Fleas:Dirty Secrets,
|
| Ask a Pet Health Question Get a Pet Health Answer Share your Pet Health Story Read a Pet Health Article |
About 160 million years ago the common ancestor split off into many lineages. Today there are about 2,000 species and subspecies classified largely by their specific parasitic niche, most flightless and sightless.
What to look forFleas range in size from about 1/16 to 1/8 inch (1 to 3.5 cm). They are dark or reddish-brown in color, nimble, and suitably adapted with piercing, tubular mandible-like mouths for biting and consuming their host’s blood.
Their bodies are hard and compressed side-to-side with smooth hairs running downward to allow easy maneuverability through their host’s fur or feathers. Unfortunately, their flat physique can survive the extreme pressure of a dog biting or scratching at an infested area.
Their acrobatic agility is legendary. Their legs are long and the hind pair well adapted for jumping. They can jump vertically up to 7 inches (18 cm) and horizontally about 13 inches (33 cm). This distance is about 200 times their body length, making them the world’s best jumpers of all critters in comparison to body size.
Meet the familyFleas go through the four life cycle stages of embryo (egg), larva, pupa, and imago (adult). Mature insects must feed on blood before they are capable of reproducing.
The life cycle begins when the female lays her tiny white oval-shaped eggs, usually in batches of about 20, directly on the host. Many eggs drop to the ground in areas where the host lives and sleeps. Within the two days to two weeks it takes for the eggs to hatch, new populations emerge on the host and in the areas where eggs have fallen.
Hungry and blind the pale, wormlike larvae emerge from the eggs in search of organic matter to feed on including feces (most appetizing is the feces left behind by adults, which is rich in blood proteins and lipids) and plant life. If food supplies are sufficient the larvae should pupate in one to two weeks. Like a caterpillar they spin a silken cocoon and, after another week or two, the adult is fully developed and ready to emerge.
The primary mission of a young adult is to find blood. A blood donor is necessary not only for survival but also for reproduction. They are able to sense vibrations (sound), heat and carbon dioxide, indicating that a host is nearby. While a young adult must find food within a week of emerging from the cocoon, once fed it can survive for two months to one year between meals.
At any given time the distribution of life stages in the family is about 50% eggs, 35% larvae, 10% pupae and 5% adults. Females can lay more than 500 eggs in a lifetime. Just because your dog or cat stops scratching itself doesn’t mean the pests have moved on. Under favorable conditions the life cycle of a single family can extend for many, many months. If untreated, the family can live on indefinitely.
My Dog Has Cat Fleas
One of the most plentiful and far-reaching throughout the world is the cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis). While their host of choice is the domestic cat, they are equal-opportunity pests and the primary external parasite infesting dogs in most parts of the world.
Successful proliferation of the cat flea is due in part to its clever incubation strategy. The female lays her eggs on the host, as usual. However, by natural design, the dry eggs slip easily through the host’s fur or feathers and fall onto bedding, carpet, sofas and chairs. Hatched larvae move in the opposite direction of the light (negative phototaxis), meaning that their survival mechanism includes hiding among folds, cracks and crevices. Left untreated, the entire home and contents can become an infestation in short order.
To make matters worse, the pre-emergent cat flea normally waits as a young adult until the presence of a potential host is detected by warmth, vibration or carbon dioxide discharge. Within seconds of finding a target host the newly emergent adult jumps aboard and begins feeding within minutes.
Adult dogs and cats can normally tolerate a few of these parasites by responding with the familiar scratching, biting and licking. The problem comes when the animal becomes allergic to chemicals in the flea’s saliva. An itchy skin disease called flea allergy dermatitis (FAD) is the usual result.
Dogs with FAD often show inflammation of the upper layers of skin along the hind quarters. Cats with FAD can develop various skin diseases, infections and self-inflicted hair loss (alopecia) from excessive grooming. Small animals with widespread infestation can suffer anemia due to excessive blood loss. Finally, cat fleas are responsible for disease transmission such as typhoid fever plus the spread of
other parasites such as tapeworms.
Got A Question, Comment
Or Interesting Story To Tell?
We'd love to hear from you!
What Other Visitors Have Said
Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...
