Author: Kelly Marshall
Fleas are more than just annoying; they can carry many serious
diseases, parasites and even lead to an overall weakness in
your dog's immune system. In addition fleas can bite other pets
and humans in the household leading to infestations, possible
allergic reactions and even allergies and skin rashes. Fleas
are found almost everywhere in the world, although they tend to
be more problematic in warm climates and in more southerly
locations. Remember that dogs in kennels or dogs that interact
with other dogs are always at risk for flea infestations
because not all dog owners are responsible with flea control.
The good news is that there are many effective topical
solutions and other vet prescribed treatments to eliminate and
control fleas in the house and on the dog. Many of the herbal
and homeopathic flea controls are not quite as effective but
are still good at some control. There are also a lot of
ineffective and fraudulent over-the-counter flea control
programs that simply don't work. Before deciding on a flea
control program consult with your veterinarian to decide what
will work best for you and your dog.
Flea Life Cycle
Despite being a complete nuisance, fleas actually have an
amazing life cycle and it is easy to see why they are so
widespread around the world. Their whole lifecycle protects
them and gives them the greatest possible opportunity to
reproduce, which they do in huge numbers. To understand the
life cycle of the flea the stages will be outlined below:
Eggs - the eggs are laid in the hair and are not attached to
the follicle, rather they are simply deposited against the
skin. This means that the eggs can drop off the dog onto
bedding (yours or theirs), furniture, or even onto other pets.
The eggs can survive for years under the right conditions. Each
female lays about 15-20 eggs per day and about 600 eggs during
her lifespan. The eggs hatch in a vary short time ranging from
a couple of days to two weeks, depending on the temperature and
other conditions.
Larva - approximately 30% of the fleas on a dog are in the
larva stage at any given time. There are actually three
separate stages to larva but it is important to know that the
larva are blind and avoid light at all costs. Dark areas are
where they like to live. Folds in bedding and furniture are
ideal locations for larva to be found. They eat dried blood
found in adult flea fecal material and dead skin. At this time
they are not a parasite in the true sense because they do not
actually suck blood or affect the dog's health. The larva stage
can last from two weeks to a month or longer.
Pupa - the larva spins a cocoon and rests and develops for five
days to fourteen days. During this time they do not consume
anything but the cocoon can cause irritation to the dog's skin
if it is on the body or in the bedding.
Adult fleas - adult fleas are the biting and serious stage of
development. They bite the skin and suck small amounts of blood
from the victim, be it a dog, cat, other animal or human. Fleas
can cause allergic reactions in most species and can lead to
scabs, dry and flaky patches of skin and even hair loss. Adult
fleas cannot reproduce without first ingesting blood but they
can go into a form of hibernation for several months if there
is no blood available.
Be sure to plan for routine flea control and management for
your dog. Watch carefully for any of the signs of fleas,
especially flea dirt, in the dog's coat. Flea dirt is small
round dark balls that look like large, black sand grains close
to the skin. This is a sure sign of flea infestations and means
that immediate treatment is required.
About The Author: For flea control products and other dog
supplies, visit http://www.ohmydogsupplies.com
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