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 K9 ADVANTIX II Dog Large Grooming Brush NWOT  US $5.00
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Fleas. They make pets' lives miserable, and humans begin to itch just at the thought of them. Vets are often asked what pill, drop, dip, collar, or shampoo works the best to get rid of these persistent parasites. The answer is that there is no single method or insecticide that will completely eradicate (or at least control) a flea problem.
Fleas thrive in warm, moist environments. The main food for fleas is blood from host animals. Host animals are mainly cats, dogs, humans and birds. Flea saliva, like other biting skin parasites, contains an ingredient that softens, or "digests" the host's skin for easier penetration and feeding. The saliva of fleas is irritating and allergenic -- the cause of all the itching and scratching.
The flea life cycle is fairly complex, and understanding the various stages will make it easier to get rid of them. There are four main stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The total flea life cycle can range from a couple weeks to several months, depending on environmental conditions.
ADULT: The adult flea is very flat side to side. The adult female flea can lay up to 50 eggs per day. That is 500-600 eggs over several months!
EGG: The eggs are not sticky and they usually fall off of the animal into the carpet, bedding, floorboards, and soil. When the flea egg hatches varies -- anywhere from two days to a few weeks.
LARVA: The larval stage actually has three developmental stages within this stage. Larvae are about 1/4" long and the stages lasts about 5 to 18 days then the larva spins a silken cocoon and pupates.
PUPA: The pupa is the last stage before adult. The adult flea can emerge from the cocoon as early as 3 to 5 days, or it can stay in the cocoon for a year or more, waiting for the right time to emerge.
The entire life cycle is quite variable, as evidenced by the variability in each life stage progression. As mentioned above, the cycle can be as short as two weeks or as long as two years. That is why it is so important to remain vigilant, even when a flea problem is thought to be under control!
One thing many people don't realize is that fleas in particular are a multi-point problem. It isn't as simple as killing the parasites on the pet and getting rid of the problem. Fleas actually spend just a small portion of their time on the pet -- they live in carpets and the environment and hop on your pet for a meal. Environmental control is just as (or more) important as flea control on your pet!
We got a flea problem…Now what do we do?
*Regular grooming and checking for parasites is essential to stay on top of problems with parasites. Giving your dog a bath in flea & Tick shampoo is a great first step.
*Flea and Tick collars worn around the pet’s neck is a great preventative measure along with a flea control treatment such as frontline plus flea medication.
*Bedding: Cedar filled bedding is a natural flea deterrent.
*Flea traps: Used inside the home to attract fleas and trap them inside.
*Foggers: They are used to kill any pests inside the home. Make sure you fog your home while you and your pets are away.
*Lawn Spray: Kills any fleas and ticks in your yard and is none toxic for your pets.
This is all just basic steps that can be taken to prevent flea and tick infestation into your home and on your pets. Using one of these methods will help control the flea problem but to completely eliminate the fleas a more vigorous approach is needed. Once your flea problem is under control the need to exterminate will be less of a hassle.
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