Fleas are tiny, wingless insects that survive by drinking blood from a host organism. There are over 2,000 flea species, each adapted to feed on specific hosts, like cats, dogs, and humans.
There are four different stages in a flea’s life cycle: egg, larva, pupa, and adult.
Egg
A female flea can lay as many as 40 eggs every day. Although eggs are laid on the host, they fall into the environment, landing on pet bedding, carpets, upholstery, and wood floors. Anywhere between a day or two, an egg can hatch.
Larva
When flea eggs hatch, larvae emerge. These small, worm-like creatures feed on flea droppings in the environment. The larva goes through three skin changes before spinning a cocoon and entering the pupal stage. The larval stage can last between five and fifteen minutes.
Pupa
Inside the cocoon, the larva transforms into an adult flea. Cocoons are nearly indestructible and can camouflage themselves with dirt and debris. Pupae can stay inactive in the environment for months.
Fleas in this stage won’t emerge until they sense a host, detecting factors like vibration, warmth, and the host’s exhaled carbon dioxide.
Adult
As soon as a host is nearby, the fully developed flea leaves its cocoon, jumps onto the host, and starts feeding on its blood.
Fleas can cause various problems for pets.
Their bites can lead to intense itching, scratching, and biting, which can result in skin infections and pain. Some pets might have a strong reaction to flea bites within minutes, while others could take up to 48 hours to display symptoms.
Fleas can also transmit tapeworms to pets, potentially causing digestive issues and weight loss. In extreme cases, a pet might suffer from flea bite anemia due to significant blood loss, leading to a reduced blood count.
Fleas can carry diseases that can harm your pets.
Some of these are:
Flea Allergy Dermatitis
An allergic reaction can occur in pets from just one bite of an adult flea, causing excessive licking and scratching, and even resulting in hot spots. These hot spots are skin patches that can develop into large wounds if the pet continues to itch and bite them. Licking the wound can spread bacteria around it.
Tapeworms
If your dog bites its skin and swallows a flea carrying a tapeworm, the dog may become a host for these worms. Tapeworms can cause irritation, weight loss, and attach themselves to the dog’s intestine, leading to further issues.
Cat Scratch Disease
While this disease doesn’t usually affect cats, it can be transmitted from a cat to its owner, causing high fever, fatigue, and severe headaches. For some people, this disease can weaken their immune system.
Luckily, there’s Comfortis.
Comfortis is a strong prescription flea medicine that comes in a chewable tablet that is easy to give to your pets.
The primary ingredient in Comfortis is spinosad, a natural compound obtained from soil microorganisms that targets a flea’s nervous system.
Within 30 minutes of administration, Comfortis begins disrupting the fleas’s nervous system and eliminates 100% of fleas on dogs and 98% on cats.
And you wouldn’t be required to keep giving your pets this medicine every day, either, as a single tablet offers a full month of flea protection.
Comfortis is highly effective and avoids the inconvenience of topical treatments and the risks of pets accidentally ingesting them. It works quickly and is suitable for dogs with flea allergy dermatitis, providing fast, long-lasting protection.
To prevent flea infestations, use flea prevention products on pets and check them regularly for fleas, particularly after spending time in flea-prone areas. If an infestation is suspected, treat the pet with Comfortis to eliminate fleas completely.
For more information, visit Pet Meds Online
