Fleas can be a real nuisance to your pet and can cause significant complications such as flea allergy dermatitis and anemia. Fleas can also transmit parasites such as tapeworms. Once your pet has fleas and your house is infested, ridding yourself of these nasty bugs can take several months.

Your animal can get infested with fleas in several different ways.  These include going outdoors, going to places where other animals are kept (such as grooming, boarding or daycare facilities), or visiting other animal owner’s homes.

Fleas have a 4 stage lifecycle: egg, larva, pupa and adult stages.  A female flea will lay eggs (25-50 a day) on your pet; the eggs will then fall off your pet and infest their environment. The flea larvae emerge from the eggs and feed on any available organic material. Within a couple of weeks, the larvae will pupate and weave a silken cocoon. After a few weeks, the adult flea can emerge from the cocoon (although they can remain in the pupal stage for up to a year!) and the process begins all over again. It would not take long to start a serious infestation in your home – in only 2 months, 12 fleas can become 2000!

It is important to remember that only 5% of the fleas are actually on your pet; the remaining 95% are in your pet’s environment.

The best way to deal with fleas is to prevent them!

The easiest way to prevent fleas is with a monthly safe and effective preventative medication available from your veterinarian.  Different medications are available. These can be given during the flea season only or year round if your pet will be going to boarding kennels, groomers or anywhere else they may encounter other pets.  Contact Centrepointe Animal Hospital to discuss which product would be best for your pet. Some flea prevention products also prevent heartworm and some intestinal parasites.

If your pet has fleas, contact Centrepointe Animal Hospital; they will recommend a safe and effective treatment plan that will not only relieve your pet’s discomfort but also clear the infestation from your home.

So keep your pet happy and flea free this summer, it really couldn’t be easier!