Fleas are familiar pests; few pet owners escape the trials of ridding their dog or cat of this common parasite. However, fleas can be eradicated more easily today than ever before. For example, advanced flea control products available through veterinarians require only a single monthly application to the back of the neck or along the spine to achieve reliable flea control on the pet.
A flea is a tiny, laterally flat, wingless insect that subsists on the blood of its host. It has long legs that enable it to jump tremendous distances, such as from one animal to another. A flea's life cycle consists of the adult, egg, three larval stages, and pupa. Currently available flea control products are effective at deterring fleas at one or more of these stages, with the exception of the pupa, which defies current treatments. Although dogs and cats are the preferred hosts for fleas, they can exist on other mammals if necessary.
