How does my pet get fleas?
The most common flea found on cats and dogs is the cat flea, also called the ctenocephalides felis. There are also rabbit fleas and hedgehog fleas, but they are less commonly found on pets. In any temperatures above freezing, both fleas and ticks can be found in any outdoor environments. Adult fleas live and feed on both humans and our pets, but the females lay eggs which then fell off for gestation. Under favorable conditions, the eggs will then develop through their full life cycle inside the house. Carpeted areas, couches and chairs, pet beds, and any warm centrally-heated home are all ideal conditions for the year-round development of fleas. If your pets go outside to an untreated area, they are always at risk of a flea latching on and being brought inside.
The life cycle of a flea.
There are 4 stages in the life cycle of a flea. Flea eggs, flea larvae, flea pupae, and flea adult. Flea eggs are whitish in color and about 0.5 mm (1/32") in length. Eggs are laid by an adult flea after taking a blood meal. They are initially laid on your pet's skin but fall off into the environment to continue the life cycle. Eggs may hatch in as little as 14-28 days depending on environmental conditions. High humidity and high heat favor rapid hatching. Flea eggs constitute approximately 50% of the total flea population. Flea larvae are about 2-5 mm (1/8" to 1/4") in length. They feed on organic debris found in the environment and on adult flea feces. They dislike bright light and move deep into carpet fibers or hide underneath furniture, organic debris, grass, branches, leaves, and soil. The larvae prefer warm, dark, and moist areas for developing. Climate controlled homes and shaded, moist areas are ideal for the flea larvae to thrive. Flea pupae produce a protective silk-like cocoon for development into an adult flea. The cocoon is sticky so it can quickly become covered with grime and debris, perfect for natural camouflage. Pupae become adult fleas within 5-10 days in warm and moist environments. The will only emerge from the cocoon after fully developing if they are stimulated by physical pressure, carbon dioxide, or heat. Pre-emergent adult fleas can remain within that cocoon for up to 9 months not stimulated. During this time within the cocoon, they are resistant to insecticides applied to the environment. Adult fleas, once the emerge from within the cocoon, can only exist for a few days unless they are able to feed. The adult flea, unlike the larvae, is attracted to light and will head to the surface to find a suitable host for their first meal. Two days after the first blood meal, female fleas begin egg production. In normal circumstances the adult female will live up to 3 weeks and will lay approximately 40 eggs per day. The entire life cycle, from egg to adult, can be completed in 14-28 days depending on the environment.
What are the most common flea and tick born diseases?
The 3 most common flea and tick born diseases are lyme disease, ehrlichia, and anaplasma. In order for any pet to contract any of these diseased, a live flea or tick must be attached to the host animal for 24 hours. There are tests to be able to see if your pet has contracted any of these, however it could take a number of months (6 or more) before those results show up on tests. Pets can be asymptomatic with any of these diseases until they fully develop within your pet. Some never show symptoms. The only way to verify infection is with a blood test, which is why we encourage yearly heartworm testing as the tests we use in clinic test for all three of those diseases.