Fleas

If you have a flea infestation in your home, the first thing that you need to ask is “How did these fleas enter my home?” Perhaps homeowners find the answer to this question by examining their pets, there is a close relationship between fleas and pets, especially cats, because they are the first host of these insects, fleas do not jump to our homes, they are transmitted to us through animals with their fur, Pet owners are more likely to catch fleas than those without pets, especially if they allow their pets to go outside for long periods.

Fleas identification

Adult fleas have no wings and their length is about 1/8inches flea body is very flat, which makes it easy to pass through the smallest spaces in the house, it has a black color or a reddish brown color, fleas feed on the  host blood.

Fleas life cycle

First, it is very important to recognize and understand the life cycle of fleas when trying to eliminate the infestation completely. There are four stages in the life cycle of fleas, which are eggs, larva, pupa and adult fleas, depending on the temperature and environmental humidity. The total life cycle takes from two weeks to several months in optimum conditions for fleas with temperatures ranging from 70-85 degrees Fahrenheit to 70% humidity.

• Flea eggs: When an adult female lays eggs after a blood meal from the host, it is small white organisms (smaller than a grain of sand) that are found in pet fur in clusters, adult females can lay about 40 eggs per day, eggs take from two days to Two weeks until it develops and hatches and if the temperatures are cold and dry, the eggs will take longer time.
• Flea larvae: The emerging larvae are blind, so they avoid exposure to light. They develop over several weeks by eating digested blood. They reach one and a half inches long and are white or semi-transparent and without legs.
• Cocoons: The cocoon stage in the flea life cycle represents about 10 percent of the flea population at home, the stage that precedes the emergence of adult fleas and protects the cocoon for days or weeks before the appearance of adult fleas, it contains a sticky outer layer that allows them to hide deeply in the carpet, so it cannot be removed easily by vacuuming.
• Adult fleas: Once the fleas get out of the cocoon,  they need to start feeding from the host within a few hours and shortly after the first meal the adult flea multiplies and starts laying eggs within a few days, has a flat appearance, dark color and with time and feeding They become larger and lighter in color and can live from two weeks to several months on the host animal.

Are fleas dangerous for humans?

Fleas often leave a red bump and a strong itchy feeling, which is very annoying to animals, they can spread to dogs and cats and they are known to transmit typhus from mice, so if you have a pet, specifically a dog or cat, you may have been infected. if you have dealt with flea infestation, it does not make it easy for you to continue your life, and it will require you to spray, wash, and disinfect everything in your home just to get rid of it. wash your clothes and even your pets in an attempt to get rid of the flea problem.

 fleas can also threat your health and your pets, and when they bite humans they can transmit many diseases such as fever caused by Bartonella Henselae, and it can be transmitted from fleas to cats and then from cats to people through a bite, scratch or It touches their saliva in certain areas,

and there are more than 22 specific bacteria of the Bartonella genus that can affect dogs and cats, and can cause typhoid, which can be caused by Rickettsia felis and when it infects humans it causes them severe weakness but it will not affect your cat’s health Or your dog in the same way, you can display the b An evil for chills, fever, body pain, nausea, vomiting, or a rash, and your pet may have a mild fever for a few days as a result.

What are the signs of flea infection?

If you have pets at home, this will be the first sign of flea infestation, just watch your dog or cat for constant scratching, because this is the first sign of fleas, check the animal and look for small bugs that move over its skin, in most of the Time fleas infect a cat or dog, causing it to move to your home, as it can jump up to 6 inches at a time, making it very easy for it to enter your home in search of food and warmth.

Pets can develop flea-allergic dermatitis, which is often accompanied by hair loss and cuts to the skin, and when a large number of fleas feed on your pet, they may develop anemia and this can also lead to more health problems for them, although The scarcity of plague is still a threat to pets and their owners because fleas are a vector of this disease.

How do I get rid of a flea infection?

• Take your pet to a veterinarian immediately to prescribe appropriate treatment for the condition.
• Make sure your pets have the flea products that your veterinarian prescribes as a first step to protect your pets and yourself.
•  clean the house and vacuum especially the carpets and areas where the pet lives to get rid of the largest number of fleas possible.
• Wipe floors with strong disinfectants to eliminate flea eggs.
• Wash flea-infected carpets to kill eggs and flea stuck in the fibers.
• Changing bed linen as well as pets bedding and clean their house