Fleas are one of the most troublesome problems that can afflict pets and the people who own them.  However, they are one of the easiest to prevent if you just take a few simple precautions.

 

Although fleas are tiny, the misery that they can inflict on pets is enormous.  Fleas cause continual itching and scratching that makes our pets miserable, especially as the weather grows warmer and fleas become more common. 

In some unfortunate animals, fleas can set off an extreme allergic reaction that can cause hair loss and skin lesions.  In severe infestations, especially in old, ill, or very young animals, feeding fleas can remove so much blood from a pet that it can cause debilitating anemia.

 

Surprisingly, fleas can be hard to detect.  As a result, many owners don't realize that their pets even have a flea problem.  In severe cases, an animal's misery and skin irritations will make the presence of fleas more obvious. In mild infestations, however, it can be easy to be misled into thinking that your pet's scratching or licking is just part of its normal grooming. This can be particularly true with cats, who like to groom themselves frequently. Here are some hints on how you can tell the difference:

 

• Carefully look for adult fleas behind your pet's ears, around its head and neck, at the base of its tail, and in its "armpits" and "legpits."  You will sometimes see small, dark fleas scurrying around beneath the hair coat.  Don't be misled if you don't see any fleas, however, because they are very good at hiding in fur and skin folds.
• You can check your pet for "flea dirt."  Your veterinarian can do this during an exam, or you can do it yourself by running a special flea comb (you can get these at pet supply stores) through your pet's hair coat in some of the above-mentioned locations.
• Periodically dump any loose hair or litter you collect in the comb on a piece of white paper towel.  When you're done, sprinkle a few drops of water on the debris. If any small, dark specks leave rust- or red-colored stains on the white towel - tada! - you've found flea dirt. This is actually flea feces, and it's composed of the leftover, dried portion of the blood meal that the fleas have taken from your pet. The flea dirt that falls off of your dog or cat then becomes the food that feeds the flea larvae that are developing in your pet's bedding or environment.
• Even if you don't find obvious fleas or flea dirt, keep in mind that these pests may still be present.  Cats, in particular, are very good at grooming fleas off of themselves.  In some early infestations, your pet also may be scratching long before you see any signs of fleas.  Flea infestations usually build over time.

 

Whether you see signs of fleas or not, most veterinarians recommend treating pets routinely in order to prevent fleas in the first place.  That's because once fleas have become established in your home, they can be very difficult to eradicate.  It can also take months to completely remove them.

 

Today, there are several easy-to-administer preventive medications that are very effective at removing the threat of fleas.  These medications can be topical (meaning you apply them to the outside of your pet), oral (table or liquid form), or injectible.  Some medications kill the adult fleas on your pet, while others will prevent eggs and immature stages - larvae and pupae - from ever developing into adults.  Some medications will kill fleas on contact, while others will begin to affect them after they ingest a blood meal from your pet.

 

For severe infestations, it may also be necessary to treat your pet's environment.  In these cases, agents are available to kill fleas in your home and yard.  It is also important to remember to treat all of the animals in your home, not just the ones that are scratching.

The best thing to do, before spring's temperatures start to rise, is to talk to your veterinarian about what is the most effective type of flea control for your pet's situation in order to keep it happy and flea free!

Click here to link to additional information on fleas, flea control, and flea eradication.

 

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