We are regularly asked why we need to treat our pets for fleas as often as we recommend. Understanding the flea lifecycle is key to understanding how a vet recommended and prescribed product can protect your pet from these little critters.
Fleas THRIVE in the ideal environment our homes provide. Lots of cracks and crevices to hide in, plenty of food and THE perfect temperature.
A flea has an average lifespan of 100 days and a flea can lay up to 2000 eggs in their lifetime. There are 4 stages in the flea lifecycle and if this lifecycle is not interrupted regularly and controlled, fleas will continue to breed at a rapid rate:
- Flea eggs – are laid following a blood meal (e.g. your pet). The eggs are small white objects that are laid in your pet’s fur in little bunches of about 20 eggs. A flea can lay up to 40 eggs a day! Flea eggs can fall off your pet and into to your home environment and represent about 50% of an entire flea population that is in your home. Eggs can take anywhere from 2 days to 2 weeks to develop and hatch. The colder and dryer the environment, the longer it takes. The warmer and wetter, the quicker eggs hatch. Larvae emerge from eggs in the next stage of the cycle.
- Flea larvae – are blind and will avoid light. They develop over several weeks by eating flea dirt that fleas have left in the environment. Larvae are almost see-through and legless and make up about 35% of a flea population that is in your home. They spin a cocoon in about 5-20 days of hatching which leads to the next stage of the cycle.
- Flea pupae – accounts for about 10% of the flea population in your home. It is the last stage of the cycle before the adult flea emerges. The cocoon protects the pupae for several days or weeks but if conditions are not right it can protect them for months and in some cases, years! Cocoons have a sticky outer coating allowing them to hide deep in crevices and carpeting. They are not easily removed and even vet recommended and prescribed products can’t penetrate the cocoon!
- Adult flea – will need to feed within a few hours. Shortly after a meal they will begin to lay eggs and so the cycle continues.
Breaking this cycle is key. By treating your pet as recommended, you will break the cycle of any current resident critters AND continue to break the cycle of any new fleas that enter your home.
You can find out more about the flea lifecycle as well as hints about keeping your home flea free, HERE
Rowan’s Pet Health Club has all the vet recommended and prescribed products available to give your pet the full protection they deserve. Sign up HERE AND save money!
If you have any questions about parasite protection, contact the client care team on PetsApp or by calling 01772 639800 OR 01253 766352.
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