Fleas

Fleas spend most of their lives in their youth, either as eggs, pupae or larvae, so the majority of a flea population is not yet an adult. Only adult fleas look for hosts such as cats and dogs. Fleas are not only found on the pet itself, but also in the environment and in the home, and must therefore be combated in all locations at the same time. Fleas not only cause itchy bites, but can also transmit many diseases, e.g. typhus or other parasites such as tapeworms. The most common flea is the cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis), which also infects other animals such as dogs. In good conditions, a female flea can produce up to 30,000 offspring in one season. Many millions of years of fighting for survival have made the flea a true survivor, against whom humans can never win, but can only keep the number of opponents low through constant vigilance.

There are over 2,500 different types of flea. Fleas are about 1-2 mm long, wingless, flat, red-brown to brown-black and have a hard shell. This is so hard that a flea cannot be beaten to death like other insects. The legs and body are covered with backward-facing bristles. At the end of each of the 6 legs are claws with which the flea clings to mammals. Because the flea is flat, it can easily walk around between the hair of its host. The flea has two simple eyes and two short feelers. It jumps up to 40 cm high without any problem and can accelerate up to 100 times faster than any racing car. It uses its sawtoothed, needle-shaped jaws to cut its way through the skin of its host to suck the mammal's blood. Fleas drink about 15 times their body weight in blood and are attracted by heat, movement and carbon dioxide.

Flea infestation, what to do?

Fleas are probably the most common parasites in small animal practice in Germany. Around 80% of all patients who are presented to the veterinary practice with skin problems have a flea problem. Fleas are very common, transmit tapeworms (Dipylidium caninum) and often cause skin diseases. Fleas are not very host-specific, i.e. cat fleas occur on dogs, dog fleas on cats (rarely) and human fleas on dogs. Other fleas (from hedgehogs, rabbits, rats...) are less common. Animal fleas can also infest humans and suck blood.

Flea cycle

The flea cycle lasts, depending on the climatic conditions, from 3 weeks to 2 years! The female flea lays 3-18 eggs on the host animal (dog, cat), which develop into adult fleas in at least 3 weeks of development time. A female flea can live for 1-2 years and lay 500 eggs during this time! Adult fleas can survive for up to 3 months without food (blood) outside the host. Around 95% of fleas and juvenile forms live in the animal's environment!

Direct harmful effects

Dogs often itch when they have fleas, particularly in the area in front of the base of the tail and on the hind legs. Cats lick themselves more, sometimes excessively. In some cats, symptoms only appear when the flea infestation is very severe. In rare cases, mass infestations can lead to anemia.

Allergy caused by flea saliva

Dogs and cats often develop a flea saliva allergy. Dogs then show skin inflammation, especially in the area of the croup, hind legs and underbelly. The skin shows red papules, hairlessness and, if it persists, becomes black and leathery. Cats often show crusts all over their fur, more frequently in the head and back area. Sometimes, excessive licking in cats also leads to hairlessness on the stomach and flanks or to very itchy skin changes on the head in front of the ears.

Diagnosis

Detecting a flea infestation is actually quite simple. Flea bites itch quite badly, so the dog will scratch and sometimes even bite. Since this behavior can have other causes, you should take it as an opportunity to look for the characteristic traces of fleas on the dog's skin. Small black crumbs, which usually lie loosely on the skin, are either dirt or flea droppings. To distinguish between the two, drop some of these black crumbs onto a white sheet of paper and moisten the paper slightly. If the crumbs now run red, then they are flea droppings.

Treatment

Fleas are difficult to control due to their biology (long persistence, especially in the animal's environment) and their increasing resistance to many medications. It is therefore advisable to protect the animal before it becomes infested. For animals that stay in the house, it is particularly important to combat not only the fleas on the animal but also the young forms (eggs, pupae, larvae) outside the animals in their environment (apartment, kennel, box). Nature also offers us a variety of ways to protect our animals appropriately. As a rule, these natural defense measures involve a little extra effort, but are certainly effective and, what's more, much more tolerable for animals, humans and the environment.

Preis gesenkt!

