Fleas are annoying, but they can also cause health issues with your pet. A single flea can quickly multiply and will infest all household pets, as well as furniture, carpet and the yard. A female flea can lay up to 50 eggs a day. It’s best to avoid fleas at all costs. With cats, keep them indoors and away from other pets. If you have a dog, use a topical application such as advantage.

Follow the instructions and apply the topical (skin) application on a consistent basis. In northern climate begin applying in early spring and ending in late fall. If you live in an area where the temperatures do not get below freezing, apply topical applications throughout the year. The topical applications are usually applied every 4-6 weeks between the shoulder blades. Even with topical applications, you need to routinely inspect your pet and bedding areas for fleas, and you may need to bath your animal with anti-flea pet shampoos or treat your yard. Fleas can easily be passed from a dog to a cat.

A flea looks like a tiny mosquito, but you cannot kill it by swatting. A single flea can bite your pet more than 400 times in a day. Typical pet reactions to flea bites include rashes, allergic dermatitis—which can lead to hair loss. The skin of your pet may “blacken” if the condition remains untreated. Fleas can also carry and infect your pet with tapeworm and can cause anemia, a weakened blood condition. Some pets and people are allergic to fleas and may have a stronger reaction.

If you find a flea on your pet, deal with it immediately. Remember a single female flea can lay 50 eggs a day. Also, for every flea you see, there may be ten more. Anytime a pet has fleas you need to treat all pets in the home by either using a flea dip, shampoo or powder. On a daily basis vacuum or steam clean the pets bedding area as well as all other area that may be infected. Throw away the vacuum bag every time you vacuum by placing the bag in a tightly wrapped plastic garbage bag. Keep the garbage bag away from your house or in a tightly sealed garbage can away from your pets. Treat the yard with spray or crystals designed to kill fleas. Doing a little on-line research can help you locate organic yard solutions. Select treatments that will kill fleas and ticks but make sure the product is free of organophosphate or it’s derivatives. According to the National Resource Defense Council (NRDC.org), pet collars and products using organophosphates can be harmful to you and your pet.

If you have a young or ill pets or young children be very careful about the type of product you use and the amount apply to your pet. Young and ill pets are the most susceptible to toxic levels of a product. Children are also at risk around certain chemicals. Both pets and children can suffer brain damage due to toxic levels. There are many good sources on-line for organic solutions and to determine toxicity levels of flea treatment products.