You can lock your doors at night and install your alarms, but that won’t stop the real intruders of your neighborhood from breaking in: fleas. They creep up on you, ready to suck your furry pal’s blood, and maybe even yours. You may not even realize they’ve invaded until it’s too late. Fleas are the enemies of your yard, pets, and skin, and we’re encouraging everyone to stand their ground. Take back your territory from these insects and let them know who’s boss!
At Wondercide, we believe in comfort and relaxation year-round so it’s our mission to prepare you for what’s to come during flea season, or “fleason”, to ensure that you don’t waste your autumn fighting unnecessary foes. The more you know, the better you can protect your pack from these unwanted guests.
Are fleas dangerous?
As disruptive as they are, do these pests warrant concern or just bring on annoyance? The answer is not as black and white as you might have hoped. Some fleas are harmless while others are a little more dangerous. There are over 2,500 different types of fleas and 300 residing in the United States, all of which tend to bite animals or people to feed off their blood. Their bites may inflict itching and discomfort similar to that of a mosquito.
The risk of fleas for pets.
Fleas can be particularly cruel when it comes to our furry friends. They can inflict harmful diseases, some of which are difficult to treat. One of the possible repercussions of a flea infestation is developing a tapeworm. A tapeworm is a long and flat worm that resides in an animal’s intestines and steals nutrients from the animal. Fleas are often the culprits of this nasty health concern by laying tapeworm eggs. Tapeworms can be treated, but it could cause your pup to lose some weight and affect their growth.
Another potential flea-borne issue is anemia. Anemia is the lack of red blood cells, which can easily be caused by fleas who drink the blood of their host. While a flea bite doesn’t remove a significant amount of blood, the amount of fleas that are after your pet can add up. Anemia is important to look out for, especially in young or elderly animals. The conditions of anemia could lead to life-threatening side effects such as loss of appetite, lethargic behavior, and pale gums.
Contact dermatitis is another risk fleas pose. Flea bites can itch, that’s not something you need to be told. But did you know that sometimes, the flea’s saliva can trigger an allergic reaction and amplify the discomfort and itchy nature of the bite? Contact dermatitis is especially dangerous because when your pet inevitably scratches at the bites, their efforts will break the skin and open a wound for bacteria to wander in.
In addition to those unpleasant inconveniences, fleas can also cause Bartonellosis. This harmful germ can affect mammals via a flea, tick, or lice bite. Some symptoms of this condition are coughing, diarrhea, vomiting, fever, eye and nose irritation, and lameness. On the more serious end, Bartonellosis can result in arthritis, lymph node inflammation, liver and spleen swelling, and potential seizures.
The risk of fleas for people.
Certain types of fleas carry diseases. A common flea disease includes plague, which most often occurs in the rural United States after an infected oriental rat flea bite. Another flea-borne disease is murine typhus which can be inflicted by cat fleas, infected Oriental rat fleas, or their feces. Fleas can cause cat scratch disease which is often transmitted to humans through a scratch from a cat that has been infected with Ctenocephalides felis fleas. Most flea diseases are transmitted by injecting the host with contaminated feces. In addition to the diseases, swallowing an infected flea could cause a tapeworm to form for people as well. Children are at a higher risk of developing a tapeworm than adults, but everyone should be wary.
Why do you have fleas?
You may be wondering why you’ve seen or experienced an increase in flea activity during the fall. There is a reason for this and it’s not because they enjoy the spooky season and apple pie. Fleas prefer milder temperatures than the extreme heat from the summer and drastically colder temperatures in the winter. During the early fall months, the temperature ranges around 70 degrees which makes it comfortable for fleas to live. In addition, fall often brings increased rainfall, which provides a damp environment for flea larvae to thrive. So, the change in weather alone may be why you’ve attracted more fleas than usual.
On top of the temperature changes, fleas are food-driven insects. Fleas are amongst the critters who desire a vampire diet. They suck the blood of their victims, which are often warm-blooded animals such as you and your pets. The fall season is a common time for us to spend our days in the great outdoors, more so than we might have in the sweltering heat or freezing cold. The increase in outdoor activity provides more natural prey for fleas to feed on.
How do you keep fleas away?
Don’t worry, you won’t need to hibernate away and hide from the inevitable outdoor pests. You’ll have plenty of outdoor fun unbothered by insects. Routine maintenance can help prevent fleas from attacking! First, do a routine check of your area. Is everything as dry as possible? Raking leaves, cleaning the gutters, sweeping the porch, and making sure there aren’t excess puddles of water around your home are great ways to lessen the bug populations in your yard. Fleas love to hide in moist areas like a good leaf pile, tall grass, and shrubbery. Routinely mowing your lawn and maintaining the vegetation in your yard will help reduce the flea epidemic.
Fleas are a common disturbance that you don’t have to live with. Don’t let these vampires ruin your life! With proper prevention and protection, you can have a relaxing fall season without being bothered by unwanted party guests. Stand your ground and take back your space. Together we can win the war against fleas and save ourselves from unnecessary itching and swatting.