Spray, Insektenschutz, Umgebungsspray, Repellent, Flöhe

FleaEx Ambient Spray 100 ml

RepellentSpray for repelling fleasFleaEx Ambient Spray repels fleas that are in the house, car, kennel, blankets, baskets, etc. The spray contains geraniol extracted from the leaves of the Geranium palmarosa herb, which adheres to the surface. The repellent active ingredient has an unattractive odor for fleas and successfully prevents parasite infestation. Expert tip: In case of acute flea infestation: In the first 5 days, spray daily frequently visited places where dogs and cats stay, rest and lie down. Subsequently, in case of additional treatment of the animal with FleaEx: spray every 10-14 days. Subsequently, without additional treatment of the animal: spray every 5-8 days. Prophylactic application: spray every 4 weeks.Active substance: Geraniol 29 g/L. BAuA Reg.-No.: N-114802. With the active substance from the leaves of palmarosa geranium grass (Cymbopogon martinii).Application recommendation: Shake before use! Treatment of the surroundings of dogs or cats: spray from a distance of approx. 5 cm onto all areas where the animal is present. Sleeping and lying places, such as basket, blanket, etc., require preferential treatment. Before the first treatment, check sensitive surfaces for compatibility and material resistance.Application rate: approx. 5 ml/m². Up to 250 ml bottle: 1 spray = ca. 0.15 ml. From 500 ml bottle: 1 spray = ca. 1.3 ml.Storage not below 18°C.WARNING • Contains geraniol. May produce an allergic reaction. Causes serious eye irritation. Keep out of reach of children. Avoid breathing mist/spray. Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection. IF ON SKIN: Wash with plenty of water and soap. IF IN EYES: Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing. If eye irritation persists: Get medical advice/attention. If skin irritation or rash occurs: Get medical advice/attention. Dispose of contents/container to an authorized waste disposal site. Use biocides safely. Always read the label and product information before use.

Content: 0.1 Liter (€139.50 / 1 Liter)

€13.95

Subscription

Stk

Preis gesenkt!

FleaEx SpotOn 10 ml

Care product for animalsCare oil for masking animal-specific scent toward fleas and other nuisancesFlea SpotOn is a high-quality, skin-caring fragrance oil based on cold-pressed, organic Egyptian black cumin oil and organic coconut oil. This care oil is supplemented with excellent essential fragrance oils that mask the pet's own odor. Since the animal is no longer perceived as an attractive host by fleas and other nuisances (ticks, mites, mosquitoes, etc.), a flea-free walk is possible.Expert tip: FleaEx SpotOn is basically waterproof in rain and when bathing in water. However, it should be reapplied after shampooing.Composition: organic coconut oil, organic black cumin oil, jojoba oil, neem oil, geranium oil, lavender oil, manuka oilApplication recommendation: Massage 1 drop from your wetted finger into the skin daily for 3 weeks. Dog: in both ear cones or between the shoulder blades and at the base of the tail. Horse: near the torso on the insides of the legs as well as at the base of the ear. Rodent: only 2 x per week between the shoulder blades. 1 drop corresponds to approx. 50 mg.Once basic stabilization is achieved, 1-2 applications weekly are sufficient. In case of strong regional flea infestation, the frequency of applications can be increased individually.Contains lavender oil, citronellol, and geraniol. May produce an allergic reaction.

Content: 0.01 Liter (€1,690.00 / 1 Liter)

€16.90

Subscription

Stk

Preis gesenkt!

insektoVet Ambient Spray 100 ml

RepellentSpray for repelling crawling and flying insectsinsektoVet Ambient Spray reliably repels crawling and flying insects (ticks, mites, fleas, lice, moths, midges, cockroaches, ants and hair lice), that are in the house, car, kennel, blankets, baskets, etc. The spray contains geraniol extracted from the leaves of the Geranium palmarosa herb, which adheres to the surface. The repellent active ingredient has for crawling and flying insects an unattractive odor for fleas and successfully prevents parasite infestation.Expert tip: In case of acute pest infestation: In the first 5 days, spray daily frequently visited places where dogs and cats stay, rest and lie down. Subsequently, in case of additional treatment of the animal with insektoVet Total: spray every 10-14 days. Subsequently, without additional treatment of the animal: spray every 5-8 days. Prophylactic application: spray every 4 weeks.Active substance: Geraniol 29 g/L. BAuA Reg.-No.: N-114803. With the active substance from the leaves of palmarosa geranium grass (Cymbopogon martinii).Application recommendation: Shake before use! Treatment of the surroundings of dogs or cats: spray from a distance of approx. 5 cm onto all areas where the animal is present. Sleeping and lying places, such as basket, blanket, etc., require preferential treatment. Before the first treatment, check sensitive surfaces for compatibility and material resistance.Application rate: approx. 5 ml/m². Up to 250 ml bottle: 1 spray = ca. 0.15 ml. From 500 ml bottle: 1 spray = ca. 1.3 ml.Storage not below 18°C.WARNING • Contains geraniol. May produce an allergic reaction. Causes serious eye irritation. Keep out of reach of children. Avoid breathing mist/spray. Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection. IF ON SKIN: Wash with plenty of water and soap. IF IN EYES: Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing. If eye irritation persists: Get medical advice/attention. If skin irritation or rash occurs: Get medical advice/attention. Dispose of contents/container to an authorized waste disposal site. Use biocides safely. Always read the label and product information before use.

Content: 0.1 Liter (€139.50 / 1 Liter)

€13.95

Subscription

Stk