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Hi, everyone! Welcome to Bug Talk. I’m
your host Ryan Haynes and I am here to
tell you what you need to know about
fleas.
It’s another beautiful winter here in the
sunshine state. Most people are looking
forward to their next round of golf, a
dinner out or taking in some shopping at
one of our outdoor malls. Some people
choose to spend their time relaxing at
home with their pets enjoying some
exceptional weather. Many people don’t
think about fleas until they have a
problem.
Why should homeowners be concerned
with such a tiny pest? These small
creatures can create a lot of issues for
people and their pets. The warm climate
in Florida can make for year-round
problems with fleas. Other states with
very cold winters can cause the life
cycle of fleas in those areas to slow.
That is not the case here in Florida.
Here, the warm climate can accelerate
the flea life cycle.
Fleas are not just a problem for pets.
Fleas can be present on all sorts of
animals. Fleas can be found on
domestic animals like dogs and cats but
also wildlife such as squirrels,
opossums and raccoons.
There are many health concerns for
people and pets when it comes to fleas.
Fleas have been known to carry typhus,
plague and even cat scratch fever.
Although these diseases can occur,
most issues from fleas are caused from
itching and irritation from biting fleas.
Fleas are blood sucking organisms
biting to feed. Flea bites can lead to
intense itching, scratching and cause
skin irritation that lead to open sores in
some cases. An allergic reaction to flea
bites can create more severe symptoms
causing great discomfort.
Fleas can carry tapeworm larvae. As
pets groom themselves they can
unknowingly swallow the tapeworm
larvae. A tapeworm infection can lead to
digestive issues in pets. Extreme flea
infestations can even cause anemia
from blood loss in a pet. If fleas are not
properly treated, secondary skin
infections can occur.
All of the things we have discussed
today are concerning for pet owners.
How does an infestation even occur? To
answer this question we need to
understand the life cycle of fleas. Fleas
have a four-stage life cycle. An adult
flea can lay up to 50 eggs in a single
day. This alarming fact is a major factor
why a flea infestation can get out of
control so quickly. Flea larvae are
difficult to see and can be found in dark
places feeding on skin flakes and even
pet hair. Flea pupae can survive in this
state for months waiting for the right
conditions to hatch into adult fleas.
Flea eggs, larva and pupae can go
unnoticed due to their tiny size. All three
can be found in bedding, carpets and
furniture. Wildlife or stray animals can
bring eggs, larva and pupae to your
lawn or even your favorite dog park.
Once conditions are right and the fleas
hatch into adults the problem can get
out of hand quickly.
There are a few things you can do to
protect your dog or cat from becoming
infested with fleas. First, treat your pet
with flea medication. There are a lot of
options on the market for you to choose
from. Visit your veterinarian to see what
flea medication is right for your pet. If
you have noticed fleas in or around your
home contact a pest control specialist
quickly. Treating fleas is a multi-step
process and will most likely require
professional help.
A pest control specialist will be able to
come up with a treatment plan that is
right for you. Thanks for joining us today.
We will see you next time. Remember, if
it crawls or fly’s, we’re your guys!