Fleas on dogs and cats: Are pet owners winning the battle?

Fleas can be difficult to control on pets such as dogs and cats.
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According to flea expert Dr. Michael Dryden, the answer to that question is "no". In a recent interview with DVM Newsmagazine (October, 2009), Dr. Dryden indicated that many pet owners are still not able to control fleas on their dogs and cats despite the availability of many flea control products. 

Reasons for lack of flea control on dogs and cats 

Dr. Dryden believes that the primary reason that pet owners have difficulty controlling fleas is a lack of compliance with veterinary recommendations. He believes that many veterinarians do not sufficiently educate their clients about the life cycle of the flea and the need for constant surveillance and control measures. As a result of this lack of understanding, many pet owner become lax in performing flea control measures for their dogs and cats.

Flea populations surge in the fall on dogs and cats 

In the fall, when the weather begins to become cooler, flea populations tend to surge and veterinarians (and pet owners) see an increase in the number of pets infested with fleas. Often, according to Dr. Dryden, this is a result of pet owners becoming lax with their flea control measures in previous weeks/months. In the interview with DVM Newsmagazine, Dr Dryden says, "By the time they (pet owners) notice fleas on their dog or cat, there has been a life cycle basically percolating in their house for probably six to eight weeks." 

Dr. Dryden goes on to say that, once pet owners are seeing fleas on their pets, it will generally take "at least two or more months to get many of these homes under control".

Dr. Dryden explains that when pet owners are treating their pets for an existing flea infestation, the medications which they are using are treating the animal for the fleas that are being seen today. However, many pet owners do not understand that it is the developmental flea stages (i.e. flea eggs, pupae, and larvae) which are problematic. Though getting rid of the adult fleas is desirable, these developmental flea stages are actually the more pressing concern. In other words, the flea eggs which were laid yesterday are likely to cause more problems than the adult flea that the pet owner is seeing today. Though adult fleas can be killed and products such as foggers or exterminators can kill many of the flea eggs and larvae, the pupae must emerge and infest the pet before they can be effectively killed. 

Pet owners should be proactive rather than reactive in controlling fleas on dogs and cats 

Pet owners can help avoid flea infestations altogether by practicing effective flea control measures on a regular basis before a flea infestation actually occurs. It is much easier to prevent a flea infestation than it is to treat an existing flea infestation.

Readers who enjoyed this article might also enjoy:

• Pet health 101: Most common flea control mistakes
• Flea Prevention and Flea Control in Dogs and Cats
• Flea and tick products for dogs and cats: How safe are they?
• Promeris flea and tick control for dogs
• Revolution for cats: Monthly flea and heartworm control
• Revolution for dogs: Monthly canine heartworm and flea control
• Frontline flea and tick control products—Are fleas becoming resistant?
• Best flea control and flea prevention medicines for dogs
• Natural flea control methods

The copyright of the article Fleas on dogs and cats: Are pet owners winning the battle? is owned by Lorie Huston. Permission to republish Fleas on dogs and cats: Are pet owners winning the battle? in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.