One of the leading causes of itching and scratching in dogs is the flea. In order to help combat flea problems, it is important that clients become educated to understand what fleas are, what their life cycle is and what steps can be taken to get them off of their pet.

The life cycle of a flea is very simple.

• Adult fleas jump onto dogs, pierce the skin with their mouthparts, and then feed on the blood
• After the feeding, the fleas mate
• Within 48 hours the female lays her eggs on the dog
• Eggs fall off the dog onto carpet, bedding, rugs, floor and begin incubation
• In ten days, the eggs hatch into larvae
• Larvae feed, molt, grow and go into a pupal stage that can last for days to months
• When the air is warm and humid, an adult flea emerges from the pupa
• The immature adult has two weeks to find a host in order to begin the life cycle all over again...UNLESS prevention is given to the animal and all areas of infestation are treated for flea removal

Often a client does not realize that their pets have fleas until after an infestation has occurred and their pet is miserable. The first signs of fleas are:

• Itching and scratching
• Biting and chewing at various spots of skin
• Loss of hair
• Nervous behavior
• Whining
• Seeing fleas on the dog
• Seeing black and white flecks in the dog’s coat

New products are emerging all of the time to help in the treatment and prevention of flea control.

Flea control products come in the following forms:

• Topical
• An ointment typically placed on the back of the neck in an area where the dog cannot lick it off
• Usually applied once a month
• Pill form
• Usually given once a month
• Flea shampoo
• Bathing shampoo that rids the animal of fleas, eggs and any flea excrement
• Only lasts for a short time
• If the living area is not rid of the infestation, the pet will continue to harbor fleas
• Flea dip
• Dog is immersed in water that has been treated with a natural or synthetic insecticide
• After immersion, the treated water is allowed to dry on the skin
• Dips will kill the fleas on the animal, but will not prevent re-infestation

For best outcome, flea preventive measures should be established in the yard and in the home as well as on the animals.

• Explain to clients that caution must always be used when placing any product on a pet for the purpose of killing fleas as not all preventives are the same and most products base packaged dosages on an individual animal’s weight.
• Remind clients of the importance of checking with the veterinary office before using off-brand flea control as some carry a heavier dosage of pesticides that can harm smaller animals.
• Reinforce to clients that flea preventives created for dogs should not be used on cats due to the amount and types of pesticides in the dosage.

• One female flea has the ability to lay up to 2,000 eggs in her average 4-month life span.
• The black-and-white dirt specks seen on a dog’s coat are actually flea feces and flea eggs.
• If an animal host can’t be found, fleas find human hosts suitable, and humans can suffer the same problems as their pets.