F*#! The Dirty Pet Word

It is that time of year again.  Fleas are starting to be reborn to terrorise us and our beloved pets! 

This is the first year in over 12 years that I will not be on flea patrol this spring.  Bear, my beloved Ridgeback x Bull Mastiff,  left me peacefully in July and even though I never experienced any major flea infestations or outbreaks with Bear, just the sight of one single flea was a major stress and made me think “I’m such a terrible and neglectful parent’ and ‘How could I have possibly let this happen?”

Well, you know what, it does happen and we shouldn't be so hard on ourselves when it does.  Even though there may still be some sort of social stigma attached to your pet having fleas, it’s an escapable fact of life, especially when you live in warmer, more milder climates.  I believe one of our roles as pet owners is not to pass judgement on others but to do our part to prevent and eliminate fleas anyway we can. 

VetShopAustralia’s in-house vet, Dr Mark Perissinotto, also believes in the importance of eradicating fleas early in the season and believes proactive care is essential to keep your home and pets flea free.  Read his Top 4 Steps to Prevent a Flea Infestation here.

Finally, did you know that the best medications to prevent and control fleas in your pet will vary from one pet to another and will depend on what other parasites your pet is likely to be exposed to; as well as your individual preference for method of usage (topical treatment VS tablet)?  For a comprehensive comparison between individual flea preventatives, just click here.

Naomi, Marketing Coordinator
VetShopAustralia

FREAKY FLEA FACTS
Knowing your enemy is the best way to control them so here are some informative yet strange and disconcerting facts about these parasitic, hematophagous little creeps.
  • Fleas have been on this planet for approximately 100 million years.
  • There are over 2,000 species and subspecies of fleas (that we know of)
  • Fleas have four life stages: egg, larva, pupa, biting adult
  • The female flea consumes 15 times her own body weight in blood daily
  • A flea can jump up to 8 inches high, or approximately 150 times its own height (that’s like us leaping over tall buildings in a single bound!)
  • Flea eggs are usually laid directly on a host, often falling off the host’s body and spreading the infestation to the surrounding environment
  • A female flea can lay about 2,000 eggs over the course of its life, but is incapable of laying eggs until after its first meal
  • Once adult fleas emerge from their pupae, they have approximately 7 days to find a blood meal or they die
  • If they were human sized athletes participating in the long jump, certain fleas could break the current world record by approximately 970 feet.
Spring has definately sprung demanding smarter flea solutions; so please remember to be proactive and start treating your pets now.


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