Cat Fleas in the Lawn!!
Not rated yet
We seem to have cat fleas in our lawn, due to neighbors cats using our yard. Recently we've put up a barrier to keep them off the lawn, so now they sit ...
Phone orders welcome:
800-614-1401
International: +1-520-207-3330
My only regret is ...
"I am the kind of person who always speaks up when I think I'm not getting my money's worth for anything. I am also not hesitant to give praise where praise is due.With that said I bought some of your DentaSure teeth spray for my cat. I received it at the beginning of this week. After 3 DAYS of using this product her teeth have already gone from a scary looking brown and very unhealthy to a light shade of yellow.
I am absolutely blown away by how fast this product has helped her teeth improve and the fact that it's all natural is huge to me (the vet has been pushing me to pay $720 for a cleaning including anesthesia!!).
My only regret is not finding you guys sooner!! Keep up the great work!!!!" ~ Fred Brennan, Waymouth, MA
I am amazed!
"We have 3 dogs. One is almost 10, the second is 2 but is fighting Valley Fever right now and the third is 2 also.We put the VF dog on antibiotics as soon as she began coughing. The old man never really started but I seem to remember he has had Kennel Cough before so he may now have some immunity.
The third dog started to cough on Thursday and by Saturday it was just awful to listen to. She was trying to hack up a lung and leaving foamy puddles of spit ALL OVER our house.
Thank goodness your Primalix KC arrived so fast. It came in the mail on Saturday afternoon. I immediately dosed all 3 dogs.
Overnight the cough was drastically reduced. I am amazed! I am continuing to treat all 3 dogs for another week.
Thanks for an incredible product. Please do not hesitate to use this review on your website." ~ Lyn Chambers, Phoenix, AZ
Don't want traditional toxic treatments ...
"Dear TripleSure,We are pleased with the cedar and peppermint flea spray - it seems to perform as promised & that's a big deal here in Florida which is flea central.
Finally, a practical alternative to the nasty spot style flea pesticides. I will recommend this to my friends who (like us) don't want to use the traditional toxic treatments.
My dog also smells woodsey, a lovely side benefit. We sprayed the house and the combo is working. THANKS!" ~ Michelle G., Ft. Myers, FL
For the first time in 2 years, no coughing!
"I have two dogs that have kennel cough. I bought the Primalix combo for the immune system and the kennel cough. The medicine arrived today and for the first time in two years, no coughing!"~ Kerry Jacques, Temecula, CA
I would also like all pet lovers to know ...
"I just want to thank you for your wonderful products and caring nature.We made the decision to put Oreo to sleep on Tuesday. She was much worse Tuesday morning and it was time to let go. It was very hard as my husband and I wanted so bad for her to go on her own, but it was the right decision.
I know that your products helped give her a little more quality time with us than she would have had without them. I would also like all pet lovers to know the importance of spaying and neutering as early as possible - preferably before the first heat cycle - to decrease the chance of getting mammary gland cancer. Studies show mammary tumors in cats are 80% likely to be cancerous.
If I would have known about this risk, I would have started Oreo on the Primalix C-Care for cancer as a preventative measure long ago. I am going to continue giving it to my other 2 cats at least once or twice a week to hopefully prevent them from getting cancer.
Again, thank you so much for your kindness and compassion."
~ Jane Hicks, Thomasville, NC
WE SHIP
US POSTAL SERVICE
PRIORITY MAIL
and
FedEx
(FedEx Overnight delivery available ONLY when
order is received no later than 2:30 PM Arizona time)
DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING
On a scale from 1 to 10,
TripleSure gets a 12
“I just received my order of your flea and tick spray. Ok, at first I was skeptical, but now my wife and I are impressed. We see fleas or ticks on our German Shepard “Bumpers” or our Cocker Spaniel “Bella,” they get sprayed and – “Voila!” – dead fleas or ticks. The buy one get one free was a good deal. A little pricey, but if you want the best this does what it claims and is worth the money.
I want to thank you for making a product that actually works. On a scale from 1 to 10, TripleSure gets a 12.”
~ George and Brenda Campbell, Defuniak Springs, FL
All our products
Made in America
with a labor of love!
