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Pet Health Information
The flea is a small black or brown insect that feeds on the blood of all animals. Fleas spend most of their life cycle off the animal. Since fleas only hop on the animal for a blood meal and then jump off, it is safe to say that for every flea seen on the animal there are 100-100 fleas in the environment!
The female flea lays her eggs in warm dark places such as under the furniture, along the baseboards, in cracks of floors and walls, and on the ground. Eggs laid on the animal soon fall off since they are not sticky. Female fleas lay more eggs when the temperature ranges from 65° F – 80° F and when the humidity is high (70%).
Therefore, flea problems are more severe in spring and in summer than in winter. In mild winters, however, fleas can persist in the house.
After incubating at least 1 week, the egg hatches into a very small worm-like larva. The larva molts 3 times and then spins a cocoon in which and looks for an animal on which to feed.
Fleas can produce severe skin irritation because of their frequent bites. The itching induces self-mutilation by the animal. Fleabites can also cause an allergic dermatitis. The animal becomes allergic to the flea saliva. Thus only one fleabite can induce intense itchiness in an allergic animal.
To break the flea life cycle, one must treat the home, pets and outside environment. Any member of our professional staff can discuss available products with you.
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