Pets are man’s sweetest companions. When you get a pet, you owe it to yourself to take the best care of it, to give it love, and to be playful. But what if your sweet doggie or kitty gets fleas? Neither you nor they will be able to handle it. In that case, you’ll need a lot of care to get rid of fleas. Here are a few ways to eliminate those nasty fleas and make your pet happy again.
Flea Development Cycle: Overview
During the few weeks that an adult flea lives on a host, the flea population increases rapidly as it reproduces quickly, leading to a severe infestation. This can be extremely unpleasant for your furry companion, especially if fleas are on his body. These annoying creatures are easy to deal with, as long as you know what to do.
It can take a full year between breeding and the development of fleas.
The life cycle of a flea has four stages
Eggs
After female fleas have had enough of blood, they lay eggs on the skin or coat of the host animal. The eggs fall off the coat and are oval in shape and light in color. After the eggs are laid on the dog’s fur, it takes anywhere from two days to several weeks before they hatch.
Larva
Larvae emerge from incubated eggs and hatch when they are ready. Once born, they reach a millimeter in length and look like worm-like creatures. The pupa consists of a sticky cocoon and feeds on organic matter, going through several stages.
Pupa
The sticky shell makes it easier to pick up debris from the environment from the pupa to keep it clean. Fleas emerge within ten days. Depending on the environment, this stage can last from several months to several years. Pupae are often found under organic trash and carpets and can be difficult to destroy.
Adult
We are all familiar with adult fleas because they bite. When temperatures, vibrations or carbon dioxide levels rise, this stage develops from a pupa. Within a day or two of finding a host, newly emerged adults may begin to feed, and new eggs may appear a few days later.
Getting rid of fleas
Bathe your pet
One of the easiest ways to get rid of fleas is to bathe your pet regularly. You can remove fleas from your pet’s coat and skin by washing them with warm water or water and mild soap. Adult fleas can be drowned with dish soap. Before using flea shampoo or something similar, consult your veterinarian. Shampoo can strip pets’ coats of oils and dry out their skin. Animals with flea allergies may have sensitive skin. The same applies to pets with open wounds or untreated skin. Flea remedies contain chemicals that can aggravate irritation and infection.
You don’t have to bathe your pet to relieve it. You can skip the next step if you are worried about your pet’s reaction. Bathing too often is bad for your pet. Consult your veterinarian to make sure you are giving your pet the best treatment possible. Depending on the severity of the infestation, some pets may need to be bathed daily and others may need to be bathed weekly. It may also depend on the type of shampoo you use.
Flea Treatments
Today’s flea remedies come in a wide variety, and the widely available and highly effective prescription medications finally save you from having to deal with fleas.
Many of these products are prescription, so take your dog to the vet to see if it’s right for you. With prescription medications, fleas are killed quickly.
In contrast, Spinosad preparations start killing fleas within 30 minutes and are effective for one month. Bravecto starts killing fleas in two hours and is effective for three months.
Some of these preparations do not so much harm adult fleas as prevent them from hatching, thereby disrupting the flea’s life cycle. Since fleas cannot reproduce, they eventually disperse unless the animal is constantly infested with new fleas.
While in other climates flea and tick treatments should be started before flea season, in warm climates they should be started before it.
Choose a product that targets adult fleas as well, although adult fleas can still bite an animal that is allergic to flea saliva. There is a good chance that fleas will never bite dogs with hypersensitivity to fleas thanks to flea repellent products.
Apple cider vinegar spray
Despite its ability to repel fleas, apple cider vinegar cannot kill them. If it’s on your pet’s fur, fleas won’t be attracted to it because they don’t like the smell or taste of it. Fill a spray bottle with diluted apple cider vinegar and water. If your pet doesn’t like being sprayed, just brush his coat with the mixture diluted in water.
Use a flea comb: Flea combs are specifically designed to catch fleas and also to pass through your pet’s fur because they are thin enough to see fleas. Most often fleas live in the neck and tail area. To keep the fleas from reappearing, comb your pet for a few days, even if you think the problem has been solved. After combing, place the animal in a bowl of warm, soapy water.
Regular veterinary check-ups: If you ask your vet how to prevent fleas and other parasites in your pet, he may advise you to give him a monthly dose.
When will the fleas go away?
Depending on environmental conditions and how long fleas have been around, it can take a long time for a flea infestation to go away.
Usually, fleas can be eradicated within a few days with timely cleaning and the use of topical flea products. However, with the most diligent approach, it is impossible to eradicate all fleas in a room within a few days or weeks.
Fleas must be fought persistently. Some flea species are resistant to medications and insecticides and lay eggs quickly. Having a large area or multiple pets can make it difficult to get rid of fleas.
Bottom line
If you know how to deal with fleas, you have nothing to worry about. You should understand that getting rid of fleas is not easy and may take several weeks. However, if you are looking for a reliable flea repellent, you should consider shopping at Canada Vet Express. Not only can you find flea repellents here, but you can also find other pet medications and supplements.
