It’s that time of year again, when the appointment calendar is full with itchy, scratchy dogs and cats. Some have seasonal allergic dermatitis, but many have…eek…fleas! In the Philadelphia region, August, September and October are the worst months for fleas, but we can see them any time of year, particularly during a warm winter.How to eradicate fleas? The best way is to prevent them altogether with a year-round preventative (more on this later). If fleas have already infested Fluffy, Fido and your living room, read on!
Fleas are the most common external parasite of companion animals, and as a result, flea allergy dermatitis is the most common skin disease of dogs and cats. Flea control has always been a challenge for veterinarians and pet owners because the adult fleas cause the clinical signs, yet the majority of the flea population (eggs, larvae and pupae) are found off the pet in and around the home. The ideal flea control program utilizes products that target the various stages of the flea life cycle, and not only the adult fleas on the pet. To understand how to fully eliminate fleas from your home, a basic understanding of the flea life cycle is needed.
