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FLEA PRODUCT FAILURE

This is a hot topic as there is much conjecture as to whether or not certain products have lost their effect due to resistance in fleas.

Important Facts to Consider

• One flea can produce 2,000 eggs in its lifetime.
  
• 95% of flea stages (egg, larvae, pupae) live off the pet and can survive up to 6 months in the environment.
  
• Fleas breed all year round.
  
• It only takes 24 hours for fleas to mate and lay eggs once on your pet, therefore a break in treatment (i.e. not dosing every month) leads to an infested environment.
  
• All animals in the household must be treated.
  
• Fleas can re-infest the pet from other sources, e.g. parks. Animals get fleas from infested environments.
  
• Once adult fleas have emerged from their pupae and jumped on the pet, there is no transmission of those fleas to other pets.
  
• Flea control must be used at the correct dosage and at the correct dosing interval.

Why is the Flea Product I am using not working?

Pupal Window

Adult fleas emerge from pupae accumulated in the environment at different times (pupae can remain dormant for up to 184 days) due to specific stimuli (e.g. the movement of a pet). Adulticides cannot kill fleas instantly, therefore these newly emerged fleas can be seen on the coat before they die.

Starting off on flea control when you first see fleas on your pet is not going to produce results for up to 6-8 weeks no matter which product you use.

You certainly kill any adult fleas that jump on (the pet becomes a "flea vacuum") but eggs that were laid over the last 6-8 weeks are still going to hatch, mature, turn into adults and appear on your pet.

Fleas you see on your pet today are going to be dead tomorrow.

New adult fleas will be seen on your pet the next day.

All flea products take several hours to kill adult fleas.

Starting a flea control product when you first see fleas on your pet is like you built a dam across a river. You stop the water behind the dam (the current adult flea burden) but there is still a lot of water below the dam (immature fleas and eggs) that have to flow away before the dam is working at full capacity.

Re-infestation

Environmental contamination from non-treated animals (e.g. neighbour’s cat, rodents) entering the pet’s yard is possible.

Transfer of adult fleas from one host to another, although possible, is considered unlikely to be a cause of breakdown in flea control.

Incorrect use of Flea Product

Have you been applying the product at the correct intervals?

For example every month with Frontline Plus. Remember it only takes 24 hours for fleas to mate and lay eggs once on your pet.

Are you applying the product correctly?

For example the incorrect number of sprays using Frontline spray or sharing spot-ons between pets.

Are all pets in the household being treated?

The cat flea will happily infest a wide range of hosts.

Are you reading the label directions for a guide to the water-fastness of the flea product?

Intensive shampooing (more than once or twice a week) or frequent swimming (daily) may reduce the duration of activity of a topical applied flea product.

Have you weighed your pet recently and applying the right product for their weight?

If you have any questions about which type of flea product you should be using for you pet, how to apply it , how often to use it, what special directions you should follow, what to expect– please ask one of the Nurses or Vets at Balgownie Veterinary Hospital.