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FLEAS
There is no doubt fleas are the number one irritant to pets and cause of visits to the vet. During late summer and autumn, thousands of flea eggs hatch - whether it's in the back yard or in the paddock your pet likes to roam in.
Flea are terrific breeders and pet owners get caught out in late summer and autumn. Each flea can lay up to 50 or more eggs a day. At this time of the year when temperature and humidity are just right, it only takes 10 days for an egg to turn into an egg-laying adult.
For each flea alive today,there will be 50 adults
in 10 days time laying a total of 5,000 eggs a day
Add another 10 days to this and there are now
5,000 adults laying a total of 500,000 eggs a day
One flea today represents 500,000 eggs in 20 days
We regularly see pet owners with large flea burdens. Starting a flea product there and then will not have any immediate effect for up to 6 weeks. The products kill the adult fleas that jumped on today.
However, another batch of flea eggs hatch tomorrow and jump on until they are killed by the flea product.
Approx. 5% of pets are allergic to the saliva from the bite of a flea. One bite is enough to send them off on a mad chewing and scratching attack. It's similar to people who are allergic to bee stings- one sting can causes a very serious allergic reaction.
These pages have information on fleas and how to beat them.