Mary Allen
According to veterinarians, flea infestations in animals are particularly extreme this year. However, it is also striking that the animals are not only more severely infested. In addition, fleas and Co. are also hardened than in recent years.
The tiny brown and flat animals not only make the animals’ skin dirty. In addition, they often cause severe itching, which not only affects animals but also us humans as soon as we are confronted with this topic.
For you as a pet owner, it is now important to do something about the flea infestation so that your pet can soon go through life free of fleas again.
In this article, you will find out exactly what you can do in the event of an acute flea infestation, what types of fleas there are and how you can prevent a flea infestation.
Flea species and reproduction
Flea is not just a flea. So there are two different types of fleas. First there is the dog flea and then there is the cat flea. However, the cat flea is much more common and not only in cats. These fleas also attack dogs and other animals. In addition, they also bite us humans if they have the opportunity to do so.
In order for fleas to reproduce, they need blood, and one blood meal is enough for him. Just one day later, the flea lays eggs, with an average of 20 – 45 eggs. These eggs are laid in the immediate vicinity. The eggs then develop into larvae, which takes about two to ten days. However, since the larvae are very sensitive to light, they often crawl into the smallest cracks. Whether in the dog basket, in the crevices of the sofa, in the carpets or somewhere else where it is dark, they feel comfortable. The larvae then pupate. Now it takes a few weeks to a year for the flea to emerge from its pupation. How long it takes depends on the temperatures and vibrations in the environment. The hatched flea then goes back in search of a blood meal and the cycle begins again. The entire cycle can last as little as 2-3 weeks in ideal conditions.
Symptoms in the animals
Flea infestation causes severe itching in most animals. However, this does not have to be consistently recognizable or conspicuous. Some animals sometimes startled and suddenly jump up, bite each other or even wake up from their sleep. In many animals it can be observed that they bite at the height of the hind legs. Furthermore, it can be seen in some animals that they lose fur and get bald spots. In addition, skin reddening and scabs are visible. These are often located at the base of the tail or on the lower back. In the case of young animals, care must be taken to ensure that they are examined for anemia in the event of a serious flea infestation. This is because fleas draw a lot of blood from little ones, so you may need to act quickly.
Unfortunately, there are also animals with a flea allergy, which of course suffer particularly badly from an infestation. These react to the saliva of the fleas. This can go so far that the animals inflict a so-called hot spot on themselves through all the licking and biting. This is weeping dermatitis.
In cats with allergies, it becomes noticeable through many noticeable crusts, which are often distributed over the entire back. Many animals are also infected with tapeworms through flea infestation. This is because many fleas carry tapeworm eggs with them, which then end up in the animal’s fur. By licking, the animals pick up the eggs and swallow them.
The right therapy for flea infestation for your animals
As soon as you discover even a single flea on your pet’s fur, you can be sure that your pet is suffering from an infestation and that it is not the only flea. Even with the symptoms, such as the droppings of the animals, the infestation of fleas is very likely. If you have any symptoms, you should really examine and comb your animals very thoroughly. Fleas are super fast and are often not even seen by us humans.
Once your pet has fleas, you need to act, and act fast. There are different treatment options that you can choose from. For example, you have the option of ordering an anti-flea product for your animal on the Internet, whereby going to the veterinarian and buying it locally are of course much faster. Whether flea powder, collars or spot-on products, we explain exactly what is available later in the article.
If you have several animals, it is important to treat them all at the same time. In this way you can be sure that the fleas on the other animals are also killed.
The treatment must now be repeated at regular intervals. Not only in summer. Fleas are also active in winter. This means that animals can have problems with fleas all year round. Please also note that some animals do not tolerate different agents. So always keep an eye on your animals.
