Fleas are the most common parasite in pets and every dog and cat is likely to be infected at some stage in its life. However, with the advent of modern products it is possible to prevent fleas from becoming a problem in your household. Working closely with your vet, who will give you advice on how to use these products effectively, you will be able to stop these nasty little insects making a meal of your pet and you!

Why are fleas so difficult to eliminate?

Fleas are small, reddish-brown insects which lead a complex life away from your pet. Only the adult fleas live on your animal and drink its blood; the early stages live free in the environment, i.e. your home. For every flea that you see running through your pet's fur, there may be hundreds of young fleas waiting to jump aboard a passing pet - or if you are unlucky - onto you.

Diagram of lifecycle:

Adult fleas lay eggs in the pet's fur. Each female flea can produce dozens of eggs every day. They are pearly white in colour and about the size of a grain of salt. The eggs do not stick to the fur and soon fall off onto the floor.

After a few days, the eggs hatch into maggot-like larvae which hide in your carpets, cracks in the floor or in your pet's bedding. They feed on dust and the droppings of adult fleas, which mostly consists of undigested blood.

The larva spins a cocoon in which it develops into an adult flea. They may stay in this resting stage for several months.

The adult flea breaks out of its cocoon and crawls out of its hiding place to look for food. If it cannot find a pet it will hop on to any warm-blooded animal that passes by, including humans. Centrally heated homes provide ideal conditions for a flea to grow from an egg into an adult. The minimum time for the cycle is two and a half to three weeks, but young fleas can live for over a year before reaching maturity and getting back on your pet.

How do fleas damage my pet's health?

Fleas are the most common cause of skin disease in dogs and cats. Flea saliva contains chemicals which stop blood clotting until the flea has finished feeding and these chemicals may cause an allergic reaction in your pet. Most pets are not affected, but those which are, suffer severe itching. Animals lick or rub the affected parts, wearing away the fur and making their skin red and sore. Sometimes a crusty rash will develop. Allergies appear most often in summer when the flea population is greatest. Skin problems may continue long after the flea which caused it has gone but they should eventually disappear after the pet has been treated for fleas. In the short term your vet may prescribe drugs to stop the itchiness.

Is it just the skin that is affected?

Fleas may carry eggs of tapeworms which develop inside your pet's gut if they are swallowed.

The flea may also be implicated in the transmission of Myxomatosis in rabbits.

How can I tell if my pet has fleas?

• Take a sheet of good quality white paper and wet one side by running it under the tap.
• Place the sheet on a flat surface, eg worktop, with the wet surface uppermost.
• Sit your pet against the edge of the paper.
• Rub or brush the small of your pet's back so that scurf and flea droppings fall onto the wet paper.
• Look for 'coal dust' which, after 30-60 seconds, goes reddish brown. (This is the dried blood in the flea droppings.)

Sometimes there are no obvious signs of fleas and your vet might suggest testing your pet's skin to see if it is allergic to flea saliva.

What can be done to get rid of fleas?

The secret of successful flea control is to treat both the animal and its environment with effective products which kill both adult and immature fleas. There are a range of tablets, powders, sprays and shampoos to destroy the fleas in your pet's fur. Not all products are equally effective and those you can get from your veterinary surgeon are usually much better than those sold in pet shops or supermarkets.

Different products vary in how they work. Some of the easiest products to use are "spot-on's" which are applied to the skin on the back of the animals neck (where it cannot lick the product off) once every month - ask your vet for details.

Frontline® kills 98-100% of adult fleas within 24 hours before they lay eggs. It acts on contact and not via your pets bloodstream so fleas do not have to bite to be killed. It works against immature stages of the lifecycle as well as adults. It also kills lice and all three species of ticks infesting companion animals in the UK and Europe within 48hours. It is available as a spray or a spot-on.

Stronghold® spot-on is active against fleas, roundworm, hookworm, heartworm (but not tapeworm) and ear mites. It works against immature stages of the flea lifecycle as well as adult fleas and therefore can help environmental control.

Advantage® is another spot-on flea treatment which kills 98-100% of fleas on cats, dogs and pet rabbits within 24 hours, killing them before they lay eggs. It kills on contact, stopping them feeding within 5 minutes of jumping on your pet. It also has a larvicidal effect in the pets surroundings and is licensed for the treatment of fleas in pet rabbits. It's long-lasting protection persists even after repeated wetting or shampooing.

Also available are Program® once monthly tablets for dogs or a six-monthly injection for cats which prevents flea eggs from hatching, providing environmental control by breaking the life-cycle of the fleas.

What is environmental flea control?

Treating the areas where your pet spends most of its time is also important - particularly the places it lies down to sleep. Washing your pet's bedding in hot water will destroy the young fleas (but not the eggs) and vacuuming your carpets also helps keep the numbers down. Some products kill the flea itself and some prevent immature fleas from developing and re-infecting your pet in the future. Your vet can advise you on which product, or combination of products, to use. Treat your pet and your home all year round, even if you do not see fleas.

What if I have other pets?

All the cats and dogs (because most fleas on dogs are cat fleas), in a household should be treated even if only one animal appears to be affected by flea bites. If you do not continue treatment, the affected animal may be re-infected with fleas carried by other animals in your home or by fleas it picks up outside.

Conclusion