Fighting Fleas
Only 5% of all fleas are found on your pets, the other 95% are eggs, larvae and pupae in your home and outdoors.- Each female flea can lay up to 50 eggs a day, therefore by the time you notice a few adult fleas there is likely to be hundreds of eggs, larvae and pupae developing within your home, but don’t worry we are here to help you eliminate all these life stages from your home.
- Pupae hidden inside and outside your home are the main source of new fleas jumping onto your pet.
- Wildlife such as hedgehogs can carry the same fleas that affect our pets, eggs from these fleas then drop off wildlife outdoors and once they have gone through their lifecycle newly emerged adult fleas jump onto your pet.
Treating your pet
- Correctly treat all cats and dogs in your home every month for at least 3 months (important to treat for 3 months due to adult fleas emerging from pupae in the environment).
- Flea products that we recommend here are designed to kill fleas once they have jumped on to pets and not act as repellents, so you may see fleas but they will be killed if your pet is treated correctly.
- We do recommend these products as opposed to pet shop flea products (which are often flea repellents), however as they are a prescription only medicine we do legally have to see your pet to be able to prescribe them, we do this free of charge and can also discuss different treatment options available to you at this time.
- Fleas will sometimes be visible on your pet while the infestation resolves which is normal and can last between 1 and 3 months. However as each flea is killed before it can lay eggs, the household flea population will decline.
- Some pets are allergic to flea saliva, known as flea allergic dermatitis, meaning that their immune system overreacts to each flea bite causing severe irritation which can lead to skin infections if left untreated. It is really important with these pets to get flea infestation under control as quickly as possible to minimise the time they are exposed to flea saliva.
Treating the Enviroment
- Vacuum the house -Making sure you move all furniture and concentrate on skirting boards, carpeted areas, wooden floors and laminate floors. This will remove some eggs before they develop into larvae and pupae.
- Wash your pet’s bedding (and anywhere else your pet sleeps!) at 60C to kill flea eggs and larvae.
- Thoroughly spray all floor space in the home with a household insecticidal spray (ideally a spray that contains an adulticide and an insect growth regulator), this will kill flea eggs and larvae. Here at Sleaford vets we stock Indorex which we recommend.
- Encourage the remaining flea pupae to hatch out into new adult fleas so they can jump onto your treated pet and be killed before they lay more eggs. Hatching can be stimulated by providing warmth, vibration, CO2 and humidity:Ensure your treated pet has access to all parts of the home.Turn up the heating in your home, place damp towels on warm radiators and vacuum to generate warmth and vibration.
Summary of main points to manage flea infestation
- Apply a recommended flea product at the correct dosing interval - we offer flea/worm consults where we can discuss the most appropriate treatment for your pet. We do recommend prescription flea products that kill the adult fleas rather than repel them due to the reasons above, fleas can transmit tapeworm so it is important to make sure your pet is up to date with worming treatment.
- Vacuum your carpets and furnishings and wash your pet’s bedding above 60C.
- Use an environmental spray containing an insect growth regulator.
- Allow your treated pets continued access to infested areas.