Don’t forget the surroundings
Only about five percent of the fleas are on the animal itself. Unfortunately, that means the rest of the fleas are in the environment. The couch, the carpet, the dog basket as well as the scratching post and items of clothing are particularly popular with the animals. This means for you now that you should not only treat the animals. You must also ensure that the surrounding area is rid of the fleas. Vacuum the entire apartment every day and wash clothes, baskets, etc. at particularly hot temperatures. It can also happen that the fleas survive a washing machine cycle at 30 degrees, so you should choose at least 60 degrees. In addition to vacuuming, be sure to use ambient spray. You can not only spray the furniture, such as the sofa, but also the carpet, basket, your bed and the rest. However, use the spray several times. Since there will be some eggs and larvae, these are often not all reached in one application. In the case of a heavy flea infestation, the procedure can take several weeks. However, persevere, it’s worth it.
The different anti-flea agents
As already mentioned, there is a wide range of different products in the field of anti-flea products. Even if many veterinarians are of the opinion that fleas are becoming more and more resistant, the annoying animals can only be driven away with such treatment.
Spot On – treatment with the pipette
The spot-on agents are used the most, both as a precaution and in the event of an acute flea infestation. This is a pipette filled with the anti-flea agent. The liquid is now placed on the neck or between the shoulder blades on the skin of the animals. This way you can be sure that the animal does not come to the spot itself. However, it takes some time for the anti-flea agent to really work. Some doctors even say it can take up to four weeks. Incidentally, most of these agents are not only effective against fleas, but also against ticks at the same time.
Important: Please never use dog products on a cat and vice versa. You always have to buy special dog or cat products. Because the active ingredient would be very toxic to the wrong animal.
The flea collar – permanent protection
Flea collars are not only particularly effective, but also practical for you as the owner. This is a product that has a long-lasting effect. Once it has been folded and adjusted, it only needs to be replaced regularly. There are flea collars for both dogs and cats, although you should be careful with cats that it is not necessarily used on outdoor animals. Cats can seriously injure themselves by getting caught in the neck bath. While you keep an eye on your dog, your cat is running around outside, so you don’t notice if something happens. However, such a collar not only protects against fleas, but usually also against ticks. On average, such a collar lasts six to ten months, although the manufacturer’s instructions should of course be observed. Flea collars are permanent protection and prevent flea infestation. In the case of an acute infestation, however, putting on such a collar is usually not enough.
Tablets as flea protection
In the meantime, there are also tablets in the anti-flea area that can be administered to dogs and cats. Chewable tablets are particularly popular here. However, some remedies are still under discussion among experts. Although these are already available from veterinarians, according to some experts they have not yet been sufficiently tested on the animals.
Spray against fleas
Spray is particularly suitable for small puppies and kittens to treat the animals with a flea infestation. This is mainly due to the fact that small animal children are reluctant to give pipettes because the minimum weight has not yet been reached. Pipettes receive a larger amount of liquid, which would be too big for puppies and kittens.
The shampoo against fleas
A shampoo against flea infestation can also help, especially for dogs. As soon as your dog suffers from an acute flea infestation, you can also bathe your darling next to the spot. However, it is important that you wait a day after the spot so that the agent is not washed out again immediately. The shampoo must of course be a special flea shampoo. Most remedies can be used on both dogs and cats, although cats are of course often very afraid of water and a bath would not work. When using the shampoo, it is important to slowly introduce anxious dogs to bathing. Use lukewarm water and avoid the animal’s head. With the shampoo, care should be taken to ensure that it is massaged in intensively. A quick rub is not enough. Most shampoos even say that the animals should be massaged in with it for five to ten minutes, depending on their size. Then wash out the shampoo very thoroughly and make sure that nothing gets into the eyes, ears or snout of the animals.
The Flea Comb
As soon as the animals are infested by fleas, the flea comb is an absolute must-have. Since the little beasts can hardly be found in the fur, the flea comb is the perfect solution. It is best to comb the dog on a light background where the fleas are easier to spot. But even then you have to be quick. Because fleas jump, catching them on the ground is not easy. Feel free to comb your animals 2-3 times a day if they put up with it and always work with the reward system so that the animals associate something positive with combing.
Conclusion – easier said than done
Fleas are very annoying little creatures that are easier to catch than get rid of. This is not just because the current fleas need to be killed. Getting rid of the eggs and larvae is the trick and the main task. Since these are tiny and very robust, it can happen again and again that you see one or the other flea, so the program starts again from the beginning.