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According to research fleas could potentially bite your pet 400 times a day. That is 4,000 bites a day if your pet has just 10 fleas! Even though pet owners want to ensure the health and well-being of their beloved companions, sometimes the most well-cared-for pets can become infested with these parasites at some point in their lives.

In addition to the distress of watching their cats and dogs suffer from discomfort caused by biting fleas, pet owners experience frustration and embarrassment when it comes to dealing with these parasites. Estimates in the USA show pet owners spend over a billion dollars on flea preventatives and treatments annuall. This may be attributable to the fact that fleas can be difficult to control. This is evident by the fact that adult female fleas can lay as many as 25 eggs a day. Newly hatched adults that remain in a pupal cocoon can survive without a host for months.. But perhaps even more surprisingly,
adult fleas, which live on dogs and cats, only make up five percent of the total flea life cycle(5). The remaining 95 percent -- eggs, larvae, and pupae - conceal themselves in carpets, bedding, and other furniture until they mature.

Too often, owners simply treat the affected pet; however, when that pet re-enters an infested area, they can become reinfested. So, it is important that pet owners treat the pet, as well as all affected areas. The stigma associated with having a pet and/or home that is infested with fleas is long-standing. Those with flea problems often feel embarrassed. What should pet owners do to cope?

One way to combat the stigma is to be informed. Fleas often find the conditions inside your home optimal for survival. Once thought of as a warm weather threat, fleas are recognised as a year-round problem due to factors including climate change and transient populations. Severe weather fluctuations that bring hot and wet conditions are ideal for flea population growth. Within the home, and outdoors, areas frequented by an infested pet should be thoroughly treated. Some additional tips to be considered are the following:

Bedding should be washed;
Furniture should be cleaned;
Carpets and rugs should be vacuumed;
Owners should make sure that lawns are cut and bushes are trimmed;Backyard fencing is also a good idea, as it prevents stray animals that might be infested from wandering into your yards

Talk to your veterinarian about additional ways to protect your pet and home from fleas.

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