For most of Canada the peak season is May through June, however we are exceptionally lucky here in Vancouver, and enjoy weather that is favorable for all year long flea activity! Yeah!
Every Season is Flea Season in Vancouver!
FLEAS IN FACT HAVE A LIFE CYCLE and understanding is the key to better control on your furry friends and these nasty, little parasites taking up housekeeping duties in your home.
The flea takes about two weeks to grow through its 4 life stages (egg, larva, pupa, adult). The wee egg is designed to roll off the dog or cat in order to develop in its environment.
Yes you got it…right between those expensive pillows on the sofa or their $200.00 fluffy bed.
An adult flea jumps on your pet and gives them a nasty bite. They feed on the animal’s blood which allows them to lay their eggs. The eggs develop in the environment, living in crackes and crevices in your home such as hardwood flooring, baseboards, carpets. They then turn into larva and make cocoons in the pupa stage, and remain dormant until ready for the adult flea to hatch. That means they can be dormant for several months until the right environmental conditions, such as correct temperature, and humidity arise. In Vancouver, this usually means they won’t be dormant for very long. Vibrations when you walk along your carpet can actually stimulate the eggs to hatch! For every 1 flea found, there can be over 20 eggs laid daily!
FLEA FACTS
Fleas are typically 1-3mm long, dark brown or reddish-brown, with no wings.
The adult female flea can lay approximately 15-20 eggs per day, which is about 500-2000 in their lifetime. The most common species of flea that affects household pets is the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis, one of 2000 known species.
Flea Prevention
The best way to start prevention is with your pet’s health. Year-round prevention of fleas is the best way to avoid an infestation from arising. The best way to kill fleas is to break the cycle. There are many oral and topical treatment and preventative options you can get from your veterinarian. There are also environmental sprays that kill adult fleas, which you can use after vacuuming. It’s best to empty the vacuum directly afterward so the pupae don’t hatch into adults in the machine and crawl back out into the house.
Remember, if one flea is found on your pet, it is safe to assume that all pets in the household have come in contact. Therefore it is very important that all pets are protected against fleas at all times!
Little Known Facts
Any animal that has fleas should be dewormed. The parasitic tapeworm is directly linked to fleas and humans can contract it from animals.
Even though fleas do not have wings, they can jump up to 20cm vertically and 40cm horizontally, which is approximately 200 times the body length. This makes them (relative to body size) one of the best jumpers in the world.
Signs of Fleas
- Scratching, chewing, or biting especially around the tail base
- Black pepper-like debris on the skin (flea dirt)
- “Hot spots” of focal areas of raw skin from self-trauma
- Live fleas crawling on your pet
Pets infested by fleas may show signs of skin problems including itchiness, discomfort, and hair loss. Some pets can be allergic to flea bites and will show an exaggerated degree of itchiness and discomfort from being affected by fleas. The condition is called flea bite allergy, or flea bite hypersensitivity. Some others may seem completely unaffected even though fleas could be present if they are not on flea prevention.
Reference: https://www.vetdermclinic.com
