![]() Those eggs hatch into larvae in a few days and become full-fledged, biting adult fleas a couple of weeks later. Think carpets, furniture, kennels, cat boxes, and beds. These eggs quickly drop off into places your pet hangs around. Adult female fleas can lay 25-40 eggs a day. ![]() “In addition to just being a nuisance, can actually cause harm and disease as well,” says Brenda Stevens, DVM, a clinical associate professor in North Carolina State’s College of Veterinary Medicine.Įven if you’ve obliterated all the fleas on your pets, you’re not finished. Too many bites, especially to younger cats and dogs, can cause anemia, a dangerous loss of red blood cells. Some pets are allergic to fleas and get something called flea allergy dermatitis, where the skin becomes hypersensitive. They can carry the eggs of tapeworms, an internal parasite. Remember, fleas can be more than just irritating. How quickly each of these products work (some start killing fleas in 30 minutes).Topical (like a liquid or gel applied to your pet’s skin).Your pet’s vet can recommend the type of prevention that will keep fleas from hitching a ride on Spot or Fluffy again. So it’s critical to follow the instructions to the letter.ĭon't use flea prevention meant for a dog on a cat. The medication Anderson suggests after that initial bath is a chemical insecticide designed to kill fleas. “If you’re starting to see some irritation on the pet’s skin,” Anderson says, “that’s when you probably need to schedule a visit with your veterinarian so they can prescribe an antibiotic if there seems to be an infection.” Other problems that come from fleabites - open sores from scratching or other skin problems like rashes - may call for stronger kinds of help. The soap in a bath can act as a gentle insecticide. ![]() “A lot of those flea prevention products - as long as they’re not combined with heartworm prevention - you can get them over the counter," says Atlanta veterinarian Euphrates Anderson, DVM. You may be able to see fleas without a comb if you separate the hair between your pet’s shoulder blades or at the base of the tail. The "dirt" is actually flea poop, made mostly from your pet’s dried blood. A fine-toothed flea comb run through your pet’s fur can confirm it if it picks up adult fleas and maybe some “flea dirt,” little spots that look like pepper. The scratching, the biting at the fur, maybe even the big patches of irritated skin all point to fleas.
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