Also known by their scientific name of Ctenocephalides canis, the dog flea is a common problem across Greater Philadelphia and New Jersey. These pests are parasites that require blood meals from warm-blooded creatures. The bites they inflict on dogs and people are irritatingly itchy, but that is not the entire extent of the threat they pose.
Dog fleas also may transmit any number of diseases to their hosts. These illnesses can have serious consequences for people and their beloved pets. Consequently, it is always wise to enlist the help of a licensed pest management professional to deal with dog flea infestations.
These pests are notorious for infesting residences and commercial settings alike. When they move in, the building's occupants are in for uncomfortable days ahead. Control of this species is complicated. They are tiny, which enables them to remain concealed with ease. Their offspring are even more minuscule, and unless the utilized treatment methods target both the young and the adults, the problem will be ongoing.
Fortunately, well-trained and experienced exterminators are equipped to handle even the worst dog flea infestations. People who are being bothered by itchy bites are encouraged to take swift action to address the problem. Delaying treatment only gives the pests more time to reproduce and enlarge the issue.
WHAT DO DOG FLEAS LOOK LIKE?
Full-grown adult dog fleas are only about one-eighth of an inch long. It is this tiny size that can frustrate initial identification by property owners. Like other fleas, dog fleas do not have wings. They use their six legs to walk, and their hind legs are especially strong to enable them to jump surprisingly long distances. In comparison to their bodies, their heads appear extremely small. Overall, the dog flea is relatively flat. Before a blood meal, it will appear brown or black, but feeding will change its color to reddish black.
WHAT DO DOG FLEAS EAT?
Dog fleas have two favorite hosts, dogs and rabbits. However, when local populations are particularly dense, they will seek food from human hosts too. Adults of the species seek a meal almost immediately upon emerging from their larval cocoons. Once a dog flea has a host, it will remain on the host until it is removed.
Dog flea larvae feed on the feces, which is rich in blood, that adults leave behind on the host.
WHERE DO DOG FLEAS LIVE?
Dog fleas try to remain on their host for their entire life cycle. Most of these pests live for mere days, especially if their canine host is regularly groomed. Grooming is believed to remove approximately half or more of the parasites. If grooming or other removal is not performed, dog fleas can have a life span of several months.
Adult dog fleas lay eggs on their host. A typical female may produce between 400 and 500 young. The eggs usually are deposited on dogs, using their thick hair for cover. Within one to 12 days, the eggs will hatch. After feeding on flea feces, the larvae spin cocoons, in which they remain for several weeks. An increase in temperature or vibrations generally forces the new adults out of their cocoons. The adult begins feeding and will soon mate and lay eggs, beginning the cycle again.
DAMAGE CAUSED BY DOG FLEAS
Dog fleas are not known for causing damage to structures of other property. Nonetheless, they may be responsible for considerable economic cost.
These costs may be incurred in the care of dogs, cats and other pets that are infested with fleas. Dog fleas are responsible for conditions in pets such as flea allergy dermatitis. This condition is the number-one reason why pet owners must take their dogs to the veterinarian. Dogs with this condition may have symptoms such as skin infections, hair loss and skin irritation.
Additionally, dog fleas may infect dogs with tapeworms, another condition that must be treated by a vet. This condition arises when dogs accidentally ingest fleas through chewing on irritated skin or licking their fur. Any fleas that are infected with tapeworms may cause the same condition in the dog.
Other possible health problems that may arise because of fleas on dogs are anemia and bartonellosis, which has symptoms such as fever, irregular heartbeat, loss of appetite, diarrhea and vomiting.
ARE DOG FLEAS AGGRESSIVE?
It is easy to view dog fleas as an aggressive species. This is because they do not give up a host unless they are forced to. They spend their entire life cycle on the host, reproducing, feeding and laying eggs on the same host to keep the cycle going. A single host quickly can be infested with hundreds of fleas.
DO DOG FLEAS CARRY DISEASE?
This is one of the first questions customers ask after they contact an exterminator about a dog flea problem. Although it seems difficult to believe that something so small could cause such havoc, dog flea bites actually can make people very ill.
A flea bite starts out as just a relatively small spot on the skin that may be pinkish red. They are incredibly itchy and may appear in groups of three or four.
Usually, the itchiness is the worst symptom of a flea bite, but some bite victims will have much more serious outcomes. Dog fleas may carry parasites like tapeworms and diseases like murine typhus, both of which can make people sick.
It also is possible for flea bites to lead to secondary infections. As an example, if a bite victim scratches the bites too much, the skin can break. This puts the person at risk for a MRSA or staph infection.
HOW TO DETECT DOG FLEAS
Pet and property owners may suspect a dog flea infestation based on:
• Bites or "flea dirt" on dogs or other pets • Suffering red, itchy bites • Finding fleas on dogs
HOW TO PREVENT DOG FLEAS
It is possible to protect people and pets by:
• Limiting how much time dogs and cats spend outdoors • Brushing and bathing pets on a regular basis • Performing routine flea checks on pets • Taking pets to the vet for flea-preventative efforts • Sweeping or vacuuming floors on a regular basis • Vacuuming cushions on sofas and chairs • Emptying vacuum bags or canisters immediately after use • Cleaning all bedding, including pet bedding, on a frequent basis
HOW TO TREAT FOR FLEAS
Moderate to severe flea infestations can prove difficult to eradicate. As such, having the home or business professionally treated may be the best way to remove fleas. Typically a pest control provider will apply both an interior and exterior treatment, utilizing products designed for immediate eradication as well as residual protection against reinfestation.
