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Fall is one of the worst times for fleas, and protecting your pet from the pests is all about prevention, according to Dr. Susan Nelson, veterinarian and assistant professor of clinical sciences at Kansas State University's College of Veterinary Medicine.

Manhattan, KS - infoZine- "The climate in general has been ideal for fleas this year," Nelson said. "We've had a lot of rain lately, with a fairly wet summer. The humidity and mild temperatures are what the fleas thrive on."

Toxocara canis LifeCycle roundworm:
(click to enlarge)Nelson said that it is important for pet owners to take preventive steps to ensure that their pet does not develop fleas. Once your pet acquires them, she said, they can be extremely difficult to get rid of.

"Pet owners need to be cautious about fleas on both indoor and outdoor pets and keep their pets on year-round flea preventives," Nelson said. "It's not impossible for a totally indoor cat to have a flea issue. Fleas can come in on an owner's pants.

"If you move into a house or apartment where the previous owners had pets with fleas, they can then infest your pet. Also, if someone brings their pet over to visit and that pet has fleas, they can leave them for your pet to pick up," she said.

Nelson recommends treating your pets with high quality topical flea products, such as Advantage, Frontline or Revolution, on a regular basis as part of a preventative program. Owners should read the instructions on these products carefully, and know the weight of their pet to ensure proper dosage of the treatment.

Some dog flea preventives can be fatal if applied to cats, so make sure to read the labels correctly, Nelson said. She also warns that products like flea collars and flea shampoos are not as effective for preventing flea problems.

Year-round application of flea products is recommended, Nelson said. However, if a pet owner is not currently using flea control products and notices that their pet is having a flea problem, it is important to start treatment right away before the situation worsens.

"Typically, pets have to be scratching and chewing before most owners notice that their pet has fleas," Nelson said. "They might also notice the black flea excrement on or dropping off the pet, or even think their pet may be bleeding from somewhere. For example, if a cat is sitting in the sink and some flea excrement falls off, when it hits the water it will dissolve and look like a little blood droplet."

Nelson said that the worst-case scenario is when fleas start biting the people in the home. At this point, the house is usually highly infested with fleas. To solve this problem, owners must not only treat their pets for fleas, but they also must focus on treating their environment, she said.

Nelson said owners need to clean and vacuum their carpets frequently to pick up any flea eggs or pupa cases. The vacuum bag should be disposed of immediately because fleas can continue to develop inside the bag.

After vacuuming, Nelson said a good quality indoor flea spray that is effective for both juvenile and adult flea stages should be applied to the home. You may need several applications depending on the severity of the infestation. The pet's bedding, throw rugs and blankets should also be washed on a regular basis, she said.

"Treating your home can take patience and persistence because it is hard to kill the immature fleas that are in the pupa cases," Nelson said. "Insecticides can't readily penetrate the pupa cases, so fleas will continue to hatch over several weeks or months. It is important that owners not give up easily -- it may take a few months to really get the problem under control."

Scratching and distress are only mild problems associated with fleas. Nelson said fleas also can cause more severe problems. Some pets are very allergic to the flea bites and develop painful and irritating skin infections secondary to the scratching, she said. In addition, fleas can carry tapeworm eggs and when a pet licks itself, it will often eat a flea and then get infected with a tapeworm.

Nelson said if a pet is severely infested with fleas, it can die from flea bite anemia, The anemia is more common in puppies and kittens, but it also can happen in adult animals. Additionally, fleas play a part in the transmission of Cat Scratch disease.

"Preventing and having your pet on a product before fleas start is the best way to keep from getting severe infestations," she said.

Nelson also encourages owners to speak with their veterinarian whenever they are unsure about how to care for a pet with fleas. If the pet has a severe case of fleas and is exhibiting allergic reactions or you notice tapeworms, a visit to the veterinarian is necessary. While some products, like Frontline, can be purchased online without a prescription, other high-quality flea products can only be prescribed by your veterinarian.

Source: Kansas State University's College of Veterinary Medicine

Related Flea Information at KCVetCare:
Fleas and Your Pets
Flea Prevention Products