Flea Control in the Canine

Flea Control

The 4 Point Plan

A parasitic condition that strikes fear in dog owners is flea infestation. The flea has the potential to breed inside your house within 12 days and each female flea can lay several hundred eggs per week starting 24-48 hours after her first blood feed from your dog. The eggs are laid on the animal but soon drop off into bedding and especially like the base of the pile of carpets. Hatching and survival is dependent on temperature and humidity. Modern houses with carpets and central heating, providing an ideal microclimate for the larvae to thrive and feed on organic matter such as dead skin cells. The larvae finally pupate, forming a cocoon, usually at the base of the carpet. Carbon dioxide (breathed out by animals and people) plus vibration (animals or people moving near by) are the trigger factors for hatching of the adult flea. The adult flea usually lives for less than 20 days but due to the short life cycle and high egg count, many thousands of fleas can form in a room within a matter of a few weeks of a single female flea being introduced into a household.

Point 1. A flea contraceptive

Such as Program which works by preventing the flea pupa from emerging from the egg. It is extremely effective and has a high safety margins. In dogs it is given as a monthly tablet. Where there are no fleas in the house, this product alone should prevent any household infestation so long as all dogs (and cats) in the house are treated at the same time every month. The manufacturers even guarantee its efficacy. Please remember it prevents flea breeding but does not kill fleas.

Point 2. A topical insecticide

Many of these are produced as an aerosol (eg. Frontline) and will kill adult fleas on the dog. Frontline Spray works by dissolving into the sebum (the fat covering of the skin) and hence doesn't get washed out by rain or even weekly shampooing. (It is not recommended to bath dogs 2 days either side of treating with Frontline as it may reduce its adherence and effectiveness.) It will last for up to 3 months. Other products are produced as a monthly 'spot-on' treatment applied to the back of the neck and are very easy to apply, (eg Frontline Spot On and Advantage Spot On). Alternatively flea powders such as Head to Tail may be used or the Vetkem Dog Flea Collar

Point 3. An environmental insecticide

These products are used to spray your house. All the rooms where your dog (and cat) may have access must be treated. It has two functions: Firstly, a chemical which kills any adult fleas in the room and secondly an 'insect growth and development inhibitor' which prevents the eggs and larvae progressing to their next stage and lasts for up to 7 months. Acclaim adheres at the base of the carpet where the flea larvae live (other household sprays do not adhere and are vacuumed up). Spray your rooms with this product twice a year and you will substantially depopulate the house of fleas. (Read the directions carefully as many are potentially toxic to fish)

Point 4. Vacuuming

Thorough vacuuming has been shown to remove up to 20% larvae and 32-59% of flea eggs from a carpet. A good tip is to spray the inside of your vacuum cleaner bag with Acclaim or place a flea collar in the vacuum bag eg. Vetkem Dog Flea Collar.

Do bear in mind that a very high percentage of dog skin conditions are caused by fleas and that the above control measures will work if thoroughly carried out. Also remember that 80% of fleas infesting dogs can be cat fleas, so flea control in your cat (if you have one) is also very important.