Flea Prevention and Control

Control of fleas on pets and in the environment can be a tedious and endless job. A program against fleas must be continuous and thorough to be effective and knowledge of the flea life cycle is essential to successful flea control. There are new products available, however, that will make flea control easier and more effective.

The adult flea spends all of its life on a host animal. It may jump from pet to pet, or to humans. Prior to reproduction, the female requires a blood meal. Her eggs then are laid on the pet, but will fall off the animal and collect in the environment. Carpet, furniture, pet beds, floors and the yard will harbor flea eggs. Small worm-like larvae hatch from the eggs within three days and feed on organic debris, such as flea dirt (feces) or food crumbs. The larvae then molt into a pupal stage and finally emerge as young adult fleas, who will seek an animal host. If conditions are poor, fully formed pre-adult fleas will develop and remain in the pupae until a later time. The flea life cycle, from the hatching of an egg to the laying of the next generation, can be completed in only 16 days. The most favorable temperature range is from 80 to 90 degrees F.

Insecticides will only kill adult and pre-adult fleas. Insect-growth regulators, such as PRECOR (used in the environment or on the animal), block the flea larvae from developing into the pupal stage. This effectively prevents emergence of adult fleas. The pupal stage is resistant to treatment with any product.

Flea Control

It may be difficult to properly assess a flea problem. It is often hard to find fleas on a thick-coated animal. Use of a flea comb will help locate fleas. In cats, fleas tend to reside in the head and neck area. In dogs, the rear area often harbors more fleas. "Flea dirt" or feces also indicates a flea problem. This looks like tiny flecks of dark debris, and will stain red when wet. Presence of flea dirt indicates an active flea infestation.

The Home

A. Non-Chemical

      1. Vacuum the entire house thoroughly, especially where pets sleep. Vacuuming furniture, under furniture and along baseboards is also important. Dispose of the vacuum bag immediately. This way the bulk of flea eggs vacuumed up will be eliminated from your home.       2. Give your pet washable bedding. Wash or treat bedding frequently.

B. Chemical

If you are facing a very heavy infestation of fleas, it is worthwhile having your house and yard treated to reduce the number of pre-adult stages. This can be accomplished with products available from your veterinarian or by a professional exterminator.

The Pet

Flea control must be practiced on all animals in the household. There a re many products available for use on animals, including shampoos, sprays, dips, flea collars, and oral or topical monthly products. Always read the directions on the label and follow them carefully. These are insecticides which can be toxic if used improperly. Make sure the product is appropriate for the species and age of the animal you are treating. Consult Encino Veterinary Clinic if you have any questions.

With the availability of newer products, previously relied-upon products such as flea collars, sprays, powders and dips are much less necessary or effective. Some of these products also have higher chances for toxicity or irritation. Shampoos are still recommended to clean the animal and many shampoos are very beneficial in the treatment regimen of certain skin conditions. Then cannot be relied upon exclusively for flea control.

A. Topical Flea Control

Advantage is a topical once a month flea control method that has revolutionized our approach to flea control. The solution, which stays on the pet's skin and is not absorbed into the body, is applied directly on the skin in one or several areas (depending on the size of the pet). It then dries and distributes itself over the entire animal. As soon as six hours after application, fleas are starting to become affected and within 24 hours of application 100% of fleas on that animal will be dead or dying. This level of control lasts approximately four weeks, sometimes up to five weeks. Frequent bathing may diminish the effectiveness somewhat, but getting wet (swimming, rain, etc.) will not diminish the flea killing ability of Advantage to any noticeable degree. It is important to apply the solution directly on the skin to be most effective.

B. Oral Flea Control

An oral once a month flea control is also available. This medication, called Program, is formulated to stop flea eggs from hatching. By breaking the flea's life cycle at the egg stage you will avoid infestations in your environment, thus eliminating the constant source of reinfestation for your pet. Program is available for dogs and cats, is very safe and can safely be used with any other method of flea control. It is important to remember that Program does not kill adult fleas nor keep them from getting on your pet. However, it will prevent the thousands of eggs that can be produced from hatching into more fleas. Many people are choosing to use Program in conjunction with Advantage for complete flea control.

Some animals are highly sensitive to flea bites, developing hair loss and bacterial skin infections secondary to scratching and biting. These animals require strict flea control year round, and may need additional medical treatment. If you have a pet severely bothered by fleas of flea allergy, please feel free to discuss regimens and treatments with our hospital staff members. We will discuss and develop the flea control and prevention program best suited for your pets.