The 4 stages of the life cycle of the cat flea are the egg, larva, pupa and adult phase. The length of the life cycle from egg to adult varies from 12 days to 4 months, and an adult flea lives up to 115 days. The length of the complete life cycle depends primarily on the temperature, humidity and availability of food.
Adult Fleas can live and breed on a dog. A female flea lays up to 20 to 40 eggs per day, producing several hundred eggs during her life. When separated from a host, adult fleas live only a few days. For nourishment, adult fleas feed on the host by frequently sucking blood from the dog. Fecal matter found on the dog in the form of pellets that appear as black specks slightly larger than flea eggs, is a byproduct of this feeding. These fecal pellets are made up mostly of partially digested blood that rapidly dissolve into a reddish fluid when dampened with water.
Flea Eggs appear to the naked eye as tiny, ovoid white specks which are laid on the dog and then drop off. A dog infested with fleas will leave behind a debris that looks like salt (eggs) and pepper (fecal Pellets) wherever it lies.
The flea larvae hatch out of flea eggs in 2-10 days. These larvae then feed on the fecal pellets and on any available food or organic debris. These larvae pass through two more larval stages which range in length from 1-2 weeks. Flea larvae do not actually live on the dog but in floor cracks, rugs or any damp areas frequented by the infested pet.
The third stage larvae spin a cocoon inside which they pupate (metamorphose) for 1-4 weeks. After development fleas will remain in the cocoon until stimulated to emerge. This period of inactivity can range from 1-140 days. When the adult fleas emerge from the cocoon, they seek out their host to feed and breed on, thus completing the flea life cycle.
Adult and newly hatched fleas usually confine their attention to any available household pet. Unfortunately, many pet owners have had the unwelcome experience of returning to their homes from a vacation during which their pet had been boarded, to find their ankles covered within minutes with scores of tiny fleas.
Vibrations from footsteps on carpets or floors are sufficient to cause scattered flea cocoons to hatch. Since a blood meal is essential to these creatures, they hop on the first warm-blooded host they can find. If a tenant with a flea-infested pet vacates a house or apartment, fleas will often be the first ones to greet new tenants who may not even own a pet. Continual flea control is important for family comfort as well as for the dog's health and well being.
Until you break the cycle the dog will have fleas.
Vacuum and get the bag out of the house.
Good luck
2006-12-06 02:02:08
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answer #1
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answered by petprincess@sbcglobal.net 2
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OK this is one of the most common questions I get asked everyday. Your environment is definitely infested and needs to be treated. Unfortunately there is no quick fix to your problem. It will probably take about three months for you to clear this up. The problem is that the fleas lay eggs- they fall off the dog into the carpet- a few weeks later you have more fleas. If you do what I tell you- I promise it will clear up, but you have to break the cycle first. 1. Change your dogs heartworm prevention to Sentinel- this has a product in it that is like a birth control for fleas- they wont be able to lay any more eggs!!Even if you live in an area of the country where you don't do heartworm prevention all year- do it anyway.
2. Keep using a topical product for the next 3-4 months such as frontline or advantage. This will kill the adult fleas that jump on the dog and all of the new ones that will be hatching out for the next few months.
3. VACCUM!!! a lot. and put a flea collar in your vaccum bag. They dont work well on dogs but will work in your vaccum.
4. treat your environment- inside and out. In yard cut back any areas with a lot of brush. Fleas like shady, cool, damp environments best. A sprinkling of sevendust in the yard also helps.- if you have snow right now- ignore this part.
5. Keep using sentinel every month long term and you will probably not have to use topicals any more because you will have detroyed the life cycle.
6. The worms(tapeworms) are from your dog eating a flea. Once you clear up the fleas- you will clear up this problem as well. Your dog may have to be treated though a couple of times even after the fleas are gone- They take some time to show up after they get them.
I know this will probably be a little expensive with all of these things in the next few months- but it will work. Also make sure all animals including indoor or out cats are being treated as well. Cats can only be treated with the topical products- advantage, frontline, or revolution. Please dont use anything that doesnt come from your vet- they dont work and cause some pretty bad reactions. Good luck!!
