Q. Our vet said that our dog has cat fleas. We don’t even have a cat, and as far as I’m aware, neither have we ever had cats come over or hang out in our yard. How can the dog have cat fleas?.
A. Contrary to popular belief, cats have cat fleas while dogs have dog fleas. In the U. S. it is safe to assume that all canines with fleas also have cat fleas, Ctenocephalides felis. The most prevalent flea on pets, including dogs and cats, is by far cat fleas. About 95% of all pet flea infestations in the U. S. are cat fleas. Dog fleas can infest both dogs and cats as well as rabbits, though they are much less prevalent in the U S. ; they are more common in Europe.
Cat fleas prefer to live on dogs and cats, but they will also live on foxes, opossums, and other wild animals that may frequent your yard. Although there is no way to determine where your dog’s fleas originated, it is very likely that he picked them up in your yard. Flea larvae hatch, grow, and pupate in your yard or the animal’s nest as flea eggs are laid and shed by the wild animal. Within two days of emerging from the pupal cocoon, the adult flea will have discovered a host animal and consumed its first blood meal.
Pet owners may treat their homes and pets for fleas, but they don’t consider treating their yards. They believe they have finally found a solution to the flea issue, but Rover soon develops fleas once more, and they are baffled as to why. Probably the most typical way for pets to contract fleas again is by picking them up outside. Your dog may be bringing in fleas from neighborhood pets, wild animals, or even fleas from a previous infestation that have since finished developing. Call Colonial if you suspect that you have a flea infestation in your yard. In addition to treating your home, we can also treat your yard for cat fleas.
Are cat fleas different from dog fleas?
There are numerous flea species that affect various animal species. Dog fleas (Ctenocephalides canis) and cat fleas (Ctenocephalides felis) differ from one another, but you can only really tell with a microscope.
When you consider that cat fleas make up the majority of fleas found on pets in the USA, any minor visual differences don’t really matter. Dog fleas are very specific to dogs, unlike cat fleas, which have evolved to infect and consume the blood of other animals. Since dog flea infestations are much more uncommon, you’ll probably be treating your pet cat and dog for cat fleas.
The stages of the flea life cycle, which are common to all flea species, are when they grow and develop. In ideal (warm/humid) conditions, this life cycle can be finished in 2-4 weeks.
Adults Adult fleas are small, wingless insects that measure between one and three millimeters in length. When an animal moves by, they emerge from tiny ground cocoons. The flea will then begin reproducing after feeding on the animal and consuming blood.
Eggs Female fleas can lay up to 50 eggs per day if they are mated. These eggs roll off the animal onto the ground and are tiny and difficult to see. When conditions are ideal, they molt into larvae in 2 to 12 days.
Larvae Larvae look like small pale wriggly worms. Due to their preference for the dark, they can be found in sofas, cracks in carpet, and other crevices as well as on the ground outside. They eat organic debris such as skin flakes, food scraps, and mature flea feces that have dropped to the ground from your pet.
Pupae After feeding and developing, the larvae spin a silken cocoon around themselves that is sticky, becoming a pupa. It is difficult to vacuum up because dust and dirt adhere to it, hiding it. When an animal passes by again, this can stay hidden in its environment for weeks or months. The flea egg then hatches into an adult, and the cycle repeats.
Both dog and cat fleas will bite to feed on blood, which can be very itchy. In animals with high numbers of fleas, this itchiness can be very intense, leading to sore, inflamed skin. Underlying allergies to the flea saliva can make reactions even worse (flea allergic dermatitis).
Very young puppies and kittens with high levels of fleas can suffer from anemia due to the volume of blood lost. Fleas can also spread diseases between animals.
Flea larvae can play a significant role in the tapeworm life cycle by accidentally ingesting tapeworm eggs whilst feeding on the ground. As the flea matures it carries the tapeworm inside it still. If your pet grooms or licks itself and accidentally swallows an infected flea, it becomes infected with the tapeworm.
