Popular Methods to Get Rid of Pesky Fleas

Fleas are a significant matter that all dog owners will have to deal with. Everybody who has a pet has most likely dealt with the overwhelming job of having to get rid of fleas, a battle which has often proved to be more trying than it looks.

Fleas are not simply a worry because they harass and cause hours of aggravating scratching and itching for your dog, but they might also cause additional major complications including tapeworm infestations, flea bite dermatitis and in severe situations, anemia.

Owing to their astounding resilience, fleas are terribly difficult to keep in check. The female flea can lay over 2,000 eggs during the span of her existence, which means that infections may materialize quickly and the eggs that are laid could exist for many months in the environment while merely waiting on a timely victim. Thus it's critical to control both the fleas on the dog in addition to the fleas inhabiting the pet's living space. The top areas to search for fleas are sand, rugs, bedding and carpets.

The Best Methods to Eradicate Fleas

In order to completely eradicate fleas on your canine and in his habitats, it is valuable to be familiar with the flea's lifespan. There are 4 phases that makeup the life span of the flea. Like nearly all insects, the fleas starts out in the egg phase, grows into larva, and then progresses to the pupa stage before lastly making it to the adult phase.

The Flea's Egg Phase

The eggs of the flea are pale in color and are so tiny that they're hard to recognize without using a magnifying glass. Even though the eggs are originally laid on the dog's skin, many will eventually fall off onto the ground to resume their lifecycle. Nearly 50% of the total flea population is made up of eggs. Depending upon the environmental conditions, the eggs hatch in somewhere between a couple of weeks to a month. The greater the warmth and moistness in the surroundings, the sooner the eggs will hatch.

The Flea Larva Stage

Once the flea egg hatches, it enters the larva stage where it flourishes to nearly 1/4 inch long. The flea larva live on organic waste materials and on the adult flea's feces. They are uncomfortable in strong lighting and tend to hibernate deep inside their current living space, if possible in a warm and muggy area. Climate controlled homes are the best setting for the flea life cycle to thrive. Outside, larvae growth will only come about in moist, shaded locations.

The Flea's Pupa Phase

Immediately upon crossing into the pupa phase, the flea pupa build a silky and tacky protective chrysalis. The chrysalis swiftly structures a beneficial camouflage as it becomes sheltered by waste and grime. If stimulated by warmth, carbon dioxide or by manual pressure, like that in a balmy and wet setting, an adult flea can come out from its chrysalis in as quickly as five to ten days. Once the adult flea emerges from the cocoon, it may live for only a few days unless it is able to feed. Pre-emerged adult fleas may exist in the chrysalis for as many as 9 months. This is pertinent because adult fleas that still survive in the cocoon are resistant to insecticides spread over the environment and can appear a significant time after you use insecticides in your home.

The Flea Adult Phase

Once the adult flea surfaces from its cocoon, it will want to promptly locate a host as it needs blood in order to live. A few days after finding a suitable host, the female flea will commence to laying in the vicinity of 40 eggs per day. Adult fleas can live as long as 3 weeks. The full life cycle of the flea can be brought to a close in as short as 2 to 4 weeks, or up to 10 months contingent upon environmental conditions.

Treating A Dog For Fleas

There are many powders, shampoos, sprays and on the spot preparations available to relieve your dog of fleas. Be sure to talk with a vet to choose the most helpful and reliable flea pesticides for your residence and canine.

How to Clear the Inside Area of Fleas

Most insecticides are just of use against the adult flea, but environmental insecticides are becoming more complex. Your veterinarian can give you flea products that are comprised of insect growth regulators that will help terminate the larvae and flea eggs. Prior to applying any indoor pesticide, it's a good idea vacuum the rugs and carpets to coax the pre-adult fleas to surface from their protective cocoon. Be certain to throw away the vacuum cleaner bag following its use. You ought to also wash all bedding the pet has layed down on.

How to Clear the Outdoor Surroundings of Fleas

Focus on dark, shaded spots. Spray an insecticide made of an insect growth regulator and repeat it every two to three weeks for 3 to 5 applications.

The latest skin and oral flea preventatives ought to greatly help you eliminate the flea troubles. With determination and fortitude, you and your dog will be rid of fleas in a jiffy!