Flea Fact Sheet Flea Biology • Most common flea species infesting dogs • Pets acquire fleas from an infested premises. and cats is the Cat Flea (Ctenocephalides – Stray dogs and cats, opossums and rac- felis). coons are common hosts for the Cat Flea, • Once a female flea jumps on a pet it lays C. felis. eggs within 24 hours and can lay up to – As these flea infested animals move 40 to 50 eggs/day. through the neighborhood or your yard, • Eggs are laid in the hair coat of the pet. flea eggs drop out of their hair. Some of – Eggs then roll out of the hair into the these eggs survive and within three to premises. eight weeks develop into adult fleas. – Problems in your home begin when a • Fleas typically stay on a host, they do not C. felis – female C. felis – male, female and eggs readily move from pet-to-pet. few of those fleas jump onto your pet – Fleas seen on people are usually fleas and within 24 hours deposit eggs into recently emerged from cocoons. your home. Flea Control Facts Flea Control Objectives • A flea infestation cannot be eliminated within 1. Relieving pet discomfort a few days. – Kill fleas on pet(s). Treat all pets • Once treatment has begun it can take three in household. to eight weeks (occasionally longer) before 2. Eliminate premises infestation the flea infestation is eliminated. – Administration of residual insecticides – This is because the home and/or yard are that kill newly acquired fleas (within C. felis – feeding Flea Allergy Dermatitis (FAD) infested with flea eggs, larvae, pupae and 24 hours) before they can initiate adults emerging daily. reproduction. Medical Problems Caused by the Cat Flea – Remember, the fleas you see on your pet – Administration of insect growth regulators today came from flea eggs laid three to (IGRs) to stop reproduction. • Annoyance • Flea Allergy Dermatitis “FAD” (dermatitis in eight weeks ago. – Application of insecticides and/or IGRs • Anemia dogs, cats and people) into the premises in cases of severe • Disease Transmission – Fleas inject saliva while feeding which can infestations or flea allergy. cause an allergic reaction that often results – Murine typhus, (Rickettsia typhi) 3. Prevention in severe pruritus (itching) and hair loss. – Cat Scratch Disease (Bartonella hensalae) – Year-round flea control program • Intermediate host of parasites – Dipetalonema reconditum, subcutaneous filarid nematode of dogs. – Dipylidium caninum, the common double- pore tapeworm Flea Life Cycle Adults Adult fleas on the dog or cat s ay d + 0 0 -2 7 Pupae Eggs Flea Life Cycle Eggs (0.5mm) laid on pet and then fall off in pet’s environment (ex: carpet) From egg to adult flea: 21-56 days Emergence can occur in as little as 14 days or be delayed up to 300 days s Larvae live in pet’s habitat and feed 7 y -2 a on flea feces and debris 1 d 0 da Larvae -1 ys 2 Pupae within cocoons in the carpet or outdoors Created by MW Dryden DVM, PhD & Shawn Dryden.