Flea Control Handout

Complete Flea Control Guide
Background
Once a flea finds a host, it spends its entire adult life on that animal. Fleas generally do not jump from animal to animal. Once a female flea has fed, it
can begin laying eggs within 24 hours, and can lay more than 20 eggs per day. That means that in one week a single female flea can lay several
hundred eggs! Multiply that number by dozens or hundreds of fleas, and you can see how a flea population can quickly grow. The eggs are smooth and
slippery, and as the animal moves around eggs fall off into the environment (which can include furniture, carpet, bedding, cars, yard, and so on). These
eggs can then hatch as quickly as three weeks later, but development can be delayed for 4-6 months! Therefore fleas seen in August can lay eggs that
may not become adults until January! Adult fleas represent only about 5% of the flea population, the rest being other stages of the developmental cycle
(eggs, larvae, and a cocoon stage called the pupa); for every flea that you see, there are around 100 others in various stages of development.
Wild animals can and do harbor fleas. This means that any deer, squirrel, rabbit, or other wild animal can deposit flea eggs as it moves through your
yard. Stray dogs and cats can also leave flea eggs behind. Even if your pet is mostly indoors, going outside to use the bathroom can be a route for
them to pick up newly emerged adult fleas. Fleas can also "hitch rides" on shoes and socks as the people move through the yard and into the house.
Fleas will die or go dormant outside when temperatures are consistently below freezing. However, fleas can live inside year-round due to the
temperatures and humidity at which we keep our homes. The southeastern US and Gulf Coast region have some of the highest rates of fleas and in
these areas "flea season" is really considered year-round due to the mild winters and high humidity. Studies have shown that the peak in flea
populations occurs in the late Summer and early Fall, later than many people expect.
Flea Control Products Not To Use

Flea shampoos and dips will only kill fleas currently on the pet and give you very minimal residual control, making them one of the least effective
methods of flea control. Flea collars do not work well on most pets. Collars, shampoos, and dips were good methods of control 20 years ago, but are
not considered very effective anymore. Many store-bought topical products use some of the same insecticides found in these other products, and many
flea populations have become resistant to these chemicals.
Which Product Should I Use?

The FirstShield line of products provide the quickest kill of any other topical flea product on the market, are water-resistant, and last for an entire month.
Additionally, FirstShield contains a potent insect growth regulator (IGR). This ingredient is the best IGR on the market, affecting more of the life stages
of the flea than any comparable product. The addition of an IGR enables control over all stages of the flea life cycle, not just the adults, which gives
better long-term control of flea populations. FirstShield Trio also gives protection for dogs against ticks, mosquitoes, and biting flies, making it a great
choice for dogs that spend much time outside. The ingredients in FirstShield are highly recommended by top parasitology and dermatology specialists,
Comfortis is a once monthly chewable flea tablet that kills fleas faster than any other product on the market. Though recommended and used by
dermatology specialists, it does not contain an IGR and gives no protection against ticks. However, it is a great choice for flea control, especially when
you have existing fleas as it will kill them within 30 minutes of giving it to your dog. It will also not wash off, making it a good choice for dogs who need
frequent baths. The same ingredient is also carried in Trifexis.
For cats we recommend Revolution, which is effective against fleas, heartworms, ear mites, and several intestinal parasites.
Complete Flea Control

The best flea control is achieved by using FirstShield, Comfortis, or Trifexis year-round, though at a minimum you need to start using them in early
Spring. Using flea control products before fleas are seen gives you the best chance of keeping the population from rising. Additionally, you need to use
flea-control products on your yard and in your house and do so every 3-4 weeks or according to package directions. Vacuuming the carpets weekly and
washing bedding frequently can also help with flea control. The key is consistent and repeated use of the products and not becoming discouraged when
a single treatment does not resolve the problem. Remember the flea life cycle! It may take several months of consistent usage to control an existing
problem. In severe cases you may have to contact a professional exterminator to treat your house and yard. If you wait until you see fleas, you are
already fighting a difficult battle. In truly severe flea infestations, we recommend using both FirstShield and Comfortis.
Why Flea Control Can Appear To "Fail"

 Overbathing--Bathing a pet more often than 1-2 times a month with most shampoos can significantly reduce oil layer of the skin, decreasing the
efficacy of any topical products. We recommend soap-free or “soapless” shampoos that will not dry the skin or wash off the oil coat.
 Inconsistent use--Not using flea preventions every single month on a regular basis decreases product levels, allowing the fleas to feed and
reproduce.
 Not treating every pet--If you fail to treat some of the pets in the environment, fleas can continue to feed and reproduce on the unprotected pet.
Some flea preventions can also be safely used on rabbits, ferrets, and guinea pigs, but check with your veterinarian before using any medications
on these pets.
 Not treating the environment --Consistently treating the house and yard gives you better control over the entire flea life cycle than merely treating
the pet.
 Not treating for long enough --A single treatment of the environment or on the pet will not resolve a problem. When you have fleas you need to treat
for a minimum of 2-3 months, and usually longer than that. It may take several months of treatment before you will see good results.
 Stopping treatment too soon--Remember the flea life cycle. If you treat for two months and the problem appears to be resolved, you may still have
eggs or pupae that haven't hatched yet, and may still have a few months before they become adults. Proper flea control requires continual use, not
sporadic!
 No "force field"--Most flea products have minimal to no repellency. This means that the fleas must actually contact the pet in order for them to be
killed by the products. Simply seeing some fleas does not mean that a product doesn't work, but it does mean that you need to work on complete
control.
 Flushing effect--FirstShield will cause the fleas to have an uncomfortable sensation when they contact the pet's skin. This causes them to try to get
away from the skin, bringing them to the surface of the coat where they may be more noticeable. If you see a lot of fleas on the top of the coat but
few on the surface of the skin, the product is actually working. Flushing the fleas to the surface is actually a good thing, and indicates an effective
product!

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Complete Flea Control Guide

Flea Control Products Not To Use

Which Product Should I Use?

Complete Flea Control

Why Flea Control Can Appear To "Fail"

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