Flea's Your Outta here!
The life cycle of the flea:
It's no wonder that dog,
home and yard can be overrun with
fleas in a matter of weeks!
Under favorable conditions-
when moisture and temperature are
right and a host (animal)
is available- the life cycle of a
flea can be completed in as little as 21 days.
Two fleas can become 2,000 in three months!!!
And fleas are hardy creatures.
They can survive months without feeding,
and in the cocoon stage they can even withstand
freezing temperatures for up to a year.
Only five percent or less of the total flea
population are adults the stage at which
they feed on your dog or you.
The rest of the time,
fleas are either eggs,
which hatch in one to fourteen days.
The resulting larvae, three or four
millimeters long, which feed primarily
on the digested blood of adult fleas or
pupae, during which the soon-to-be adult
flea is encased in a cocoon and
is virturally invulnerable.
Adult fleas use their six hook=tipped legs
to "snag" a host and will remain there
to feed and reproduce until they
are involuntarily dislodged.
Eggs laid by adult females will generally
fall from the host, and the life cycle
will begin anew as long as
environmental conditions support it.
There ae no flea remedies that
work effectively at every stage
of the fleas life cycle.
Destroying eggs will no prevent
adult fleas from laying more,
destroying adults will not prevent pupae
from hatching. A systematic approach is
required to rid your dog and your
living environment of fleas.
A Three-Pronged Attack:
A flea infestation problem must
be attacked on three fronts:
1. On the Dog
2. In your Home
3. In your Yard
Insufficient measures in any area
will virtually guarantee
reinfestation.
Furthermore, a regular prevention
program will ensure that fleas
from other host animals are not
reintroduced and given a friendly
environment in which to multiply.
Flea Contol Methods:
Flea Collars, Shampoos, Dips,
Flea combing. vacuuming,
Foggers & Yard Sprays.
Flea infestation may be an easily
identifiable problem, but,
like most problems, it doesn't
have a simple solution.
If you want to get rid of them,
fleas must be controlled on your dog,
in your home, and in your yard.
Consult your Vet before embarking
on a comprehensive program.
Start anti-flea measures before
the weather warms up in your area
and the temperature is ideal for
fleas to reproduce, if you live in a
warmer climate, emply these measures
all year round.
If you are thorough and diligent
with your fleas to control efforts,
you will be rewarded with a dog and
living enviroment that is
virtually flea-free.
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