You understand how it is, your dog’s scratching away together with your wondering whether he’s got fleas and the mozzies got him during the night. Then after you start scratching yourself, the characteristic pattern of three bites consecutively (or it could be two whether or not it was disturbed) show up on your skin. Yep, that’s it, you’ve both got the common fleas! (And now you experience what sort of dog feels as it itches like hell.)

What exactly are these fleas ? Well, there’s two main species of fleas seen in UK households - the kitten flea (Ctenocephalides felis) plus the dog flea (Ctenocephalides canis) (Cat Flea pictured above). Your brand-new puppy could have both kinds of flea present, although the most popular may be the cat flea which is competent to breed on animals.

In the past, the flea season lasted from April to November, however with advance of boiler system and carpets, fleas are 12 months round problem.

Advantage Multi

Life Cycle

A grown-up flea typically lays about 30 eggs everyday, which either disappear the dog or are laid inside carpet or bedding.

If you want to begin a flea breeding colony, hatching occurs in 1-10 days (dependent upon temperature)

Once hatched, the larvae feast upon organic debris in carpet or bedding and pupate in silk cocoons camouflaged by dirt and debris (it is vacuuming is critical). Whenever they pupate into adult fleas, they may be hungry, very hungry all of which will jump towards dog, cat or passing human and bite to feed off their blood.

The conventional adult flea lives for about 6 weeks obviously, or even killed could produce 1200+ young - pretty good if you have a market for fleas (I am aware, it’s referred to as a flea market ;-) )
Read more about fleas here

Symptoms of infestation

So, what are indications of flea infestation ?

Visual signs: eg, flea and flea faeces within the fur - faeces will stain red if wet
Excessive scratching
Itching - your pet may rub against circumstances to get relief
Loss of fur (because of excessive scratching)
Inflamed areas showing indicators of bleeding, scabs etc
Excessive grooming - licking is soothing behaviour.

Associated problems

Flea allergy dermatitis (FAD). It becomes an hypersensitive reaction to proteins in flea saliva. Papules develop once your there on the flea bite and can cause severe itching.
Fleas can behave as an intermediate host to your dog tapeworm, Dipylidium caninum. Tapeworm eggs may very well be ingested by flea larvae including a dog that unexpectedly happens to ingest a grown-up flea while grooming can subsequently develop tapeworms.
In young, old or sick dogs, anaemia can be cultivated if you will find lots of fleas feeding automatically blood.
Some dogs will get secondary transmissions from flea bites, necessitating treatment with antibiotics. To prevent this it is highly recommended that you treat your dog with advantage multi or something similar


Treatments:

This necessitates a two-pronged attack. Some 90-95% on the fleas live over animal - from the bedding or carpet, with only 5-10% looking at youngster. Which suggests the item of furniture, bedding etc has to be treated plus the dog. Regular vacuuming of carpets and bedding will limit the debris the larvae must feed off. Hot washing of bedding might also kill larvae and eggs. Business of carpets and furnishings will also be effective.

Environmental:

Indorex Household Flea Spray - Supplies the insect growth regulator pyriproxyfen and Permethrin. Just one application lasts Twelve months.

Staykill Household Flea Spray - Is the insect growth regulator cryomazine and Permethrin. A person application lasts 6 months.

Vetkem Acclaim 2000 Flea Spray - Provides the insect growth regulator S-methoprene and Permethrin. Just one application lasts Yr.

All the environmental treatments are available without having a percsription
Treatment with advantage multi

Advantage multi:
Contains Imidacloprid - this binds to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors from the insect CNS and inhibiting cholinergic transmission. This brings about a protracted nerve impulse producing excitation followed by paralysis and death in the parasite.
Available as 0.4ml (less than 4kg), 1ml (4-10kg), 2.5ml (10-25kg), 4ml (25kg+) spot-on pipettes.

Side-Effects/Cautions - Don’t permit content meet the eyes or mouth on your or your dog.
The representative is bitter tasting and salivation may occasionally occur if your dog licks the application form site just after treatment. This certainly will not be taken as being a symbol of intoxication and may stop from a shorter time without treatment with advantage multi.

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