Dog Fleas

Did you know that dog fleas are just one of over three thousand species of fleas recorded so far? A little scary, isn't it?

Flea bath

Dog fleas, Ctenocephalides canis, are named for their host of choice. These blood sucking insects may only be about two and a half millimeters long, but they pack a heck of a bite. They leave behind a tiny red welt no bigger than the head of a pin, but that bite causes a very intense itch that drives dogs and their human companions crazy.

This intense itch is caused by the fleas' saliva, a substance that acts as a blood thinner and helps the flea dine on the blood of its host. Once nourished, an adult flea will drop off its host, find a mate, and lay eggs around your home.

As mentioned, dogs are the primary host for this species of flea, but if a canine isn't handy, a dog flea won't hesitate to lunch on a human, or even the family cat. These pests can temporarily survive on alternative blood sources, but their life cycle quickly comes to an end without their canine hosts.

Adult fleas live and feed on a dog for one to two weeks, leaving behind deposits commonly known as flea dirt. This substance is actually their feces, which typically contains a high percentage of dried blood.

Adults drop off their canine host to lay their eggs and die, leaving behind the next generation to carry on. The eggs quickly progress to the larval stage, where they continue their development by eating microscopic debris including dander, feces, and dead skin cells.

Larvae continue their development by encasing themselves in pupae, from which they eventually emerge as immature fleas. These baby fleas must quickly find a host in order to feed and progress to adulthood. They eat the flea dirt left behind by the previous generation and finally have a full blood meal. In turn, they too will leave the host to lay their eggs and the cycle begins again.

Humidity is a key component to the dog fleas' life cycle. Dry environments cause the eggs and larvae to shrivel and die, but higher humidity levels actually speed up development, boosting the population in your home.

Although adult fleas are mainly all you will see, they are just the tip of the iceberg, accounting for only about ten percent of the total population. The rest of the breakdown is as follows.

• Fifty percent- Eggs
• Twenty-five percent- Larvae
• Fifteen percent- Pupae

You'll know there are fleas in your home by the following signs.

• Dark brown specks of flea dirt in your dog's coat
• The presence of a red bumpy rash on your pet's belly
• Your dog's incessant scratching and biting
• A gray, dusty looking film (eggs) in your pet's bedding
• Sighting actual fleas on your pet or furniture
• Itchy red pin pricks on your own skin

In order to get rid of a flea infestation, you need to take a three-pronged approach to flea control.

1. Treat your pets with an insecticidal shampoo or dip.
2. Treat your home with an insecticidal spray or powder.
3. Treat your yard with flea killing lawn spray.

Dog fleas are a major nuisance, and the problem will only grow unless you make a concerted effort to eliminate them from your home and pets. Don't kid yourself that your dog only has one or two fleas. Remember, they are only a fraction of the entire population under production in your home. When you find one, it's time to spring into action or else you might find yourself overrun with these most annoying pests.

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