What is a FLEA?  An insect pest that is a parasite on any creature that has blood.  That means fido, the cat and you.  Be sure to download your free PDF on the Flea and Tick Lifecycle at the end of the article.

Do they pose a threat to you or your pet?  The main problem from fleas is the rash and itching that occurs from their bites and the secretions they leave in the wound created by their bite.  Adult fleas feed only on blood.  They require blood meals and prefer to remain on their host.  Females can lay up to 50 eggs a day all of which fall off of the host onto the ground or carpet.

What about the house?  My family and I had the experience of having our cat die.  Everyone was so upset we went away for a few days.  When we returned the fleas pounced on us.  They had literally multiplied into thousands of pests.  Without hosts to feed upon adults die, but pupating larvae can remain in their cocoons for up to 12 months until vibrations and rising carbon dioxide levels signal to them to emerge and feed.

The main flea on our pets and on us is the cat flea. They aren’t picky, they will live on any host with blood.  Other than itching and secondary bacterial infection from scratching, fleas transmit few diseases.  They can give tape worms to our pets or to infants who ingest adult fleas.  Murine typhus and Plague are also able to be transmitted but require the flea to first bite an infected host like a wild rat.  We are very rarely in contact with such fleas in this country.

Natural treatments for Flea Control- For those of us who want to use green remedies let me give a few words of warning.  D-limonene is a citrus peel based product that is safe but causes allergic reaction some cats - consult your vet before use.  Pennyroyal oil is also available but only use it in shampoo that is commercially produced and do not mix it yourself.  Pulegone is the ingredient in the oil that is toxic to the fleas.  Unfortunately, there is a dose related toxicity in mammals i.e. your pet.  Symptoms include lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, nose bleeds, seizures and death due to liver failure.  There is no antidote.  Talk to your vet first!

How about in your home?  How to get rid of fleas in the carpet? There are lots of remedies to be self applied.  Diatomaceous earth is a good one but, can be tough on the owners lungs - exercise caution here!  One that I liked is a strobe trap.

Adult fleas have been noted to orient themselves toward light and jump when light is interrupted, as though the shadow signals passing of an unsuspecting host. Tests indicate they prefer yellow-green light (525nm) that remains on for 10 minutes and flashes off for 5 seconds. ENY0291/IG132 Univ of Florida, Co operative Extension Service

Base line, fighting fleas is long term problem.  There are some good products available from your vet for the pets.  A good vacuum cleaner (larvae can really cling to carpet fibers) emptied often(get the pupating larvae that  will hatch into adults out of the house) and a good exterminator along with a few traps are your best bets for the home.

Here is a PDF from the FDA on flea and tick lifecycle fleatick.pdf

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