Anybody with a pet will have experienced a problem with fleas and one point. There are over 2,000 recorded species of fleas in the world with around 100 in Europe and 60 or so species in the UK. They are wingless insects, and their bodies are hard and flattened from side to side, helping them move about in the fur of a variety of  animals including our pets dogs and even ourselves.

Recently my dog, Mack (a crossbreed), experienced an attack of fleas.  He reacted badly as he had developed flea allergy dermatitis. He suffered with severe itching and balding patches. But why can these tiny creatures have such a great impact?

I read that fleas have a unique structure to their mouths which allow them to spread various pathogens; "The dual function of a flea's mouth allow them to both squirt saliva and blood into the bite, whilst sucking up blood from the host. This, along with the flea's ability to transfer from one host to another, makes them effective in spreading bacterial and parasitic diseases" (source: Pest Control Help). This suggests that we shouldn't underestimate the effects that fleas can have, and we should take some extra measures to prevent not just our pets but also ourselves from these tiny insects.

Since my dog has recovered from his recent experience of the fleas, I've been sure to vacuum my house more regularly to get rid of any fleas and eggs that are ready to hatch. I have also discovered that borate-based products can be applied to carpets which poison flea larvae. I've made sure to wash Mack's bedding and have made use of a flea light trap to exploit the flea's attraction to heat and light. There are many different products available on the market which can help get rid of, and prevent, fleas in our homes.

I hope you will find some of this information from my experiences useful!