While there are more than 200 species of fleas in this country, the main
troublemaker for pets is the cat flea. Happy to feed on anyone in the
household--cat, dog or human--these wingless insects will most likely choose a
pet, whose fur provides warm camouflage for their breeding ground.
Common household fleas don't usually transmit diseases to pets and people.
The tiny insects are mainly just a nuisance - they generally cause a lot of
itching and scratching. They may also cause some discomfort due to possible
allergic flea bite dermatitis. Ticks, those other dreaded
bloodsuckers, pose greater risk, annually giving pets and thousands of people
illnesses such as Lyme disease.
The Flea Life Cycle
Fleas lay up to 10-20 eggs per day and their population can therefore increase
rapidly. Fleas are a transmitter of several
diseases to your pet. These include tapeworm and a severe skin condition called
Flea Bite Dermatitis, in which it is thought that pets become allergic to the
saliva of the flea and that one bite can cause the severe hypersensitivity.
Typical flea allergy in dogs causes a severe itching and hair loss at the base
of your pet’s tail. In cats, this is manifested as bumps all over your pet.
The flea life cycle, has four stages: eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults. Female
fleas lay as many as 50 eggs a day, starting a life cycle that can be completed
in as little as three weeks, depending on temperature and humidity. The eggs
hatch into larvae, which feed on "flea dirt," excrement of partially
digested blood.
Larvae grow and molt twice, then spin cocoons, where they grow
to pupae and then adults. The adult remains in the cocoon until vibrations
indicate a host is nearby. This waiting can extend the life cycle. It also
explains why large numbers of fleas often are seen when an empty building is
reoccupied. Six-legged adults emerge and attach to a host to feed and breed, beginning
the cycle all over again.
How to Recognize Flea Bites
Different animals have differing reactions to flea bites. Some pets are
immune to the bites, are unattractive to fleas, or both. Others are highly
sensitive and attractive to fleas. In a flea-infested household, one or two
individuals may be aware of and show severe irritation from bites. Other members
of the family may not realize that fleas are present. To eradicate fleas
from your home, you need to thoroughly de-flea the environment.
Flea bites can be diagnosed by their occurrence in clusters, particularly in
areas behind the ear and under the legs.
