Fleas are a major worry that all dog owners eventually have to deal with. Anybody who has a pet has probably experienced the daunting task of getting rid of fleas, a battle which has time and again been shown to be more trying than it appears.
Fleas aren't merely an issue because they bite and incite hours of aggravating itching and scratching for your pet, but they could also trigger additional major troubles that may include a flea allergy, tapeworm infestations and anemia in severe situations.
Because of their astounding resilience, fleas are incredibly difficult to control. A female flea can lay more than 2,000 eggs during the course of her lifetime, which suggests that infection can strike quickly and the eggs that were laid can subsist for quite a while in the natural environment while merely awaiting an acceptable target. Thus it's vital to eliminate both the fleas on the dog and the fleas inhabiting the pet's living area. The ideal places for fleas are bedding, sand, carpets and rugs.
Methods to Get Rid of Fleas
To successfully killing fleas on dogs and in their habitats, it's basic to be aware of the flea's life span. There are four stages which makeup the life span of the flea. As with the majority of insects, the fleas begins in the egg stage, transforms into larva, and then matures to the pupa stage until eventually reaching the adult phase.
The Flea's Egg Stage
The eggs of the flea are white in color and are so minute that they are hard to find without the help of a magnifying glass. Despite the fact that the eggs are first laid on the canine's skin, many will eventually drop onto the ground to perpetuate their expedition to an adult. About half of the total flea populace consists of eggs. Depending upon the living conditions, the eggs hatch in somewhere between 2 to 4 weeks. The higher the heat and dampness in the living area, the earlier the eggs will hatch.
The Flea's Larva Stage
When the flea egg hatches, it enters the larva phase where it expands to around 1/4 inch long. The flea larvae subsist on natural waste substances and on the adult flea's feces. They do not care for strong lighting and tend to hibernate deep inside their present surroundings, if at all possible in a warm and moist location. Climate controlled houses are the ideal surroundings for the life cycle of the flea to flourish. Outside, larva gestation will only occur in wet, shaded spots.
The Flea's Pupa Stage
When crossing into the pupae stage, the flea pupae develop a silken and sticky shielding cocoon. This chrysalis swiftly configures a convenient hiding place as it gets sheltered by debris and dust. If aroused by high temperature, carbon dioxide or by manual influence, like that in a balmy and humid location, an adult flea could surface from the chrysalis in as fast as 5 to 10 days. Once the adult flea surfaces from the cocoon, it will subsist for only a couple of days unless it's able to find a host. Pre-emerged adult fleas can last in the cocoon for as many as 9 months. This is meaningful because adult fleas still existing within the cocoon are resistant to insecticides sprayed in the environment and can surface a considerable time after you use insecticides in your house.
The Flea's Adult Phase
Once the adult flea comes out from its shell, it will need to immediately locate a host since it must have blood if it is to exist. Two days subsequent to obtaining a fitting host, the female flea will commence to laying around forty eggs every day. Adult fleas can live as long as three weeks. The entire lifecycle of the flea may possibly be finished in as short as 2 to 4 weeks, or up to 10 months contingent upon environmental climatic conditions.
How to Treat Your Dog For Fleas
There are many powders, shampoos, sprays and on the spot preparations out there to relieve your dog of fleas. Be certain to confer with your vet to opt for the truly powerful and safest flea insecticides for your household and pet.
Methods For Ridding the Indoor Environment of Fleas
The majority of products are simply useful against the adult flea, but environmental insecticides are becoming more highly developed. A vet can offer you flea preparations that have insect growth regulators that will help terminate the larvae and flea eggs. Before spraying any indoor product, it is a good idea vacuum your rugs and carpets to coax the pre-adult fleas to surface from their protective cocoon. Be sure to toss away the vacuum bag after using it. You ought to also clean the bedding your dog has layed down on.
Methods For Ridding the Outside Environment of Fleas
Focus on dim, shady spaces. Apply a product containing an insect growth regulator and do this again every 2-3 weeks for 3 to 5 applications. The latest oral and skin flea formulations will considerably assist you in resolving your flea troubles. With dedication and patience, you and your best friend should be free of fleas in a flash!
Article Resources on Dog Flea Control
