Understanding Dog Fleas: How Fleas Breed & Affect Your Dog's Health

Fleas belong to the insect order Siphonaptera. They are commonpests and may attack many mammals, including man. They can be ayear round problem because they infest not only pets but alsothe home of the owner. Because of this, treatment of the petalone may only temporarily solve a flea infestation.Although many species of fleas feed primarily on one type ofanimal, the common cat and dog flea will readily take blood froma variety of animals, including man. Flea infestations of petsand their homes will most likely involve the cat flea,Ctenocephalides felis and occasionally the dog flea, C. canis.Fleas are small (2 to 4 mm in length), brownish to black insectswhich are characteristically flattened from side to side. Adultsare wingless and capable of jumping relatively long distances.Adults feed exclusively on blood with their piercing-suckingmouthparts. When not actively feeding, adult fleas often hide inlocations frequented by the host animal such as your dogbedding, sofas, or carpeted areas.The common cat and dog fleas breed throughout the year. Afterfeeding and mating, the female deposits her eggs, usually on thehost. Several eggs are laid daily and up to several hundred overa lifetime. Eggs normally fall off the host into beddingmaterial or similar areas and hatch within two weeks.Flea eggs accumulate in areas where the host spends most of itstime. In addition, adult fleas defecate small pellets ofdigested blood which also drop off into the environment. A fleacomb will often gather this fecal matter at the base of thetines providing a good sign of flea infestation. The combinationof white flea eggs and black dried blood specks may appear as asprinkling of salt and pepper where an infested animal has slept.Fleas undergo complete metamorphosis, that is, they pass throughfour developmental stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Immaturefleas do not resemble adults at all.Flea larvae are tiny, light colored, and, worm-like, withoutlegs. They feed primarily on various debris and organic materialincluding the droppings of the adults which contains digestedblood. Flea larvae occur indoors and outdoors, wherever the eggshave fallen off the host. In houses, flea larvae live incarpeting, furniture, animal bedding and other protected areaswith high humidity. Flea larvae also live outdoors in areaswhere animals spend time such as under porches in and around doghouses, etc.Because flea larvae depend on the adult’s fecal pellets of driedblood as a food source, they cannot live in lawns or otheroutdoor areas unless the pet visits those areas enough toprovide this food.Depending on the species of flea and environmental conditionsthe larvae will pupate in one week to several months. The pupais contained within a loose silken cocoon which is often coveredby bits of debris. Under average conditions, the life cycle ofthe flea normally requires between 30 and 75 days but may takemuch longer. Adult fleas inside the cocoon, called pre-emergedfleas, will stay in that condition for weeks to months if noexternal cues from a host is available.However, when disturbed by the presence of a host such asvibrations or carbon dioxide from exhaled breath, the fleasemerge simultaneously and attack the host. This is why it ispossible to return to a house or apartment that has been emptyfor months and find it full of fleas.When the normal host is available, fleas may feed several timesa day but they are capable of surviving extended periods ofstarvation. In household situations, the normal host is a cat ordog. However, if the normal host is removed, starved fleas willreadily seek other sources of blood and more often than not, manis the alternate host. In severe infestations, fleas will attackhumans even though the normal host is present.Certain species of fleas have been known to transmit suchdiseases as bubonic plague and murine typhus. These have neverbeen a major problem. The major problems with fleas is as anuisance pest of pets. The irritation and itching from fleabites results in scratching and potential secondary infection.Fleas may also transmit the double-pored dog tapeworm to dogsand cats.Finally, persistent attacks from fleas can cause severe allergicresponses in some people and pets. Once sensitized, a singleflea bite may produce symptoms including hair loss, usuallyaround the base of the tail, dermatitis, and intense itching. Inworse cases, puppies and young kittens can also died fromserious fleas infestations.With proper flea management knowledge, flea problems will not bea big issue and can be battle and win over easily.