Attack of the Fleas

Cat and dog fleas are tiny brown insects that live on your pets and feed on their blood. To make matters worse, they may even choose to snack on you—disgusting, we know.

Once fleas have landed on your pet they are one of the most complicated parasites to get rid of. They are very prolific—one flea can lay over 2000 eggs that fall off onto your pet’s bedding, near and under chairs, or even on your bed where your pet rests or sleeps.[3] It shouldn’t come as a surprise that eliminating a flea infestation in your home is very frustrating and can take many months.

Not only are fleas an obvious nuisance, they can also pose serious threats to your pet’s health. Some animals may develop flea allergy dermatitis (FAD), a highly allergic reaction to the flea’s saliva characterized by intense itching and scratching that can lead to hair loss, scabs, and other self-inflicted damage. Furthermore, fleas can transmit other parasites, such as tapeworm, if accidentally ingested.[6]

Here are some links to more information about fleas:

Fleas – Government of Canada
Essentials of Flea and Tick Control (video) – AnimalCareTV
The Amazing World of Fleas Part 1, Part 2 (video) – Else-Vet

The Flea Tapeworm in dogs and cats - Dipylidium caninum. Video by Bayer Jungle. [12]

For every 1 flea you spot there are 100 still hiding.

Cat flea (ctenocephalides felis) under scanning electron microscope. Video by Jasenko Zivanov. [13]