12
May
What Do Fleas Do. Just make sure whatever you do to get rid of the fleas will be safe for you and your pets. Consider vacuuming your mattress as well. Both male and female fleas survive on blood but only female fleas require blood to reproduce. The soap will kill fleas while also destroying their eggs and larvae.
Female fleas use blood to nourish their eggs and will deposit up to 4 eggs after each meal usually in the coat of her host. Fleas feed on any warm-blooded body including humans. Fleas are easy to catch but theyre difficult to get rid of in part because fleas in addition to burrowing in your dogs fur have also laid eggs and larvae throughout your house. Dont forget to do the same to your pets bed. Unlike most insects fleas are wingless and rely on their hind legs for movement. They do not have wings but their long hind legs are designed for jumping.
For mild infestations wash your bed sheets in hot soapy water.
Fleas go through a multi-stage life cycle beginning as eggs developing into larvae then into pupa and finally into adults. Female fleas lay up to 40 eggs every day which are white oval-shaped and about half a millimetre long. Their strong legs allow them to jump as far as 13 inches in distance. Fleas are vectors for viral bacterial and rickettsial diseases of humans and other animals as well as of protozoan and helminth parasites. Even if you dont catch fleas red-handed if you see your pet scratching or biting at its fur fleas may well be the culprit. Your pet may pick up fleas from places like rest areas dog day cares and dog parks where an infested pet may have roamed laid down or played and dropped flea eggs.