Pesky Fleas

By Terri Estes

Fleas are small parasitic insects that feed on the blood of mammals and birds. The most common type of flea in the U.S. is the cat flea. The cat flea doesn’t just infest cats, but can be found on dogs, squirrels, birds, rodents and even humans. Dog fleas are less common but can also infest all different types of animals.

Fleas are excellent jumpers. They can jump up to 19 inches, which is 150 times their body length. They can also pull 160,000 times their body weight! Their mouth can pierce the skin and suck the blood of their host, which is what they feed on. They can go a while without blood though. Fleas are blind and navigate using their antennae and sense of smell to find their way. They can live anywhere from a couple weeks to a year, but females can lay up to 50 eggs a day, so they reproduce quick.

Fleas are vectors for many diseases. They can infect their host with round worms, tape worms, flea born typhus, and cat scratch fever, among others. But bubonic plague is the disease that puts the fear of the tiny flea in our hearts. The Oriental rat flea is the primary flea that causes the spread of bubonic plague.

The bubonic plague pandemic, also known as the Black Death, occurred in Europe in the mid 1300s. It was one of the most fatal pandemics in human history and killed off almost 50% of the European population. And it was all caused by fleas! So, let’s see how we can keep those dirty fleas away from our pets and families.

There are a variety of products to keep your pets free from fleas. There are sprays, drops, collars and oral medications. I think all of them are pretty effective, but I have found that the oral medications, such as NexGard, work great. Late summer and early fall are the flea seasons in our area, so be vigilant and treat before you have a problem. Even if your pet is an indoor pet or doesn’t come in contact with other animals, somehow, fleas happen! NOW is the time to treat!