A Pet's View / May 2008
Springtime Fleas
A single female flea can lay 30-40 eggs in just one day, that’s 280 eggs a week! They will hatch in 4-12 days. Flea eggs hatch into larvae which move away from light and downwards. This means that they are usually found deep in the carpet pile, bedding and/or beds. Fleas are one of the most common parasites to hop onto your cat or dog but they are easy to control if you follow a few simple rules. But you may not see any actual fleas as your pet can groom them out before you get the chance to find them. The easiest way to check is to collect some “Flea dirt”, check their necks or perhaps the base of their tail. If you see little specs of “dirt” get some damp cotton wool and dab the area. Check the cotton wool; has it got a some red color on it? If yes, you can be certain that your pet has been in recent contact with fleas. The Flea dirt is actually dry blood!
Prevention is the key. As with most things, prevention is better than cure. It can take months to obliterate fleas once they get into your home. There are various products you can use. The choice is yours. Whatever you chose, make sure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully.
If your dog or cat is already scratching and you see one flea, then you will need to treat EVERY cat and dog in the house. It doesn’t matter what you use, or whether you can actually see fleas on all your pets, ALWAYS treat every cat and dog in the house. Once that is done move onto the house. Treat ALL areas of the house making sure you also treat the pets bedding and beds. There are various products on the market for this.
Normally, flea infestations should clear within a few days. However, flea eggs laid around your home can survive in the carpet, bedding and/or beds for up to 9 months. During this time, they can hatch and jump back aboard the pet no matter what treatment you used. If this happens, then you need to de-flea again as before.
Copyright © 2007 A Woman's View. All rights reserved.
Top • Home • Subscribe • Advertise • Submit • Distribution • Contact
Support Our Advertisers • Organization Resources • Women Owned Business
Send an Email About This Article