More and more houses today are adopting cats and dogs in to their homes. These pets quickly become part of the family. It’s important to take good care of them and keep them healthy. Good food, exercise, vaccinations and other veterinary services are required to make sure your dog has a long and healthy life. One factor in this process is the onset of fleas. Fleas can be a huge issue for pets in your home. In this article, let’s dive deep into the subject of fleas, their lifecycle and how you can deal with them and keep them off of your pets, homes and yards.

FLEAS, THE BLOOD FEEDER

In most of America, the cat flee is the predominant pest of cats and dogs. These insects are blood feeders who feed off the blood of these animals. They can also feed off of other ones, but these two species are their favorite. Fleas can feed off of other species including us. They can easily sustain themselves on our blood. In some cases, even when pets have left the home fleas can remain and bite people. Because of this, we need to make sure they’re gone.

FLEA BORNE DISEASES

Because they are blood feeders, fleas can transmit diseases. Most of the diseases the fleas transmit are either canine or feline feline in nature. There are very few diseases that humans can get from being bit by fleas. One of the most well known diseases that has been passed through the bites of fleas was the black plague. This disease was picked up off of rats as fleas bit the rats and then went on to bite humans. The black plague has not completely left our shores as there are still some cases in the southern parts of the United States. While this disease is not common, it still does exist.

Most diseases that the flea carries with it are diseases that affect your dog or cat. Dermatitis, tapeworm and cat scratch fever are some of the common diseases that can be spread to your dog or cat by a flea. That’s why it’s so important to make sure you’re taking care of your pets and keeping them safe from these parasites. Your Broken Arrow exterminator can help. 

LIFECYCLE

In order to understand how to control these insects, it’s important that we understand their lifecycle. Fleas develop through a complete metamorphosis. This means they start as an egg, become a larva or small worm, then pupate or go into a cocoon, and lastly emerge as their adult reproductive state. 

Flea eggs usually start somewhere on the ground. Often they’re found in the direct area of wherever your dog or cat sleeps. Once they hatch, they will search for flea dirt. This dirt is the droppings of adult fleas. Because these adult fleas have survived by feeding on blood, there will be some undigested dried blood inside these droppings. This will give the flea larva the nourishment that it needs. Plus, in many cases this can supply the stomach flora that the flea will need to digest the kind of food that it will be exposed to.

AFTER THE FLEA LARVA

As the larva develops, it will end up having to pupate. To do this, it will pick up dust and fur and other things that it finds near it to create a protective covering. In this protective covering it will develop into the full grown adult. Once it reaches maturity, it will wait for an animal to come near. It will sense this by waiting for heat and vibration. Once it determines that there is an animal here, it will come out of its cocoon. Contact your Tulsa pest control company for more information. 

Often fleas were over winter like this waiting for the heat or the vibration. Once they become an adult, the flea will jump on a passing host. Here it will grab onto the hair or fur that the animal has. These adults have special appendages that are very good at holding onto fur. Here they will feed on the blood of the animal, mate and lay eggs among the base of the fur. Of course, the dog or cat will scratch, and this will knock the eggs off of the animal onto the ground and the cycle starts all over again.

SPECIALLY DESIGNED FLEAS

Fleas are uniquely designed to do everything they need to do to survive in the wild. They have a special apparatus in their legs that allows them to jump very high and long distances. It’s not difficult for a flea to jump 50 times its own height. Both legs are geared together in a system that allows synchronization between the two legs. This is imperative for the flea to get its trajectory right. The muscles within the insect work like a spring to hold tension until the moment that the flea decides to jump. At this point, it flings itself into the air and hopefully onto the animal. The legs of a flea are uniquely jointed so that they flip backwards in order to hold onto the fur, giving them an advantage especially when your pet is scratching.

DEALING WITH FLEAS

Eliminating fleas is a three-part process. The first part of the process when you make sure that your pet has been treated by the vet for these insects. This may be a collar, a shot, a pill or a dip. The second part of the treatment is to your home. A large portion of the lifecycle of fleas is in your home, your pets bedding and possibly in your carpeting. It’s important to get these treated by a reputable Tulsa exterminator. And lastly, if necessary it may be required that you have the yard treated for fleas as well.

If you’re experiencing any issues with fleas or other pests, it’s time to call the best Broken Arrow pest control company in town. TermMax Pest Control is the best when it comes to taking care of your fur babies. We service a greater Tulsa area including Owasso, Jenks, Bixby,  Prattville, Owasso, Sand Springs, Broken Arrow, Coweta, Claremore, Catoosa and much more. Call today for a free estimate. We’re here to help!

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