Ctenocephalides Canis

What, you may ask, are Ctenocephalides?

Well, this subject does provide a couple of trivia quiz questions.

What can jump 50 times higher than their body length?

There are 2,500 species of a creature that lived 200million years ago during the Jurassic period and are still around today. What creature is it?

Yes, we are talking…… Fleas, to be precise, dog fleas.

Fleas in detail

As there are little girl fleas and little boy fleas, the inevitable occurs, and after the female flea has had a swift intake of blood from our dog, the pair of fleas do the business. The result is eggs which the female lays, and after ten days, they will hatch. To be at her most fertile, our female flea needs to mate with as many male fleas as possible. It could be said that the female flea is not only prolific in the productivity department, she is a bit loose in the morality department!! If it makes you feel any better, the irritating little devils were around long before humans. With their association with rats, particularly the black rat, they have been blamed for the deaths of millions of people that died in plagues over the centuries. With access to modern medical knowledge, researchers are now fairly certain that the plagues that devastated Europe and other parts of the world were in fact, the consequence of extremely poor hygienic practices by humans plus of course, the added presence of fleas. They are, without doubt, one of the most aggravating creatures known to man.

An example of the cost of dealing with the problem of fleas in the USA alone is as follows:

• Nearly 3 billion dollars in veterinary treatments annually.
• 1.5 billion dollars by professional groomers annually
• 4 billion dollars in prescription medication
• 350 million dollars is spent on pest control systems.
• The total expenditure annually is between 8-9 billion dollars

Multiple this by the number of countries there are, and you get the drift.

The first question is, what is the purpose of fleas, what do they achieve, and what do they actually do that is constructive?

Before they mature, they indulge in the consumption of decaying vegetation, faeces and dead insects. They then recycle the nutritional material back into the ecosystem, which benefits the environment. This is done when the fleas are in puberty and yet to reach maturity. So they do have a purpose, but unfortunately, we don’t see this, and so our flea receives no gratitude. We just don’t appreciate their endeavours on our  behalf

So what attracts fleas?

• Movement
• They particularly like the body warmth of a red-blooded mammal, especially one with hair.
• Any light source, including artificial light.
• The breath that we exhale
• Unsanitary conditions and poor hygiene in dogs. This can be the result of a dirty, matted coat that has not been washed or groomed.

It should be noted that no matter how careful we are, no matter how hygienic our homes, there is always the possibility of picking up fleas.

They can live anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 years, depending on their living conditions, so if your dog has them, they aren’t going anywhere soon! Fortunately, in this day and age, they are fairly easy to evict If pet owners follow a few simple rules.

What is the most efficient way of getting rid of and keeping them away?

The most efficient and effective way is orally ( by mouth). In Greece, the country where I live, where temperatures can get high, fleas and parasites generally can be a problem if allowed to infest the dog’s coat. I use a product called Bravecto. It is available through veterinary surgeons, lasts up to 3 months and is highly effective.

Ziggy, our small Cretan mutt, isn’t too keen but will eagerly take the stuff if I hide it in a spoonful of cream cheese.

There are other treatments, but veterinary advice will be beneficial as some products are ineffectual despite exaggerated claims. There are powders, sprays, spot-ons, collars, and shampoos. The list is long and varied, and the best one for your pet can depend on climate and availability. It is advisable to avoid cheap products sold through retail outlets as they are usually inferior and do not contain the required strength of chemicals to have a successful outcome.

There are natural products that can be used, but the quantities and application should be carefully considered, and advice should be sought from a holistic practitioner.

Washing dog bedding regularly and vacuuming floors is essential. There are products that are available to deal with the little blighters should they manage to survive. These are designed to be used on our furniture etc but under no circumstances should they be used on our pets.

Ctenocephalides Canis, despite being one of the most unwanted and unwelcome creatures that inhabit our planet and pets, have survived for 200 million years and will still be around for a few more years. Fortunately, there are now plenty of remedies.