2006-12-06 04:50:30
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answer #2
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answered by vettech 2
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A lot of people will say they are using Frontline when they are really using a cheaper topical flea product, usually the Hartz or Sargent's flea drops, and the cheap stuff doesn't work. Also if she is only treating with Frontline when she sees fleas, it is likely her apartment is infested, eggs and larvae live in the carpet and can't be seen by the naked eye, when they mature they then jump on the dog. It's common to have such an infestation and not know it. You need to use Frontline for four months straight if you want to break the cycle of reinfestation with one product alone. A professional exterminator can speed that process along by treating the home as well, or ask the vet-they probably will have a safe environmental spray that you can use inside. Since fleas carry tapeworm eggs in their stomachs, and fleas are swallowed when the dog is biting at itchy spots, it's quite likely that she is getting worms because she has fleas.
PS: Frontline-plus also has a growth inhibitor, same as the Sentinel tabs, so if you use the Frontline-plus you don't need the Sentinel. Sentinel is Interceptor plus a flea growth inhibitor a.k.a. flea birth control.
2006-12-06 02:02:45
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answer #3
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answered by lizzy 6
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Well, I have to say that it isn't easy to get rid of fleas. I have been battling with those suckers for two months now, and I just saw a flea on my chihuahua again this morning. She started on Advantage, then switched to Frontline Plus. I have cleaned the house thoroughly once a week for the last two months. My house has never been cleaner. I don't have carpet. The problem is under the building. I live in an apartment that is infested. It turns out that several of my neighbors in the building have been having the same problem. Our landlord contracted an exterminator, but the guy said that it was useless and that the problem was under the building. The foundation has these openings where other animals get in. You may have a similar problem. Get to the source of it. Meanwhile, I continue with the battle.
2006-12-06 02:52:03
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answer #4
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answered by roquera 2
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Hello there, I´ve got a dog myself, and have also been thru a similar issue with fleas, I found out it´s useless just treating your dog... Nomatter what kind of product you use, if you don´t treat your house as well or whatever outer environment your dog lives in, for the fleas also live there. There are a few things that might help you: You should firstly treat the surroundings with some sort of flea killing product, and I mean really wash everything with it (K-Othrine does the trick I think), of course remove the dog from the place first or it might also feel the effects of the poison. Then wash all your bed sheets and recently used clothes with the same product, and the dog´s too if there are any. Don´t forget to wash the floor with the product as well... Just after you did all that wash your dog normally and use frontline on it. It worked for my dog, might work for yours too...Regards, Gabriel.
2006-12-06 02:13:20
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answer #5
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answered by Anonymous
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It doesn't sound right that her urine is concentrated if she drinks so much water. She might have a bladder infection among other things. Also, giving her Frontline and other topical flea treatments won't work unless you get rid of any fleas that are living in the house. I know they make a carpet powder that's supposed to kill fleas. Also, wash any upholstery and bedding. I hope that helps!
2006-12-06 02:00:34
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answer #6
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answered by Amber 2
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Even though you are treating the dog for fleas unless you get them out of the house too, they will never go away. there is a frontline spray that you can get for your house that would help. or you can use borax, which is safe for animals, sprinkle it on your carpet and leave it for a few hours then vacumn it up. it may take a few days but it should help break the cycle
2006-12-06 02:10:59
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answer #7
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answered by froggz 3
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the house needs to be treated for fleas, i don't know how they do it but an exterminator would probably be best. try frontline plus , it gets rid of the fleas and eggs that are already on your dog. i have to use it because i forget to use it in the winter and my poor dog got a tick. i now mark it in my date book. i'm glad your taking the dog to the vet.
2006-12-06 02:08:29
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answer #8
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answered by punkbun03 3
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fleas live in carpets, furniture, etc so unless you bomb the place with a flea killer and use the medicine at the same time it will keep reacurring
2006-12-06 01:59:36
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answer #9
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answered by valh87 1
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Use Fontline on the dog. Then spray the house, backyard, anywhere the dog goes spray.
2006-12-06 02:17:55
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answer #10
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answered by Anonymous
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