Fleas & Flea Control

So, what exactly ARE fleas and how in the world do I control the spread of them? This is a question that has plagued many pet owners and there is some very solid advice about flea control here that can very well help you get rid of the fleas and more.
Fleas are very small insects about one tenth of an inch long on average that feed on the blood from birds and mammals.
The reason they jump so far is because the third pair of legs, in the back, are longer and allow them to leap up to seven feet into the air (thirteen across), while their narrow bodies allow them to move through fur with ease.
The most common flea encountered by most people is the cat flea which basically preys on cats, as well as some dogs as well.
In addition to the cat flea is, of course, the dog flea, which appears to be a cat flea but is different in many more subtle ways and are less common.
Other types of fleas include the stick tight flea which mainly affects birds and poultry, the rat flea (including oriental rat flea), and those fleas which can affect humans known as the human flea or pulex irritans.
Even though the flea’s life cycle is fairly short, as short as two weeks, they can produce an astonishing number of new fleas in a very short period of time.
Once the female flea feeds off of her host she will normally lay around 20 new eggs per day on that host which later will fall off the host when dried up and into the carpeting or furniture where it will soon hatch, normally within a couple of weeks.

Flea Control

Fleas are usually at their worst during the spring & summer months and most fleas are often found around those areas where pets will normally lay to rest.
Humans are normally effected by flea bites usually found around the ankles as well as some cases of allergies to the actual flea saliva which can cause skin irritation and sensitivity such as itchiness.
There are many different flea control products available for those suffering from flea infestations including the more harmful insecticides as well as shampoos for pets and for your carpets at home.
Some of the best indoor treatments for flea control include using the less harmful flea shampoos on your pets while vacuuming regularly and cleaning areas containing large amounts of lint such as in vents and more.
There are also flea control product for those pets who live outside as well such as the nematodes products available.
In most cases, it is best to help prevent flea infestations by taking weekly prevention measures, such as those including flea shampoos on pet, and carpet and upholstery cleaning using flea control products.
In addition, it is best to maintain the lawn regularly in order to lower the amount of potential fleas in the outdoor area which may affect your outdoor pets.