ANIMAL HOSPITAL & VET CLINIC - MOUNT WAVERLEY

As part of the flea’s life cycle, they must bite a pet and ingest some of its blood so that they can lay their eggs. When the flea bites, it injects some of its saliva which is what the animal becomes allergic to. Pets that have flea allergy dermatitis only need to be bitten by one flea to start the whole cycle of dermatitis off again.

The adult flea only makes up 5 % of the total flea population. The rest of the population is made up of eggs and larvae in the animal’s environment, which are not visible to the naked eye. Therefore if we see only a small number of adult fleas, we know there is likely to be a large infestation already present in the home. Fleas require a warm environment to complete their life cycle which explains why they are more of a problem in the warmer months. However heating our homes during winter ensures year round infestation of our pets and our homes. For this reason, we strongly advise using effective flea control all year round. It is much easier to prevent fleas than get rid of them once you have an infestation.

So what can I do to control fleas on my pet and in my home?

There are several very effective easy to use products available to eliminate fleas on your pet. Most of these products are safe to be started at 8 weeks of age.

Frontline Plus and Advantage are applied to the skin between the shoulder blades once a month and is available for both dogs and cats.

Revolution is a liquid that is applied to the skin between the shoulder blades every month.

It also protects against heartworm as well as sarcoptic mange and ear mites in dogs, and intestinal worms in cats.