Information on the Detection and Treatment of Fleas

1. Detection and Treatment of flea infestations.

2. The Flea.
• The most common species of flea found on dogs and cats in the UK is the
cat flea known as Ctenocephalides felis. Some dogs also carry the dog
flea C.canis. Meanwhile other animals can also carry their own versions
including hedgehogs, rabbits, birds and even humans!
Thank goodness this black and white
flea image is not life-sized. These
parasitic insects are the scourge of
pet owners. But, in case anyone was
needing a scientific drawing of a flea;
here it is.

3. Flea Lifecycle
• The life cycle of a flea begins with female fleas laying up to 25 eggs per
day on the host’s skin. She may lay up to 2000 eggs in a lifetime!
• These eggs soon fall off and into the environment – perhaps your house
carpet. After about 2 days these eggs hatch into microscopic larvae
which begin to mature. The warmer it is the faster they develop. The
larvae head for the bottom of the carpet pile away from light and it is
here they feed on old skin flakes and adult flea droppings.
• Eventually they change into very sticky pupae. In ideal conditions the
new flea adults hatch and emerge after 12 days thus completing the life
cycle. All they now need is a new host and a feed!
• In cooler conditions the life cycle can
take up to 6 months to complete. It is
small wonder then that the problems
really arise with the onset of warmer
summer weather.

4. Detection of Fleas
• Recognition of the different stages can be tricky. The tiny white oval eggs
are 0.5mm long and barely visible to the naked eye. Larvae are also white,
2mm long and far easier to see under magnification. Pupae are 5mm long
but are well camouflaged in the bottom of carpets and bedding. Adults are
2.5mm long and brown/red in colour.
• Checking for infestation is achieved by means of a simple test. Fleas are
very agile and hard to see on the coat, so instead comb your pet over a
white surface and collect the dander and black specks. Using moist white
kitchen paper or damp cotton wool, tip the collected material on top and
wait to see if any of the specks turn red or brown. If so, you are in fact
seeing the digested blood from your pet appearing in the flea faeces. This
is of course in addition to the characteristic itching and scratching your pet
has to endure.

5. Treatments
• Treatments are numerous and vary greatly in their efficacy and range of
effects.
There are 2 areas of attack - the animal and the environment. Purely
killing adult fleas on your pet will only postpone the issue as up to 99% of
immature fleas are in the environment waiting to mature. It is always
advisable to firstly treat your home by thorough vacuuming and washing
any bedding. You may then consider the various medications available.
• Spot-on preparations are most popular. Frontline is a highly effective
product available on our web site as a non prescription item. The active
ingredient spreads out from the applied site on the neck and accumulates
in the oily skin glands from where it then spreads back up the hair and fur.
It is not systemically absorbed. It claims to kill up to 98% of new flea
arrivals before they have a chance to bite and will persist for up to 5 weeks
in cats and 2 months in dogs. Frontline provides additional tick control for
about 4 weeks.

6. • Effipro is a relatively new spot-on preparation, also containing fipronil,
working much in the same way as Frontline
• Tablet treatments. include Capstar which works systemically and so kills
fleas via the blood they ingest. They are also very safe and can be used
daily. Available as a non-prescription medicine.
Program is a non-prescription medicine containing an insect growth
regulator called Lufenuron. Program is given orally once monthly but an
injectable version is available for cats from your vets.

7. • Household sprays include Acclaim, Staykil, RIP Fleas and Indorex. They
work by killing adult fleas and also contain a hormone to prevent larval
pupation. Treat all relevant surfaces but remove fish and birds from the
rooms first to avoid toxicity. Always follow the written instructions on the
cans. Effect will last 6 or 12 months according to brand used. All these are
non prescription items.