High Risk Flea Areas - Fleas in House
Adult fleas are not picky about their hosts; they can easily jump from one dog to another. Dog parks, boarding kennels, and anywhere else dogs congregate can be a place for fleas to play “musical hosts.” Dogs can also catch fleas from other animals, such as outdoor/feral cats, or any wildlife passing through your yard or recreation areas.
Fleas in the Yard
Fleas prefer shaded, moist, undisturbed areas where they can reproduce unhindered — beneath porches and trees, behind garden sheds, and around kennels and doghouses. Yard debris, brush and even overgrown grass can promote their growth.
Be sure not to make it easy for these unwanted guests to wind up in your home: Make sure you’re taking the necessary steps to get rid of fleas and prevent an infestation.
The Prolific Pest
Fleas are tiny, measuring just 1/16 to 1/8 of an inch (or 1.5 to 3.3 millimeters). They make themselves at home on a living host as they feed and reproduce. A single female flea can lay up to several hundred eggs over just a few days.
The slippery eggs fall off your dog’s body onto your carpet and furniture, and are capable of lying dormant for weeks before hatching into larvae. They then spin cocoons where they can again remain dormant — this time for more than six months — before emerging as adult fleas. If you’re not paying attention, you could suddenly find yourself with a full-blown flea infestation.
Flea Facts:
- High risk areas for fleas are dog parks, kennels and other areas where animals congregate
- Protect your yard by mowing your lawn and reducing overgrown foliage and debris.
- A single female can lay up to several hundred eggs in just a few days
- Flea eggs fall off your pet onto your carpet and furniture, where they can lie dormant for weeks