In most cases, many begin to think about what a flea looks like only when there is a feeling of discomfort caused by these insects to pets or to the person himself. But it's better to know in advance the face of your enemy, and even more so the measures to combat him.
Description of fleas
Fleas are insect pests. They lead a parasitic lifestyle, necessarily associated with a specific host. Of course, how the flea looks will also depend on the mode of existence. But, as a rule, these are small, wingless parasites flattened on the sides, having a size of only 1 to 5 mm. These insects are covered with numerous bristles and spines, with the help of which they move and stay on the host's body. The mouth of the flea is arranged in a convenient way for bloodsucking and piercing the skin, the eyes are most often absent. The color of the insect ranges from yellow to brown. Fleas jump over long distances, which can be two hundred times their body length.
From eggs to larvae
During the entire period of its existence, the flea passes severalstages of development: from egg to larva, from larva to pupa, from pupa to adult insect. Eggs are laid by the female on the animal's fur or in its habitats. One flea can lay up to twenty-five of them a day, and throughout its life - up to six hundred. Sometimes eggs, like grains of s alt, cover the body of the animal, which helps them to scatter everywhere.
After some time, the larvae are born. At this stage, their appearance is completely different and differs from what a flea looks like in the adult period of life. The food of the larvae is any organic matter, including the feces of adults. And in the absence of such food, they can eat each other. The larvae live together with the host, so they are most often found on the animal's rug, in the genital crevices, in basements, etc.
Chrysalis and adult
The next stage of flea development is the transformation from larva to pupa. In this form, they can be stored throughout the year, enduring cold weather quite well. After a certain period, due to warm weather or the presence of a warm-blooded animal, adult fleas emerge from the pupae. Under normal conditions, their full development cycle takes three to four weeks.
How long fleas live depends on their living conditions and a combination of various circumstances. In general, the duration of a flea existence can be not only months, but also years. These insects pounce on animals, and in their absence, on humans. If fleas can survive in the external environment for a long timeamount of time, then their nutrition and reproduction is impossible without cats and dogs. And the food of adults is only blood, which they consume in huge quantities.
Symptoms of fleas in animals
There are types of fleas such as human, cat, dog, rabbit and rat. Already by their name, you can determine with the help of which owner they lead their lifestyle.
Most often we meet with cat and dog fleas that parasitize cats and dogs. To find these insects on the body of an animal, you first need to carefully examine it. Most often, fleas are visible in the abdomen, around the ears, and also on the thigh from the inside. While bathing the animal, you need to pay attention to the skin of the eyes. After all, if there are parasites on the body, they will accumulate in dry places. And even if you can’t see an adult flea, you can easily see poppy-like waste products.
Detection of dog fleas
Periodically check your pet for parasites. And, of course, dog fleas will immediately make themselves felt. To do this, the dog must be placed on a white cloth or paper and scratched, after which the crumbling blood residue and excrement will be noticeable. If you wet them with water and brown spots appear, then you can be sure that the animal has fleas.
In addition, the dog will be in a state of arousal due to painful flea bites. He can also become quite inattentive all the time.scratching himself. Various infections can enter the wounds formed at the site of bites. Therefore, if the dog shows signs of itching, lack of appetite, weight loss, nervous condition, poor concentration, then you need to urgently save the animal.
How to get rid of dog fleas
Today, thanks to a large selection of drugs to combat parasites, both cat and dog fleas no longer look so intimidating. Some products are designed to eliminate adults of these insects, others to get rid of larvae, and still others are used for preventive purposes. Before choosing the most suitable drug for your pet, you need to carefully study the instructions for its use. Wounds on the body of a dog that appeared from bites must be treated with brilliant green. But if there are difficulties with understanding what a flea looks like, or the animal shows an allergic reaction, you should immediately contact a specialist.
From fleas in dogs, the most common remedies are in the form of oil drops, aerosols and sprays, dusts and solutions, injections and tablets, shampoos, and collars. When choosing any of these drugs, you must first consider its duration of action and level of toxicity.
In addition, for success in the fight against fleas, you must adhere to conditions that will adversely affect the development of parasites. To do this, it is necessary to regularly clean the premises, bedding, booths and other places where they can live.
Prevention of fleas in pets
No less important than the treatment of parasites is their prevention. Knowing where fleas come from, how they reproduce and what lifestyle they lead, you can try to protect your animal from such "neighbors".
And there are many ways to pick up these insects: from contact with other infected animals and ending with walks in the park and trips out of town. After all, dog fleas live on trees, and on grass, and just on the ground. Even a person can bring them home on himself. And small puppies can get infected from their own mother, who has these parasites.
Therefore, it is of utmost importance to ensure that all pet habitats are kept clean: vacuuming all surfaces, using a flea spray, bathing your pet with a special flea shampoo, and combing combed wool. And if such preventive measures are neglected, diseases caused by fleas can be fatal for an animal.
Earth fleas
But if dog and cat fleas do not annoy people so much, then their basement or earthen relatives turn into a real disaster. Such parasites live in the basements of residential buildings, and in the future they can also occupy apartments, especially those located on the lower floors. You can get rid of such a neighborhood in simple ways. It is better to start without waiting until the fleas in the basement finally settle. To do this, use wormwood, tansy, turpentine, dichlorvos, kerosene. You also need to get rid of rats in the basements in time, to prevent the accumulation of debris and the accumulation of moisture.
