Fleas are more than just a nuisance. They are a serious problem.
We’re all enjoying the holidays but for this article, I’m leaving threats to animals from the “stuff” people bring into their homes for purposes of holiday celebrations, because every other pet organization is focusing on these holiday threats.
I’m focusing this month’s article on fleas because they are a serious threat to both animals and humans.
Why did I pick fleas at a time when we all believe fleas are dormant? Because they are not dormant, as we all think.
Fleas carry serious pathogens that kill people. I’ve personally experienced this as a community volunteer in Maple Valley in a poor person’s home, where fleas kill him.
It’s also because fleas are amazingly adaptable. Flea eggs wake up and hatch when an optimal temperature is reached and they stay dormant until then. They operate like a light switch in a human home. When we get a warm up like we saw on Black Friday, flea eggs hatched and got busy doing their dirty duty. This is why I’m asking everyone to please take action against fleas during a time that we think there is no problem.
• Why should I worry if I have no pets?
Even if you have no pets at all, fleas will travel into your home by hopping onto your legs as you travel around your external property. They commonly migrate from neighbors who have outdoor pets and from wildlife wandering through your property.
• Why are fleas dangerous?
Fleas transmit animal to human (zoonotic) pathogens, to both pet owners and those who have no pets. Here’s a short list of flea-borne and transmissible diseases – cat scratch fever and tapeworms.
• What are the remedies to manage fleas?
Always use the least invasive solution for the sake of our environment. No. 1 contact your veterinarian if you have pets. No. 2 contact a professional pest control agency, if you don’t. Always ask for a solution that will be the least invasive for the environment for the greater good.
Flea control in your home is most effectively managed by treating your personal animals according to your veterinarian’s recommendations. However, if you have no animals, a quality pest control agency that uses environmentally-friendly methods is your best solution.
• What if I’m really poor and destitute?
Please call or e-mail me so I can learn about your situation in order to guide you.
Barb Horton, with Puget Sound Working Cats, can be reached at 206-819-4261 or by e-mail at hortonbb@comcast.net
