Most pet owners don’t think that we have much of a problem with fleas in the Pacific NW.
Actually, our climate – humid and neither too hot nor too cold – is ideal for flea growth. The months of April and October are the worst months for explosive flea growth and the associated problems they can cause for you and your pets.
Did you know?
• A Flea can bite up to 400 times a day
• A single female flea can lay up to 2,000 eggs in her lifetime
• Just one flea can multiply to 1,000 fleas on your pet and in your home in 21 days
• On average, a flea lives for 2-3 months
• Flea fossils have been found dating back about 100 million years ago
• The flea population in a home is usually made up of 5% adults, which are on your pet, and 95% of eggs and juvenile stages, which are in your carpets and floors
• An allergy to fleas is the most common skin disease that pets can have, and that the allergic reaction caused by a single flea bite can persist for several weeks.
Fortunately, flea control is not really that difficult if you use the right products. Unfortunately, there are a lot of products available that are not very effective, and may even be harmful to your pet.
Effective flea control requires that you treat your pet, your home, and your yard.
Use a topical veterinary flea insecticide on your dog or cat. These products can be effective for up to three months. The newer products contain growth inhibitors (IGR’s) that prevent fleas from maturing.
Flea shampoos, dips, and collars are older methods of control that can be potentially toxic to some people and pets and are not widely recommended any longer. One exception is to cut a flea collar into pieces and place it in your vacuum cleaner bag. Research at Ohio State University proved that vacuuming kills 96 percent of adult fleas and 100 percent of young fleas.
Wash your pet’s bedding once a week for at least four weeks or throw it away.
If your pet lives outdoors where fleas are plentiful you may need to treat the yard and areas where your pet spends most of their time.
Most over-the-counter foggers are not very effective. If you are dealing with a flea infestation use a professional exterminator who will give you a written guarantee.
A severe flea problem may take several weeks to get under control.
Natural flea control methods:
Many people are concerned about the potential toxic effects of insecticides and so would prefer to use a more “natural” alternative. Unfortunately, some natural flea control options may be less effective and more toxic than the conventional products.
• Natural approaches for flea control include dietary, topical, or environmental products.
• Brewer’s yeast and garlic are the most commonly cited dietary approach recommended. These products can also be the least effective when evaluated in controlled studies.
• There are many topical products recommended for flea control. Most of them contain essential oils, which have been shown to provide temporary repellent action. They have also been shown, in the case of pennyroyal oil and others, to cause skin irritation, allergic reactions, seizures, and may even be fatal in some cases.
• Environmental flea control methods include the use of diatomaceous earth and boric acid. The problem with these products is usually related to dust inhalation. There is a commercial flea control company, Fleabusters®, which applies a patented formulation of boric acid with a one-year guarantee. The fact they have been in business throughout the U.S. for over 20 years is significant evidence of their success.
In the end, it’s up to you to determine the best course of action for dealing with fleas. If you have any questions, check with your veterinarian.
Dr. Kiel is the U.S. Army veterinarian currently supporting NAS Whidbey Island and Naval Station Everett. His columns appear the first and third Friday of each month. Please send questions or comments to Dr. Kiel at joseph.kiel@navy.mil.
