We wish you a merry itchmas!
Abstract
We all know that fleas like warm, mild weather. They thrive in the spring and through the summer, with their numbers typically declining into the autumn and over the winter. But what happens when our seasons merge? Are fleas now a year round problem?
Many pet owners believe fleas to be a seasonal problem and, although they may treat their pets for fleas during the warmer months, they may stop preventative treatment over the winter. This is the perfect opportunity for fleas to inhabit a host and infest the home, which can result in ongoing and unresolved flea problems for both the pet and owner.
Fleas will happily live outside during the warmer months, but are equally happy to live indoors in carpets and soft furnishings. We often see a boom in flea numbers in the spring — with the arrival of warmer weather, and in the autumn — when we first turn our heating on in the home. Only 5% of a flea infestation is represented by adult fleas on the pet, the remaining 95% exists in the environment as immature stages (eggs, larvae and pupae). Therefore, treatment of the pet is only part of an effective control strategy and treatment of the environment, such as bedding and carpets, is essential to eliminate infestations.
Register now to continue reading
Thank you for visiting The Veterinary Nurse and reading some of our peer-reviewed content for veterinary professionals. To continue reading this article, please register today.