How to Protect Your Pet From Fleas

For any pet lover, fleas are a pest that are intolerable. They are durable, annoying and incredibly difficult to kill. Being able to reproduce by the thousands in a matter of days makes them a most unwelcome guest. These parasites carry diseases, as well as tapeworm eggs that can then cause your pet to become a host to the parasitic tapeworm.

One of the main reasons that fleas are so difficult to get rid of is down to their life cycle. Fleas have a four cycle life span starting with an egg and maturing into adulthood. However, if you know how to protect your pet from fleas, you can save yourself the trouble of an infestation, later.

The first key to protecting your pets from fleas is understanding your enemy. A flea's life span can last as short as fifteen days and as long as one year. These tiny little pests are designed for survival. Having a four cycle life span helps. Their first cycle is as an egg. In this cycle they are essentially protected from everything. They can survive indoors for months without hatching through the winter season. Their next life cycle is as larvae. Here, they are not as well protected, but find it much easier to hide from pesticides. Next, is the pupae stage. In this stage of life, fleas are at the mercy of the world. They cannot hide and do not have a protective covering. And finally, the adult form of fleas are nearly as strong and durable as their egg form.

The best way to ensure that you are capable of ridding yourself of these pests is by using flea treatments and sprays that are designed for your specific pet. For instance, dog flea treatments contain a chemical called permethrin, which is highly dangerous for use on cats. There are, however, pet treatments that are effective in destroying fleas regardless of their life stage. Keep in mind that a single flea can lay up to fifty eggs in a just a day and over one thousand eggs in a lifetime. Also, remember that flea eggs hatch every ten days, depending on the species of flea.

While fighting the problem after it has begun can be effective, the quickest battle won is the battle never fought. Guarding your home and pests against fleas and ensuring that they are not infested can be far easier then fighting a legion of parasites. Start by keeping your yard clean and well groomed. Giving fleas few places to hide and using pet friendly pesticides in the lawn can go a long way. Fleas also dislike cedar wood chips. Scattering some around the walk ways and in front of your doors can keep them from coming inside.

Also, a clean house is a pest free house. Cleaning regularly and emptying the dust bags immediately after using the vacuum on the floors and pet beds will help keep the occurrence of larvae and eggs from growing in the house further. There are also special pet beds designed to be stuff with foam, cotton, or any other kind of stuffing that you may have. Instead of stuffing the beds with more things that eggs and larvae can grow in, use cedar wood chips. Your pet will enjoy the smell, and the fleas will leave them alone.