fleas

Fleas can be a problem even in the most spotless home or on the cleanest pet.

Fleas are a type of external parasite. There are different species of fleas, such as dog fleas, cat fleas, rabbit fleas and human fleas. It's possible for many species of fleas to infest more than one host species. 

Fleas only suck blood from their hosts as adults. Adult fleas have mouthparts that are adapted for piercing skin and sucking blood from their host.

A flea can live from between 14 days to a year, and a female can lay up to 50 eggs in one day - that's 1,500 in a lifetime!

Some types of flea can leap more than a hundred times their own body length.

It's estimated that 95 per cent of flea eggs, larvae and pupae live in the environment, not on your pet.

Signs of fleas:

• bites - often on skin exposed while sleeping, like the face, neck, arms and legs
• pets scratching and itching, seeing red spots, bald patches or fleas or flea droppings on your pet
• seeing the fleas jump onto you or your pet

Pre-treatment checklist:

• vacuum and Clean: Thoroughly vacuum carpets, rugs, and furniture, especially under beds and in closets
• wash Bedding: Wash pet bedding in extremely hot water or destroy it to eliminate flea eggs and larvae
• Remove Items: Remove pet food and water bowls, toys, and other items from floors and cover them with plastic bags 
• treat the pets with the appropriate flea treatment