Fleas
Fleas continually bite your pet and lay eggs, not only on your pet but also in your environment. In fact, up to 95% of the flea problem is caused by the fleas in and around your home - in your pet's bedding, your carpet and your furniture. That's why you need a combination of products to target these nasty pests.
Fleas are prolific breeders and can produce up to 2000 eggs in their lifespan of 100 days. These will fall from your pet's coat into your environment. Eggs develop rapidly in the carpet , bedding or dry soil. In warm, moist conditions, eggs hatch within a few days into larvae. The larvae feed on organic matter, inclduing fee dirt or dried blood material, which is shed from the coat.
Flea pupae can remian unhatched and unaffected by treatments for many months. The adult flea emerges from its pupae in search of blood meal (a protein source needed to allow it to lay eggs).
Fleas will bite and cause a number of irritations including itching, sctaching and Flea Allergy Dermatitis ( FAD). They use your pet as a host to continually reproduce eggs.
Did you know that many pets suffer from flea and worm problems during the winter, sometimes more than in the summer? Many cats have a flea problem over the winter with new fleas appearing on a regular basis. This indicates that the flea’s life cycle has not taken a winter break. Cats have a knack for finding the warmest cosiest spots in the house, and often spend most of the winter day there. Any eggs that are shed from the fleas in your pet’s coat, will fall into their bedding, and if warm and cosy enough, develop into larvae and new fleas that are ready to jump back on, next time your cat sleeps there. Cats that have cosy surroundings and spend a lot of time in one place, can actually have a higher rate of flea infestation than outdoor , roaming cats, especially in the winter.
It is important to treat both your pet and your environment throughout the year . Eg with Bodygard plus for cats
How can you protect your pet?
If fleas are visible on your pet then you already have an infestation. It is highly recommended to chose a product that combines a safe/effective adulticide as well as an insect growth regulator ( IGR ) .
How does an IGR work?
IGR's act by mimicking the flea's growth hormones. They disrupt fertlie egg production, incubation of the egg, the moulting process and development of larvae into pupae. In some cases IGR's will disrupt the development of pupae into adults.
IGRs have been used for a number of years in environmental control products such as the Indorex range. >>>more
Fleas carry Worms and Disease
Fleas are the intermediate host for Cat tapeworm. To treat or prevent worm infestation, enusre you treat your cat every 3 months with an all wormer such as Endogard.
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