Ectoparasites -Fleas
- Created by: Kit-Novak
- Created on: 23-11-18 13:06
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- Flea
- Description
- Small
- 6-legged
- Specially adapted legs for jumping
- Wingless
- Specialized mouth parts for piercing skin and sucking the blood of their host
- Life Cycle
- 1 - Adult female lays numerous eggs after a blood feed, and eggs fall into the environment
- 2 - Eggs hatch within 2-5 days, releasing flea larvae
- 3 - The larvae feed on dust and dirt in the environment, molting several times before spinning a cocoon (7-20 days)
- Symptoms
- Excessive scratching and/or biting of fur
- Patchy fur loss
- Red, irritated skin
- Flea dirt (small dark brown specs in the coat which when added to water turn it red/brown)
- Thickening of the skin where animal has scratched repeatedly
- In severe infestations or short haired breeds of animal, fleas may be visible
- In young or old animals, the loss of blood can make them weak and lethargic
- Some animals develop severe allergy to the flea saliva called flea allergy derma
- Prevention
- Regular use of preventative treatments such as treatments applied directly to the animal's skin/fur, sprays, a course of tablets or injections or anti-parasitic shampoos
- Regular washing of pet bedding (dogs/cats) or removal of dirty pet bedding (rabbits)
- Regular vacuuming of carpets where pets live indoors and disposal of the vacuum bags
- Treatment of the environment to kill flea eggs and larvae and therefore break the fleas' life cycle
- Description
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