I plan to encourage my friends to try it
"The DentaSure from my order of a week ago is already working on my 2 maltese's teeth and they both like it, making the job of cleaning their teeth much easier for me and is much more effective than trying to brush.Wish I heard about it (on tv) long ago! I plan to encourage my friends with dogs or cats to try it.
Thank you for your immediate response to my inquiry. You are very efficient!
~ Joyce Snelling, Sun Lakes, AZ
Nice to have found a product that works
"Just wanted to let you know that my 3 year old Pomerian no longer has any dark tear stains after using your Tidy Tears formula. What a relief.As a retired dog groomer I knew most products were not successful and I wished I had answers for my clients who lived with these tear stains. I did not want my dog to have to live with it also.
Tidy Tears
has all natural ingredients which I look for for my pets. Nice to have found a product that works after all these years in time for my Pom."
~ Marie Cherry, Altoona, FL
Your products and customer service are first rate
"Your TripleSure product and customer service are first rate. I have been using it on my Wire Haired Pointing Griffon for the past 10 months. Living in Minnesota we are in prime tick country. My dog has been in the thick of them on extended canoe trips, hunting in tall grass and daily trips along the Minnesota river trails.TripleSure has prevented ticks & fleas. Granted, after water activity, it must be re-applied. However, this is a small price to pay considering not having the questionable chemical cocktail running through her from the standard systemic solutions such as Frontline. I have found that performance is enhanced if I take a minute to work in the spray by hand & finish it off with a light brush. Griffons have a double coat. My guess is that other breeds won’t need this."
~ K.C. Carpenter, Minnesota
I will always shop with you
"Thank you so much for offering these alternative solutions for really dangerous drugs vets give dogs and cats. I will always shop with you, and tell others."~ Robin Kincaid, Port Orchard, WA
I shall spread the word as much as I can
"I am very happy with the way my 9 year old lab has responded to your arthritis remedy. We were considering much more invasive methods, and now I am so happy we found your herbal remedies.We are all the way from Istanbul, Turkey, and find ways to carry the remedies with us or with people coming from the US to Turkey. I really do think you are doing a great job for dogs and cats. As an animal lover I shall spread the word as much as I can."
~ Can Malta, Istanbul, Turkey
This product is amazing for dogs with Cushing's
"I wanted everyone to know that this product is amazing for dogs with Cushing's. My dog looked terrible -- pot belly, bones showing, dry coat, back legs with no strength. We have used this for 3 weeks and it has made a tremendous difference... Getting ready to order 3 months supply. Wonderful product."~ Tammy Perry from Virginia
Primalix Blood-Sugar Balance ... it's a life saver!
"About 3 years ago my cat Timmy was diagnosed with diabetes. The vet put him on insulin injections which were a disaster and his health deteriorated greatly and he exuded a horrible odor.I had my doubts about him being treated as a Type 1 diabetic as in the human population over 90% of people have Type 2, non-insulin dependant, diabetes.
So as my cat Timmy was practically dying in front of me I ordered your Primalix for cat blood sugar control. Within a short time of being on Primalix he recovered and also recovered from his diabetic neuropathy so he was able to jump again.
He has been on Primalix now for almost 3 years and the results have been wonderful. Also our vet is amazed at his progress.
I would, without hesitation, recommend any pet owner whose pet has blood sugar control problems to go onto Primalix----its a life saver!
With great appreciation,
Yours sincerely,"
~ Nigel Hyatt PEng (Ont), CEng, MIChemE (Professional Chemical Engineer) Ontario, Canada
TripleSure is a Godsend!
"I bought this product about 5 days ago, It is Amazing! I have both dogs and cats and everything I used was NOT working until Now! I see no fleas and nobody is scratching themselves to death! TripleSure is a Godsend. If you have a problem with fleas do not hesitate to buy this product. I am now a customer for life! Thank you Natural Wonder!"~ Susan Fussell, Jupiter, FL
Thank you for what you are doing for animals and the world!
"I have been using your TripleSure flea and tick spray and do very much love it. All you stated is TRUE, I can not thank you enough for making my life and my pets life more enjoyable. THANK YOU for what you are doing for animals and the world!!!"~ Terree Whitehead, Duluth, GA