Fleas
What is the lifecycle of the flea?
Why does your pet itch from fleas?
What kind of problems can fleas cause?
A flea is a small insect (appx. 1/16") that is normally reddish brown and lives on most warm blooded mammals such as dogs, cats, rats, mice, humans etc.. The flea also has a hard exoskeleton to protect it from harm. Its thin body allows it to move easily through the hair of most pets. Fleas have the ability to jump upwards of three feet. There are five varieties of fleas, but the most common in California is the cat flea.
The flea is a bloodsucking creature. It's mouth parts are adapted for attaching to it's host, which allows the flea to suck blood until it is full. Once full, the flea detaches and continues to live on the host and reproduces.
What is the lifecycle of the flea?
After the adult flea feeds she will have the ability to start reproducing. The female flea lays her eggs in the fur of her host. She can lay upwards of 500 eggs over her lifetime. Once the eggs are laid they will roll off the host and into carpet, bedding or furniture. These eggs can hatch anywhere from 1 to 12 days depending on climatic conditions.
When the egg hatches it will become a larva. The microscopic larva crawls in the carpet or cracks in the floor where it will feed off dead tissue from the animal, flea dropping (dried blood) or other vegetative matter it can find. The larva will stay in this state from seven to fourteen days depending on the availability of food.
Once the larva has matures it will spin a cocoon (pupa). It will stay in this state maturing into a flea from five days to five weeks. The pupa will hatch out from the vibration of the host when it is near. At this point the immature flea will attach itself to the host.
The flea will stay in the immature state until it feeds on the host. Feeding is required for the cycle to restart over again.
Why does your pet itch from fleas?
When your pet is bitten the flea releases a small amount of saliva underneath your pet's skin prior to feeding. This introduction of saliva causes the body to release histamine into the system causing a reaction at the site of the bite.
What kind of problems can fleas cause?
The flea can cause a condition known as flea allergy dermatitis. This can start with an itching of the skin, but can lead to severe inflammation and hair loss. Over time it might only take one bite of the flea to start the cycle of reaction. When this happens your pet may itch for up to five days from one single bite.
Also the flea is the intermediate host for an internal parasite known as the tape worm. Your pet can pick up tapeworms through routine grooming. Once the flea is digested, the tapeworm egg hatches and matures in your pet's stomach and intestines.
There are many products available on the market to eradicate your flea problem. We here at Critter Creek Veterinary Hospital recommend either Frontline, Comfortis or Revolution. Frontline and Revolution are products that are absorbed through the skin and travel from cell to cell to protect your pet from fleas. These two products differ from Hartz and Sergeants spot on products. Hartz and Sergeants' have to have to travel through the blood stream to protect the pet. This can cause internal and neurological problems. We also offer Comfortis which is an FDA approved once a month flea pill.
For More Information on these Products
The common cat flea Ctenophalides Felis
If you would like to know more about fleas and how they can affect your pet please read Flea Allergy Dermatitis.