Perhaps you’d like to read Do fleas bite people?
How do I get rid of fleas?
Both the adult fleas on your pet and the numerous larvae and eggs that are present in the environment must be treated.
Adult fleas can be killed with a variety of products, such as flea collars, oral medications, and topical spot-on treatments. You can get advice from your veterinarian regarding the ideal product for your pet. It’s crucial to use these products as directed in order to maintain continuous protection.
You can treat the house with chemical sprays. You must be patient and wait for the adult flea to emerge and come into contact with your pet and its flea product because the resistant pupae may not be affected by this. When wet towels are hung on warm radiators, the vibrations from the vacuum cleaner will encourage them to hatch more quickly and will increase the humidity.
If despite this you are still having problems, you might want to read Why is my flea treatment not working?
Removing Fleas From Your Yard – Cat Fleas vs Dog Fleas
Removing low-hanging branches and mowing your lawn will allow sunlight to dry out these damp conditions and disrupt the fleas’ lifecycle because flea larvae require moist conditions to survive.
Trim the grass and long weeds first, especially if you have a doghouse, around fences, outdoor furniture, buildings, and especially in and around those areas.
Pay close attention to the areas where your pet spends the majority of its time outdoors because these areas will also be a flea hotspot.
Remove any brush piles from the area around your lawn, rake up the piles of freshly cut grass, and bag them.
It’s crucial to get rid of these moist, shady hiding places if you want to control fleas in your yard.
You basically want a clean and tidy lawn.
The amount of fleas that reproduce in your yard will be drastically reduced by clearing out old vegetation and reducing clutter, which will lower the likelihood that your pet will contract fleas when it is outside.
Cedar Wood Chips
Cedar is a natural repellent for fleas.
Cedar wood chips can be used to line the space around compost piles, fences, and the area around your home, even though it is not practical to scatter them throughout your entire lawn.
When I was a child, we always had hunting dogs that were kept outside in kennels.
When we added cedar shavings to their bedding, it effectively kept fleas away.
Additionally, our dogs loved the clean bedding and always smelled great.
Beneficial Nematodes
A secure, non-toxic method to efficiently get rid of fleas in your yard is to spray beneficial nematodes on your lawn.
Nematodes are tiny roundworms that eat fleas, insects, and organic matter in addition to organic matter.
They have a reputation for efficiently eliminating adult fleas, larvae, and pupae that are present in your grass and other areas of your lawn.
Gardeners can use them safely, and applying them is simple because you can just spray them on.
Insecticides – Cat Fleas vs Dog Fleas
Because of the risk of exposure to your pet or children, many homeowners choose not to use insecticides to kill fleas in their yards, despite the fact that they are very effective.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully if you decide to use insecticides.
Insecticides are very safe when used properly, but as the world moves more and more toward natural remedies, many homeowners opt to avoid pesticides for the environment’s sake as well as the safety of our children.
The best thing about pesticides is that they are effective at eliminating a wide range of pests, such as fleas and ticks.
FAQ
Can you tell the difference between cat and dog fleas?
Despite these differences, it is practically impossible to tell a dog flea from a cat flea based solely on appearance; you would need a microscope. Humans can get bit by dog fleas, but they prefer to feed on dog blood.
Do cats get fleas worse than dogs?
Flea infestations are more frequent in cats. than they are in dogs.
Can my dog give fleas to my cat?
Dog Fleas. The common dog flea’s scientific name is Ctenocephalides canis. Despite its name, this flea affects humans, other animals, and cats in addition to dogs. The dog flea is frequently discovered on livestock as well as on wild animals like raccoons and opossums.
Will dog flea treatment kill cat fleas?
The advice of their veterinarians not to use dog products to treat cats may be questioned by owners trying to save money when treating multiple pets for fleas. However, even if you only apply a small amount of a flea treatment not intended for cats, you could endanger your pet.