With our gentle Northland climate fleas can be a problem all year round but they become a particular problem at this time of year as the weather gets warmer.
You don’t need a trained eye to spot a heavy flea infestation. Your cat or dog will be scratching, biting its sides and generally showing signs of irritation and discomfort.
Regularly grooming your pet means that you can spot fleas straight away, or their droppings, as fleas can crawl through your pet’s fur at an alarmingly fast rate! If the infestation of fleas is heavy, they will be found crawling around on the comb afterwards. Placing your pet on a light coloured towel or white paper whilst grooming you will be able to see tiny brown flecks fall from the coat which are probably flea droppings.
It is important to eradicate fleas as soon as you find the first signs of infestation as they can become a major problem infesting the house and furniture. One flea can lay up to 1,000 eggs, which, in various stages of their lifecycle, can lay dormant in your home for up to two years.
The adult fleas you see on your pet represent approximately 5% of the total flea population in your house, and are only the tip of the infestation iceberg. We really cannot stress how important it is to treat your house and furniture as well as your pet!
Flea Lifecycle
- Adult fleas can be seen crawling on your pet – they find a mate and lay eggs
- In 10 days those eggs will hatch into larvae
- Similar to a butterfly, these larvae will then become pupae within about 12 days and will then lie in wait for a host – your pet! They then jump onto your pet and start the lifecycle all over again!
- Pupae can lie dormant in carpets and furnishings for months, just waiting for a cat or dog to walk past.
If fleas are left untreated, your pet can contract a skin condition which is caused by a reaction to the saliva left on your pet’s skin when a flea bites. Flea allergic dermatitis can be devastating to your pet so at Summerview we advise clients to be vigilant and ensure that their pets are regularly treated for fleas to prevent infestation becoming a problem.
Dogs and Puppies
We recommend dogs are treated monthly – we have a range of products available – talk to one of our vets who will help you decide which flea treatment best suits your dog.
Your vet will advise you the best age to start treating your puppy.
Cats and Kittens
Cats are slightly different. Dogs and cats require different flea treatments. The main products we would recommend are either Frontline or Advocate but we suggest you talk to one of our vets who will help you decide which best suits your cat.
Your vet will advise you the best age to start treating your kitten.