prevent Invasions & Infestations

  • Move any woodpiles that may harbour rodents away from the house.
  • Wash your pets’ blankets and pillows regularly.
  • Vacuum pet resting and sleeping areas thoroughly! Don’t forget the area between the baseboard and the floor, and the couch that your pet sleeps on.

Recommended Treatment

If you have an infestation, all potential egg-harbouring sites (like carpets and upholstered furniture) should be thoroughly washed and treated with flea powder or spray.

If fleas are found, pets should be thoroughly washed and treated with a product that is approved for use on pets. Breaking the chain of the flea life cycle and treating not only the pet, but also the pet's sleeping and resting environments is key in the control of fleas.