Controlling fleas on dogs and cats is often a difficult task for pet owners.

Despite advances in flea control products over the past several years, fleas continue to be one of the leading concerns for pets and pet owners.

Though there are many more options for controlling fleas than in the past, there are also a number of misconceptions that dog and cat owners believe about fleas and flea control.

Fleas on dogs and cats are no big problem?

This, obviously, is untrue. Fleas not only cause pain and discomfort for dogs and cats, they can also carry various diseases and cause numerous health issues for dogs, cats and their human owners.

One flea on a dog or cat probably just jumped on from another pet?

While it is possible for fleas to jump from one pet to another, most often once a host (dog or cat) is found, the flea will remain with that host for the entirety of its life. When a pet owner sees a flea on their dog or cat, that flea most likely hatched from within the pet's environment.

One or two adult fleas is not a major infestation and should be easy to eradicate?

The fact is that adult fleas seen on a dog or cat are only the proverbial "tip of the iceberg". Only 5% of the fleas found in the environment in which the infected dog or cat lives are actually found on the pet itself. The remaining 95% of the fleas are eggs, pupa and larval forms of the flea which are more likely to be found in dark protected places, such as within the carpeting, upholstery, even crevices in hardward or tile floors.

Finding no fleas on a pet means that pet cannot actually harbor fleas?

This also is not necessarily true. Unfortunately, dogs and especially cats are quite good at grooming themselves and removing fleas from their hair coat. However, this does not mean the fleas are not present and the pet is not being bitten by fleas. This is probably one of the most difficult concepts for pet owners to understand.

Pets that do not go outside cannot get fleas?

Unfortunately, fleas are quite good at finding their way indoors. They can hitchhike on people or other pets coming into the home. They can come through small holes in screens and doorways. Dogs and cats which are housed entirely indoors are not protected from flea infestations simply because they do not go outdoors.

Fleas can infest one pet in a household without bothering the others?

Fleas can and do feed on all pets within the household. When treating pets for fleas, all pets in the household need to be treated in order for the flea control to be effective. This means cats as well as dogs need to be treated.

There is no need to worry about flea control if pets do not have fleas?

Flea prevention is much more effective than trying to control an existing infestation. Once established, ridding a home of fleas is a difficult and often time-consuming project.

The copyright of the article Pet health 101: Most common flea control mistakes is owned by Lorie Huston. Permission to republish Pet health 101: Most common flea control mistakes in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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