Now that the warmer weather is here, many pets are probably itching to go outside. The problem is, they may also be itching when they come back in.
When the weather gets warmer, flea and tick infestations heat up too, so you have to take extra measures to protect your pets and your family. If you and your pet want to enjoy an itch-free summer, see your veterinarian and get your pet on a flea and tick prevention program, said Banfield, The Pet Hospital Vice President Karen Johnson.
By mid-spring, Banfield, the largest private veterinary care provider in the United States, has treated thousands of dogs and cats for fleas.
Here are some facts about fleas from Banfield:
Fleas are the number one cause of allergies in cats and dogs.
Fleas are especially pesky and very hard to control. In fact, fleas can live in your home, in your carpeting or in your lawn for as long as several months without food.
Fleas can actually jump 3 feet high.
Once fleas make a home in a pets fur, they spread fast. One female flea can lay as many as 10,000 eggs.
Fleas transmit diseases, one being tapeworm, which is contagious to humans as well.
The largest recorded flea measured 12mm in length, which is almost half an inch.
Fleas consume 15-times their weight in blood daily. That's equivalent to a 140-pound woman eating 8,400 hamburgers in one day.