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Why Does My Pet Have Fleas?

Why Does My Pet Have Fleas?

Living in southern Louisiana almost guarantees that you and your pet will have to deal with a flea problem if you are not on a good flea preventative program.  

South Louisiana is one of the top ten places for fleas to live and raise families.                   

We are a flea paradise with our average temperature of 70 degrees and average humidity of 76 percent.

Stray cats, raccoons, and possums provide perfect, low-cost flea housing.

How do we fight this?

Understanding the Flea Life Cycle:

Approximately 90 percent of the flea’s life is spent off of your pet, in your home, in your bed, carpet, couch, or anywhere your pet rests.

After that stray cat drops eggs in your yard, or your relative’s pet visits and leaves eggs everywhere, those egs develop into fleas and jump on your pet. Now the fun begins. That female flea starts laying 40-50 eggs PER DAY within 24 to 48 hours of hopping on your pet, so the cycle continues.

What Fleas Do:

  1. Cause itchy bites
  2. Can cause allergies in dogs and cats
  3. Transmit disease
  4. Transmit tapeworms
  5. Cause anemia by sucking your pet’s blood.

Treatment:

The most important thing is to treat every pet in the household with an effective flea product. This is an absolute, even if it seems like only one pet is suffering. Many over-the-counter flea medications are less effective now. We can advise you on what will work best in your circumstances.

  1. Wash your pet’s bedding and vacuum frequently (every couple of days for several weeks.)
  2. If your problem is minimal, treatment pets with an effective product for 3-4 months will clear things up. If your problem is severe, treating the house and yard will help.

Call us or go online for an appointment so we can get you on the right plan for your pet and home.

For More Information:

For a great video on flea control, pop some popcorn, pull up a chair, and visit this YouTube video, The Dirt on Fleas, by world-renowned flea expert, Dr. Michael Dryden.

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