08/02/2025
Here’s some great information about fleas and flea control in the environment.
Got fleas? They suck!
Did you know that fleas live for a year and a half? Adult fleas lay up to 50 eggs per day! They hatch out of their egg after a 3 week incubation period or are triggered to emerge out of the pupal stages by sensing CO2. They are very difficult to kill when they’re in the egg or pupa form, and 85% of fleas are in that form. Baby fleas look like miniature maggots and eat flea p**p which is the black speckles of dried blood in the pets fur. The pet shakes and the eggs, pupa, and flea “dirt” fall onto the floor or furniture until they hatch.
The best way to get rid of fleas is to treat all the animals in the house. You can additionally vacuum daily, but you must take the canister outside, otherwise the fleas will hatch out of their pupa and crawl out of the vacuum canister.
Medications over the counter can have mixed results. For instance, Capstar starts killing adult fleas after 30 minutes, but only lasts for 24 hours. Frontline and other OTC topicals are not as effective any more because fleas have developed resistance to them.
Prescription medications like Bravecto work well for generally a few months. This helps break the flea life cycle because it kills fleas after they hatch, but you might see live fleas every 3 or so weeks as they hatch and are killed. Other products work by preventing eggs from hatching, such as Sentinel which works by inhibiting keratin formation and hardening so the baby fleas can’t emerge from their egg or pupa.
Fleas carry a variety of diseases as well. The bubonic plague was spread by fleas. Bartonella is a major zoonotic concern as well since it also infects people. Tapeworms, which look like rice segments, need an adult flea to complete their life cycle as well.
If you have fleas, give Boomer Vet a call (405-321-1890) and we can help you get some prescription medication.
