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FLEA BITES

Dr. Deb Baker 2007-2008

Fleas are an extremely common parasite among dogs and cats.  Some pets suffer very little from the bites of these creatures but a number of less fortunate pets develop an allergic reaction to flea saliva, leading to a severe skin reaction known as flea bite dermatitis. In fact a great deal of scratching and chewing a pet does is often a results of flea bites.

Adults vary in length from 0.04 to 0.4 inches (1 to 10 millimeters). Fleas are able to jump over eight inches, which is roughly the equivalent of a human jumping over the Statue of Liberty. Specialized anatomical structures allow them to attach to the skin of their hosts, but they pass easily from one host to another. Consequently, fleas can transmit a number of diseases. Most notably, the flea is responsible for transmitting the Black Death, bubonic plague, which killed a quarter of the population of Europe during the Middle Ages. Today the flea is known to transmit tapeworm and haemobartonellosis, a blood disorder that can be fatal to cats. Serious infestations can cause severe inflammation, intense itching and even anemia.

Fleas bite their host animal and suck the blood for nutrition, leaving saliva behind under the pet’s skin.  Recent scientific studies have shown that flea saliva contains around 15 different allergens that can cause reactions in sensitive dogs and cats.

The common problem of flea bite dermatitis affects both cats and dogs of all ages, genders and breeds. In pets with this condition, the flea bites themselves generally become red, swollen and severely itchy. This leads to chronic inflammation and scratching of the skin as well as ongoing discomfort for your pet.

What Do Flea Bites Look Like? ..Pictures of Flea Bites

Here are a few close up pictures of flea bites on arms and legs:

Treatment of Flea Bites - Humans, Dogs and Cats

Flea Allergies typically cause itching above the hips, the base of the tail, groin and thighs on dogs.  Cats usually itch around the neck with flea allergies. People are most commonly bit on the arms and legs. With pets its the young and the older or immune weakened animals which are the most susceptible.

That is why its so important to keep them healthy on a natural diet and don't overdo vaccinations. By that I mean giving them multiple shots at once. One at a time and only those you feel absolutely necessary. And never give immunization to an unwell pet..their immune systems are already challenged.

FleaDerm from PetAlive is a great topical solution to soothe and heal flea bites. It can be used on pets and people with no worries. Whenever I see animals with a lot of flea bites, I usually suggest the Immunity and Liver remedy as building the immune system really discourages flea infestations and bites. Of course the Pet Alive company gives wonderful offers for those who buy two remedies..they get a third one free. There is a huge selection of pet remedies there, so take time to have a look through the site.

Control Flea Bites on Dogs and Cats

Fleas have a cycle,similar to a butterfly. They start as an egg, hatch out to larvae (like a caterpiller), go into a pupal stage (cocoon) and hatch out as an adult.

Those that you see on your companion and in your house are only about 1% of the entire flea population in your home environment.  So this means that for every one you see, there are actually at least 99 more in one or another stage of development lurking around the house or yard.  About 10% of the population are in the pupae stage, 35% is in the larval stage and 55% of the population are eggs. 

Eggs are laid on the body of the host animal, but since they aren't sticky they can drop in any number of places. The larva resembles a small legless caterpillar and it feeds on dried excrement, dried bits of skin, dead mites, dried blood, and other organic debris. Fecal matter from the parent flea is essential to the successful metamorphosis of some species of flea larvae. During this time the parent flea consumes a great deal of blood, up to 30 times its own weight, to produce a large quantity of feces for its larvae. After three molts, the larvae spin a silk cocoon that begins the pupal stage. The pupae emerge as adults days, weeks, or even months later. If conditions are unfavorable, a cocooned flea can remain dormant for up to a year, waiting for warm-blooded creatures to prey upon.

The adult female flea can lay from 10 to 50 eggs a day in appropriate weather.  Fleas tend to prefer warm, somewhat humid weather:  Somewhere around 75-95 degrees with 60-85% humidity. 

Even though they only live 60-100 days, an adult flea can lay up to 2,000 eggs in her lifetime!

Now you can understand why “bug bombs” just don’t work.  They only kill the fleas in the adult and larval stage at best.  So all those thousands of eggs and little cocoons are still lurking and waiting for the proper conditions in order to emerge and start the whole population explosion all over again.

Controlling Flea Bites on Dogs and Cats From The Inside:

Of course the best protection for your pet from flea bites is primarily diet and immune health. Healthy pets are far less susceptible to flea infestation, not to mention most health ailments.

For a full page on Diet-Natural-Dog-and-Cat-Food..Click Here

Controlling Flea Bites on Dogs and Cats Externally and in the Environment:

The ultimate weapon in the battle with fleas is the Flea Comb .  It is the best way to investigate whether the scratching your dog or cat is doing is due to fleas or is just a little itch.  Run the comb through your pet’s hair and gather a bit of hair & “dirt”.  Then put this between two damp white paper towels and press them together – if the “dirt” creates rusty looking spots on the paper towel, then there is a flea somewhere – most likely a family of fleas – on your companion. 

(Click on picture for more information and to order. This takes you to "Grooming Tools" Click on "Select Items" and choose "Flea Comb".)

If you persist, you will likely trap some of them in the comb.  Drown them in SOAPY water – fleas have been known to jump out of plain water.  Flea combing daily may sound tedious, but it is very helpful while you are working on the environmental control measures necessary to rid your world of fleas.  Just remember that for every adult flea you drown in that soapy water you are preventing generations of future parasites from searching for food in your home.

There are many topical sprays & shampoos out there touting their effectiveness at killing or deterring fleas.  Many of them contain chemicals and pesticides however, that are not conducive to building your companion’s immune system.  Cats, in particular, are susceptible to the toxic nature of many of these products because they are constantly grooming themselves and ingesting whatever they have been sprayed with, these can be so toxic to your pet...so here is what I recommend:

For killing fleas once they are on your pet... Only Natural Pet All-in-One Flea Remedy is a powder based on diatomaceous earth that is safe for use on dogs and cats as well as around the home,   It kills fleas by dehydrating them – which is not only non-toxic to pets, humans and the environment, but fleas cannot develop an immunity to it as they do to all other pesticides over time. 

There are many varieties of diatomaceous earth available.  Some have impurities or contaminants that make them less safe than the type in Only Natural Pet All-in-One Flea Remedy.  Only Natural Pet All-in-One Flea Remedy is safe if eaten, so your cat can lick and clean herself all she wants when treated with the it and it will not hurt her.  It is a very fine powder and a little goes a long way.  Suggested use is approximately 1 tsp. per 10 lbs of body weight.  Using the flea comb to help spread the powder throughout your companion’s coat is helpful. 

Bathing To Control Flea Bites on Dogs and Cats:

Bathing your companion is an excellent way to kill fleas.  Use a neem shampoo like Only Natural Pet Herbal Defense Shampoo and Conditioner-Only Natural Pet Store   Leave the lather on your pet for a few minutes to help smother any persistent fleas, and then RINSE WELL.  Make sure to use the Conditioner as shampooing can be another cause of dry skin and itchiness.

Dr. Deb