Fleas - No wings, yet highly notorious

Flea control is necessary if you notice fleas in and around your home because their numbers can increase quickly. Fleas can cause medical problems in pets such as skin disorders and even anemia in severe cases. Sensitive humans may develop an itchy rash. If you see a flea on one of your pets there are usually 30 nearby, living in your carpets, rugs, and upholstery. Products like Frontline Flea Control can help you get rid of these annoying creatures.

Are Fleas similar to Cockroaches?

Fleas are similar to cockroaches. This may sound odd but both creatures have the ability to adjust themselves to any situation and to grow stronger to deal with environmental changes during their life. This makes it hard to deal with a flea infestation.

How can I Detect Fleas on my Pets?

The first signs of dog fleas or a flea problem in general are usually the small black specks that can be found in your pet's fur. These specks are actually flea droppings and are composed mainly of digested blood. A particularly telling sign is if you see these specks concentrated where your pet sleeps. This is a sure sign that you need to use some kind of flea treatment.

Another good flea dete ction strategy is to use a fine-toothed flea comb available in pet stores. When you run the comb through your pet's fur, the narrow teach will literally trap fleas. Have a glass of warm, soapy water nearby. When you get a flea, dip the comb in the water to kill the flea. Dry the comb and repeat the same series of moves until you've thoroughly combed your pet's coat. (Concentrate on the "armpits" and belly area as these are places fleas like to congregate.)

Also watch your pet's behavior. Pets get nervous and agitated when they have fleas, scratching and often biting at themselves. The animal may also rub against furniture or the floor and in a truly serious infestation will even run around nervously. An electronic flea collar or natural flea repellant will help and for many years one of the most highly recommended flea treatment products has been Frontline. Increasingly, however, vets are turning to more natural methods that are less toxic to the animal. Before using any chemical based product on your animal, consult a veterinary that specializes in the species. If you detect fleas over a weekend and can't speak with your vet, wash all your pet's bedding in hot soapy water and comb the animal at least twice a day with a flea comb.

Flea Species and Life Cycle

There are five types of fleas: human, cat flea, tropical hen, rat, and dog. Fleas feed on blood taken from their host animal -- mammals and birds. The female flea needs the blood to produce her eggs and can take in 15 times her body weight in blood per day, laying up to 50 eggs based on that blood intake. The eggs hatch in two days and as the young fleas cannot walk right away they will stay in the spot where they were dropped by your animal. Vacuuming and sealing the bag afterwards will help to get rid of flea eggs, which helps to provide more effective flea control.

Continue to: Proper Information on Natural Flea Control

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