Fleas and ticks are extremely resistant, even when installed in the environment. They can be “hidden” in cracks in floors, wood, grass, rugs, carpets and even in the Pets’ own bed. Due to the resistance of these ectoparasites in the environment, the treatment of dogs and cats alone is not effective for combat and control.
As part of its life cycle occurs in the environment, the place must also be treated to stop the development of these unwanted intruders.
Fleas and ticks bring discomfort, irritation, and many diseases to pets.
The adult flea and tick populations found in animals represent only 5% of the total population, the remaining 95% are in the environment in the form of flea eggs or larvae; or tick eggs, larvae or nymphs.
THE FLEAS
Fleas are small parasites known for their exceptional jumping ability. They can jump over 1,000 times their own weight, 75 times their own height and 25 times their own length. The cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis , is the most common flea species in dogs and cats in most parts of the world. Adult fleas live permanently on the skin and feed on the blood of their hosts. Severe infestations can cause anemia, especially in puppies. Each flea feeding lasts for about 15 minutes, and it can suck about 15 times its body weight in blood. After feeding, the flea mates several times for up to 36 hours and starts laying eggs – an adult flea lays around 2,000 eggs during its adult life.
The Flea cycle
Females lay about 50 eggs a day, for a period of 21 days. These eggs are smooth and slippery and fall from the cats’ bodies, especially when they scratch. The eggs in the environment hatch within a period of up to 10 days depending on the ambient temperature and humidity. After they hatch, they dig deeper into carpets, blankets and crevices on floors, where they feed on organic debris and feces from adult fleas.
Between 5 and 11 days they form a cocoon within which pupal formation occurs. At 27 ° C and 80% of ambient humidity, pupae can turn into adult fleas in just 5 days. However, this fact only occurs if there are animals or people in the environment; otherwise, fleas can remain in the cocoon for up to 140 days. Normally, the life cycle is completed in 3 to 4 weeks and fleas live on the animal for more than 100 days. From the fourth day feeding on the animal’s blood, it begins to lay its eggs. If we do not interrupt the cycle, the infestation in the animal becomes extremely uncomfortable and harmful to its health.
THE TICKS
Ticks, in addition to causing great irritation and discomfort in animals, are carriers of some parasites that live in the Pet’s blood (hemoparasites). Their control in the environment is difficult due to the ease they have to reproduce and spread, in addition to resistance to some products used in their combat. These ectoparasites inhabit cracks of floor and wall, lining of kennels, under furniture and other places. They detach themselves from dogs at any stage of development.
It is rare for a cat to catch a tick. As many spend most of their time indoors, they are not as exposed to the parasite as dogs, who walk around the streets, parks and squares, places where the tick circulates.
Another detail is that cats lick and clean themselves constantly, this habit can help eliminate one or another opportunistic parasite.
The Tick cycle:
Knowledge of the tick’s development cycle is extremely important for better effectiveness in treating the environment. Adult females can reach up to 11 mm in length, have a reddish-brown colour and males measure about 3.5 mm and are darker. It is a species that parasites three different hosts. The larva has six legs and after the short period of ecdysis, it loses its skin and turns into a nymph-like eight legs, looking for other hosts, and after fixing itself, it feeds for a week and lets itself fall to the ground again… If it does not find hosts, the larvae can survive up to 568 days without feeding and are therefore very resistant. Nymphs also endure long periods without food and can survive up to 180 days.
Depending on the humidity and temperature, the nymphs turn into adults between two and three weeks. The adults start copulation four days after and their fixation on the hosts and the females become engorged between 6 and 50 days, when they can then abandon the dogs and start laying, which can last up to 29 days, laying between 4,000 and 5,000 eggs each an. The laying is done in cracks, under rocks, dry leaves, or even in the cover of the kennels, as the females can climb up to 4 meters in height. In 4 days the eggs hatch, which, in a group of thousands, start the process again, irritating pets and their owners. Adults are the most resistant phase and can survive up to 580 days without a host.
Environmental control:
Like fleas, the tick is not just a problem for the animal, but for the environment. The tick, in all its life stages (from larva to adult), is very resistant. Thus, fighting the tick is difficult.
The enemies that pet owners do not see, that is, eggs and larvae, are in the environment and survive in it for many months. Thus, there are many cases of owners who live fighting the tick in the animal, but never manage to completely exterminate it.
Another detail is that the ticks lay their eggs in the vegetation and also in cracks in the walls and floors. Therefore, all these places have to be treated and not animals only.
Effective tick control includes monthly applications of ectoparasiticides in animals, along with applications of tick products in the environment.
Environmental Treatment:
Products based on Amitraz such as Charmdog Carrapaticida Sarnicida, or even Supona based like Carrapaticida Sarnicida UCB 10% are excellent for the environmental control of fleas and ticks: apply to catteries, beds, plants and beds, paying attention to cracks in the walls or floors and drains. Repeat the treatment every 15 days in case of very severe infestations or 21 days; there must be at least three applications to interfere in the reproductive and development cycle of the parasite efficiently. Asset rotation is very important to avoid parasite resistance to the asset.
It is very important to remember that cats can only be exposed to the environment again after the product has dried completely and the smell comes out completely, avoiding the risk of intoxication.
In masonry catteries, the use of the “fire broom” is very effective. The heat will destroy all stages of the tick and fleas. Repeat the treatment every 15 days;
The vacuum cleaner is also a very important and effective tool in controlling and fighting fleas, as they are hidden in cracks in floors, sofas, carpets and rugs, the act of vacuuming these surfaces twice a week helps to make the control environment.
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