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Your Dog & Flea Control

The Flea Life Cycle

The Flea Life Cycle consists of 4 stages. Egg, Larva, Pupa and Adult. Flea eggs which make up 50% of the flea population are not visible to the human eye. They are pearly white and about ½ mm in length. They hatch into larvae in5 to10 days. This is accelerated by high humidity and temperatures.

Flea Larvae are about 2-5 mm in length and live for 5-10 days and then pupate. They moved deeply into carpet fibers, grass, branches, leaves and soil. They thrive in moist conditions. Flea larvae will survive outdoors in shaded, moist areas particularly where fleas infested pets spend time.

The mature larvae produce a silk-like cocoon in which the next step of development, which is the pulp, resides. In warm and humid conditions pupae become adult fleas in 5 to 10 days.

When the adult flea emerges from the cocoon its survival relies on a blood meal. Pets become its prime target to which it is attracted by body heat, movement and exhaled carbon dioxide. Female fleas begin egg production 36 to 48 hours after a blood meal and egg production can continue for up to 48 hours.

Your Pet and Fleas

Fleas feed on blood and the bite can cause itchiness and inflammation. The female flea will take blood for several weeks. If untreated this can lead to anemia as a result of a loss of red blood cells.

Environmental Flea Control

Successful flea control must not only rid your dog of fleas but the dog’s environment also. Flea control is difficult when other dogs have access to your pet’s environment. Also with the increase in carpeted homes, central heating and the prolonged periods of warm, humid weather in summer months provide ideal conditions for fleas to flourish. So although it is impossible to rid the environment of fleas completely, flea control should still be attempted.

A Flea Control Tip

Flea control methods should be concentrated on areas where pets feed and rest such as their baskets and blankets. Regular vacuuming of floors and washing of pets and bedding will aid in flea control .Treating the pet alone will not keep your home free of fleas.

Some Flea Control Products

Getting flea infestation problems under control is not an easy task. The following are some suggestions for flea control products.

Flea medication is available that can be used orally. Program Flea Control comes in a tablet form. Program Tablets have been developed as a convenient once a month flea treatment for the control of fleas on cats and dogs. Program flea medication is effective as it works directly on the source of the problem by killing flea eggs before they hatch.

Spot on flea treatments are an effective start to flea eradication. Some very effective products for both dog flea treatment and cat flea treatment include Advantage flea control, Frontline flea treatment, Advantix, Advocate flea control and Revolution flea control.

Frontline flea control kills fleas before they have a chance to lay eggs breaking the flea life cycle.

Advocate flea control is more than a flea medication. It is also a heartworm treatment and intestinal wormer with the added benefit of treating mites.

Revolution flea control is also more than a flea medication. In addition to being a heartworm treatment and intestinal wormer it controls ear mites and sarcoptic mange.

Advantage flea control breaks the flea cycle and kills fleas emerging from the environment.

Advantix flea control kills the flea larvae and repels brown dog, bush ticks and parasite ticks. It controls lice and repels and kills mosquitoes and sand flies. This product can not be used on cats.

Flea shampoos and flea collars can be used in combination with flea medication. Regular shampooing of your pet should be combined with either spot on flea medication and oral flea medication.

Flea eradication can be a mammoth task to say the least. However flea prevention can easily be achieved with the regular us of flea control products.

For more information on these products please visit our website at www.PetsMightyMart.com.au or email us by using our online Contact form.