Just how far can a flea jump?

Fleas don’t have wings but their strong back legs allow them to jump either from the environment or from another host onto your dog. These tiny brown insects are more commonly found in warm season and can become a real bother for your dog. This successful little beast has been around for more than 100 million years and has the capacity to jump 100 times its own height – approx. 30cm horizontally.

Fleas are after a blood meal and can often be found on in the crevices of their hosts skin, on the abdomen or in armpits. They look for warm-blooded animals and humans too but prefer furry animals. Sucking 15 times her own body weight in blood, gives the female flea enough sustenance to lay approx. 40 eggs a day. She may lay 2000 eggs in a lifetime, some of which can also end up in your yard or home. The larvae that are much like a tiny worm, feed on organic matter and even feces left by adult fleas that are rich in blood. However, the different chapters in the life cycle of a flea (egg, larvae, pupae etc.) can make treatment difficult and a multi-faceted plan is required. At the pupae stage, their cocoon makes them resistant to insecticides.

One telltale sign of fleas apart from your dog scratching their flea bites is flea dirt scattered about on the skin. Prevention is the best approach. Speak to your vet about a flea treatment appropriate for your dog and around your homes try to close gaps, which could potentially allow rodents in.

Leah & Angela O’Meara

Hound Dog Day Care (Specialists in Dog Minding & Dog Boarding, Pet Sitting Brisbane & Doggy Day Care Brisbane)