Title: Flea Control
Author: Jamie Simpson
Flea Control
Fleas are found throughout the world. They are small,
wingless, dark coloured insects that feed on warm blooded
animals such as cats, dogs, rats, chickens, pigs and humans
etc. There are many different types of flea, around 2000
known varieties, and although there are fleas that are
considered specific to each host, these fleas will still
bite and feed off other hosts. For example, cat and dog
fleas which are particularly common will attack humans, and
human fleas will attack pigs, foxes, deer and other
animals. Fortunately, the human flea is now relatively
rare, in the UK at least, and when it is found, it is
usually in pig farms.
Well known types of fleas
- Cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis)
- Dog flea (Ctenocephalides canis)
- Rat flea (Nosopsyllus fasciatus)
- Human flea (Pulex irritans)
Fleas are extremely well adapted to their environment and
their hard outer shell makes them difficult to kill by
squashing or swatting alone. They move about very quickly
and the anatomical structure of their legs means they can
jump particularly high in order to reach an unsuspecting
host or to move around 'obstacles' on their host such as
hairs or feathers.
Any type of flea bite can cause itching, irritation and
allergic reactions. The most common place for cat and dog
fleas to bite humans is around the ankles and legs and
indeed the bites may be the first sign that you have some
unwelcome visitors in your home. The bites are usually felt
straight away and appear as small red spots or weals, which
are intensely itchy, particularly in those who are
sensitive to the bites.
Fleas also carry disease so are undesirable in any
circumstances. Probably the most famous outbreak of disease
that was caused by fleas was the bubonic plague or Black
Death which was carried by the rat flea and which
terrorised the whole of Europe during part of the 17th
Century.
If your dog or cat has fleas, it can very quickly turn into
a major problem if not dealt with quickly and effectively.
An adult female flea can lay as many as 100 eggs in a
matter of days, which of course leads to hundreds of new
fleas that are also able to lay hundreds of eggs. It
doesn't take an in-depth knowledge of mathematics to work
out that after a relatively short period of time, in the
right conditions, you can potentially be dealing with
millions of fleas.
How to control fleas in your home
If you have pets then there is every chance that you will
have had to treat your pet for fleas at some point. Cats
and dogs can pick up fleas whilst outside so there is not
much you can do to stop this from happening but you can
help prevent them from invading your home.
- Purchase an insecticidal flea spray for your pet and for
your home.
- Wash all pet bedding and cloths and the area around where
your pet sleeps regularly, as this is most likely where the
flea will lay her eggs.
- Flea eggs can lie dormant in cracks and crevices just
waiting for vibrations from a passer by to alert the flea
to an available host so vacuum all the carpets thoroughly
on a regular basis and steam clean the carpets from time to
time.
- Brush or comb your cat or dog as often as possible as
this will help to dislodge the fleas and eggs from your
pets coat. Vacuum the surrounding area immediately
afterwards.
- You can also ask your vet for other preparations that may
help prevent fleas from settling on your pet in the first
place
One of the problems associated with the control of pet
fleas is that the fleas have become resistant to many types
of flea control. So for example, even if your pet is
wearing a flea collar, this alone will not necessarily
protect your pet or your home from an infestation of fleas.
In order to deal with fleas effectively, you need to treat
the flea in its various life cycles, your pet and your home.
About the Author:
If you are experiencing a flea infestation and need flea
control products to combat the problem, then please come
and visit our site. http://www.ppcsuppl
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