Adult fleas are wingless insects, generally smaller than a sesame seed, who feed on the blood of animals. Their proportionately enlarged back pair of legs gives them an extraordinary jumping ability (usually 2-8mm long). Hanging on to your pet’s fur with their claws, their needle like mouth parts bite through the skin to suck up blood–in quantities of up to 15 times their body weight daily.          

If one flea finds an attractive food source, you can be sure other fleas will join soon after. They then mate and the female is able to lay up to 50 eggs per day. Eggs will then drop to the ground within 8 hours and as soon as 2 days later the flea larvae will hatch and hide in dark places in its environment such as, on the ground, carpet, or upholstery. After a week of eating organic debris (adult flea droppings, crumbs, flakes of skin etc.) the larvae will spin cocoons to become pupae. The pupae can remain in this stage for up to 9 months or longer. Once the flea adult emerges from the cocoon, they are in search of a food source. The cycle can take as little as 12 days or as long as 180 days.

How can this affect my pet?

Flea bites can feel like a mosquito bite that is constantly itchy to your pets. By not killing the adult flea, the biting will continue to affect your pets. Untreated flea infestations can cause: secondary skin infections, tapeworms (fleas are tapeworm hosts), anemia (a lack of red blood cells), and Flea Allergy Dermatitis (FAD).

What is Flea Allergy Dermatitis (FAD)?

Flea Allergy Dermatitis is an allergic reaction to the saliva that fleas inject into the skin as they feed. Reactions can include moderate to severe itchiness, papules (little red bumps), redness, and self-trauma from biting and scratching in the affected area. Most commonly affected locations in dogs are the base of the tail, over the back, the backs of the thighs, and the front legs. Hair loss, scratched skin, blackened pigment of skin, and dandruff are also commonly seen.

How can I treat my pet for FAD?

Flea control for the individual pet and treatment of housemates must be aggressive. Medications prescribed from your veterinarian team will help kill adult fleas on your pets either by topical agents or oral agents. Also depending on how severe the allergic reaction is, your pet may require temporary treatment with steroids to relieve some itchiness. It is also important to treat the environment your pet lives in as well, thorough daily vacuuming of high-traffic areas and frequent washing of your pets bedding will help in reducing the flea population in your home.

It's important to talk to your veterinary team about the most appropriate products for your pets, as some medications can cause harm if not applied properly. Prevention is the best medicine to keeping your pets happy and healthy. Lexy