FLEAS!!!!
The
Spring has sprung and it is set to be a bumper flea season! So arm
yourself with the latest flea products before the bugs bite and make
sure that the only guests in house are the ones you have invited!
Below is a simplified flea life story as it is important to
understand how the flea lives and breeds before choosing the
appropriate products.
IN THE BEGINNING …FLEA OR EGG?
We
will start with the adult female flea as she lays her eggs. Once an
adult flea has found a host animal (i.e.; our dog or cat) it will
remain on it for its entire life. Our female flea takes a blood meal
from its host animal almost immediately after settling in and will
mate within the next 8-24 hours. She will begin egg laying 24-48
hours after mating and will lay an average of 27 eggs per day. Most
of her egg laying is done at night when the host animal is resting in
his basket or on the end of your bed!
ONCE
LAID, THE EGGS FALL OFF THE ANIMAL INTO AN ENVIROMENT THAT IT IS
CERTAIN TO RETURN TO. THEREFORE, THE FEMALE FLEA HAS ENSURED THAT HER
OFFSRING WILL HAVE FOOD.
EGGS
= LARVAE = PUPAE = FLEA
Flea
eggs are pearly white and are visible to the naked eye. They fall off
the host animal within approximately two hours of being laid and once
in the environment are only susceptible to severe climate changes.
When fully developed the flea larvae hatch out. These look like tiny
maggots and feed on organic debris particularly flea faeces (flea
dirt). They hide away from light and may creep under furniture when
possible, although they do not have the ability to move far. The flea
larvae moult twice then spin a cocoon and pupate.
COCOONS
……
In
the safety of its cocoon, the pre adult flea waits for optimum
survival conditions before it will hatch. Cocoons are covered with a
sticky substance, which soon picks up environmental debris, and find
it especially comfortable to wait out their time in the base of your
carpet, dark recesses of your wooden floors or under furniture that
is seldom moved. In this state, the cocoon can survive for
considerable periods of time i.e.; months until it is stimulated by
the presence of carbon dioxide or a change in pressure or
temperature.
Once
hatched the adult flea will live for approximately 113 days but
cannot live for more than 20 days without a blood meal.
1 FLEA = 27
EGGS/DAY X 113 = 3051 FLEAS IN LESS THAN FOUR MONTHS!
SO
WHAT?
Flea
saliva contains a complex array of chemicals which allows the flea to
successfully take its blood meal while evading the host animals
defence mechanisms. The most common flea related disease in dogs and
cats is FLEA ALLERGic DERMATITIS, which is caused by a hypersensitive
reaction to flea saliva. The flea also acts as the intermediate host
to the common tapeworm – DIPYLIDIUM CANINUM.
WHAT
CAN WE DO?
ATTACK
THE ENVIRONMENT!
DO……
VACUUM
CARPETS AND WASH PET BEDDING REGULARLY.
Vacuuming
removes up to 20% of flea larvae and 32-51% of eggs.
Plus it removes
debris and flea faeces, which is the larval food source.
DON’T!
Shampoo
or steam clean carpets -
this
is not recommended
Also
fumigating or using expensive environmental products before going
away on holiday is not advised because fleas are sensitive to
environmental vibrations and changes in carbon dioxide levels which
stimulate them to hatch. The chances are that when you come back so
will the fleas!
DO…
Use
pet friendly ,environmental flea sprays
to spray bedding, carpets and under furniture.
TREAT
YOUR PET!
Things
to consider before purchasing your flea treatment:
-
how bad is the flea problem? You may need to start with a combination of products including environmental insecticides to get on top of your pets fleas.
-
does your dog swim ? If so, choose a product that will withstand your dog being wet .
-
will your pet tolerate a collar?
-
how easy is it to dose your pet or apply spot treatments?
-
how good are you in remembering to treat your pet every month?
Unfortunately,
one of the main reasons flea treatments fail is the pet owner forgets
to continue treatment ! The months go by so quickly it is not always
easy to keep up with things, which is why some of the new products
can be a great help.
Below
are some of the most effective products available on the market .
Activyl:
- active ingredient indoxacarb that was specifically developed to overcome insect resistance
- uses enzymes inside the flea to activate it .
-
Indoxacarb has not been used for flea control before.
-
It is effective at killing adult and developing stages of fleas
-
no known resistance – yet!
-
4 weeks of efficacy against adult fleas on the pet and developing stages of fleas in the pet’s environment
-
spot on treatment
-
safe for dogs and cats from 8 weeks of age or more than specified weight
-
waterproof and remains effective after shampooing and bathing
-
does NOT kill ticks
NEXGARD:
-
active ingredient afoxolaner
-
oral systemic treatment
-
tick and flea control for 1 month
-
safe for pups 8wks and older
-
dogs can swim
-
NOT FOR USE IN CATS
-
safety in pregnant or lactating bitches has not been tested
BRAVECTO:
-
active ingredient Fluralaner
-
Fluralaner is a potent inhibitor of parts of the arthropod nervous system
-
kills adult as well as juvenile ticks (larvae, nymphs).
-
Newly emerged fleas on a dog are killed before viable eggs are produced.
-
chewable tablet
-
acts systemically so dog can be bathed and can swim
-
safe for puppies over 8 weeks old
-
NOT FOR USE IN CATS
-
LASTS FOR 12 WEEKS
-
Can be used in breeding, pregnant and lactating dogs.
SERESTO COLLAR
-
imidacloprid & Flumethrin
-
pevents tick and flea infestation for 8 months
-
repells ticks and fleas immediately
-
frequent swimming or shampooing should be avoided
-
safe for use in cats over 10 weeks old
-
safe for puppies over 7 weeks old
-
safety in pregnant or lactating animals has not been tested.
FRONTLINE
PLUS-
-
active ingredient Fipronyl
-
Frontline is an effective adulticide that kills the adult flea and stops the development of the immature flea.
-
It is applied to the animal monthly, either as a spray or in a spot treatment.
-
The adulticide dissolves into the sebum covering of the coat and skin and the intercellular lipid of the epidermis. Concentration occurs in the sebaceous glands thus it is released with normal sebaceous secretions.
-
It takes approximately 24- 48 hours to spread over the animal and once the product has spread
-
remains active despite weekly bathing.
-
Adult fleas may be seen on the animal during treatment but should die within 24 hours of contact with Frontline Plus.
-
Frontline Plus is also effective against ticks.
-
It is safe to use on pregnant and nursing animals
-
safe on puppies and kittens over 8 week of age.
If
you are not sure what product is best for your pet chat to your vet
for advice.
