Fleas are a common and dangerous risk to pets and can be a threat any day of the year. You may already know that fleas thrive in one of your pet’s favorite and most frequented playgrounds – your backyard. Fleas like moisture, shade, soil and grass. However, even if your pets spend most of the time indoors, there is still a risk.
WHY ARE FLEAS A DANGER TO OUR PETS?
Fleas are the most common external parasite found on pets. They can jump 11.8 inches vertically in the air and can leap onto your pet, making it easy for dogs and outdoor cats to bring fleas home1.
A flea that jumps onto your pet will begin feeding almost immediately and can survive on your cat or dog for up to 3 months2!
Cats and dogs aren’t the only ones who suffer once a flea hitches a ride. They can propel themselves onto humans too, landing in our hair or bedding, carpets, and furniture cushions, and infesting our home.
Fleas reproduce abundantly and quickly, and just two fleas can quickly cause an infestation. The key to stopping fleas is to stop the flea life cycle.
Flea infestations quickly get out of control because fleas produce a lot of eggs. One female flea can produce 40 to 50 eggs per day for over 50 days, and over 2,000 eggs in her lifetime1.
Some pets develop severe allergies to flea saliva, called flea allergy dermatitis, and develop signs such as itching, that may last long after the fleas have gone and may occur even when no fleas can be seen on your pet3.
Fleas also transmit the tapeworm, Dipylidium caninum, to dogs, cats, and even humans4.
Fleas can spread potentially fatal bacterial and viral diseases.
BREAKING THE FLEA LIFE CYCLE
The entire flea life cycle can take up to 8 weeks, while many flea treatments last only one month and require consistent monthly re-treatment. Therefore, using effective long-lasting flea treatments on a regular basis is the best way to make sure your pet stays protected against fleas and that your home is kept free of these pests.
Veterinary professional organizations recommend using an oral or topical flea product, such as Bravecto® (fluralaner), regularly all year round to break the flea life cycle and keep your pet flea free5.
Choosing the best treatment for you and your pet is a decision that is best made in a discussion with your veterinarian.
Prevention is always easier and much cheaper than treatment of disease, and there are flea and tick products available that reduce the risks from parasites. There are a number of products available with different lengths of efficacy, administration options and types of parasites covered. Choosing the correct approach for you and your pet is a decision that is best made through a discussion with your veterinarian. The right option can kill fleas throughout their life cycle and eliminate fleas in the house for good. A dream come true for pet and all.
*Bravecto kills fleas, prevents flea infestations, and kills ticks (black-legged tick, American dog tick, and brown dog tick) for 12 weeks. Bravecto also kills Lone star ticks for 8 weeks.
REFERENCES:
- Iannino, F., Sulli, N., Maitino, A., Pascucci, I., Pampiglione, G., & Salucci, S. (2017). Species, biology and flea-borne diseases. Veterinaria Italiana, 53(4), 277-288.
- Companion Animal Parasite Council. (September 2017). Fleas for Dog. https://capcvet.org/guidelines/fleas/
- Lam, A., & Yu, A. (2009). Overview of flea allergy dermatitis. Compendium (Yardley, PA), 31(5), E1-10.
- Rousseau, J., Castro, A., Novo, T., & Maia, C. (2022). Dipylidium caninum in the twenty-first century: epidemiological studies and reported cases in companion animals and humans. Parasites & Vectors, 15(1), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-022-05243-5
- Dryden, M. W., Smith, V., Bennett, T., Math, L., Kallman, J., Heaney, K., & Sun, F. (2015). Efficacy of fluralaner flavored chews (Bravecto®) administered to dogs against the adult cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis felis and egg production. Parasites & Vectors, 8(1), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-015-0965-4
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION:
BRAVECTO 1-MONTH (fluralaner) Chews: indicated for dogs 8 weeks of age and older. The most commonly reported adverse reactions include itching, diarrhea, vomiting, decreased appetite, elevated ALT, lethargy, and weight loss. BRAVECTO 1-MONTH is not effective against A. americanum in puppies less than 6 months of age. BRAVECTO (fluralaner) Chews for Dogs: The most commonly reported adverse reactions include vomiting, decreased appetite, diarrhea, lethargy, polydipsia, and flatulence. BRAVECTO (fluralaner topical solution) for Dogs: The most commonly reported adverse reactions include vomiting, hair loss, diarrhea, lethargy, decreased appetite, and moist dermatitis/rash. BRAVECTO (fluralaner topical solution) for Cats: The most commonly reported adverse reactions include vomiting, itching, diarrhea, hair loss, decreased appetite, lethargy, and scabs/ulcerated lesions. BRAVECTO Topical Solution for Cats is not effective against American dog ticks beyond 8 weeks of dosing. BRAVECTO PLUS (fluralaner and moxidectin topication solution) for Cats: The most commonly reported adverse reactions include vomiting, hair loss, itching, diarrhea, lethargy, dry skin, elevated ALT, and hypersalivation. BRAVECTO PLUS has not been shown to be effective for 2 months in kittens less than 6 months of age. Use with caution in cats that are heartworm positive. The effectiveness of BRAVECTO PLUS to prevent heartworm disease after bathing or water immersion has not been evaluated.
BRAVECTO Chews and Topical Solution for dogs has not been shown to be effective for 12-weeks’ duration in puppies or kittens less than 6 months of age. BRAVECTO Chews and Topical Solution for Dogs is not effective against the lone star tick beyond 8 weeks of dosing. BRAVECTO Topical Solution for Dogs and Cats and BRAVECTO PLUS for Cats are for topical use only. Avoid oral ingestion. The safety of BRAVECTO Topical Solution for Cats and BRAVECTO PLUS has not been established in breeding, pregnant and lactating cats.
All BRAVECTO products contain fluralaner, which is a member of the isoxazoline class. This class has been associated with neurologic adverse reactions including tremors, ataxia, and seizures. Seizures have been reported in dogs receiving isoxazoline class drugs, even in dogs without a history of seizures. Use with caution in dogs with a history of seizures or neurologic disorders. Neurologic adverse reactions have been reported in cats receiving isoxazoline class drugs, even in cats without a history of neurologic disorders. Use with caution in cats with a history of neurologic disorders.