WARNING SIGNS

BLACK SPECKS

Black specks on your pet or in your dog's or cat's bed may be "flea dirt" – the fescal matter from adult fleas. There are two easy ways to check for black specks:

Flea Comb – available from your veterinarian (the metal ones are the best). Run the comb over your pet, making sure the comb reaches the skin through the coat. If black specks are on the comb when you pull it off, they might be flea dirt. If fleas are on the comb, drown them in a bowl of soapy water before they can get away or jump back on your pet.

White paper towel – place a white paper towel beneath your pet and rub your hands across its fur. If black specks appear on the towel, it may be flea dirt.

AGITATION / SCRATCHING

If infested with fleas, your pet may become very nervous and annoyed and may scratch excessively.

If these warning signs appear, consult your veterinarian. You can control your pet's existing fleas and help prevent them from bothering your pet again with monthly applications of FRONTLINE (recommended by Barking Barbers).

Few creatures can inflict more misery, ounce for ounce, than fleas. These tiny, almost-invisible pests can make life miserable and disrupt your household with a vicious cycle of biting and scratching. Fleas may also cause flea allergy dermatitis in some pets and may be carriers of dangerous diseases. All FRONTLINE products offer control of fleas, killing up to 100% of adult fleas on your pet within 18 hours. And with an added ingredient to kill flea eggs and larvae, FRONTLINE Plus completely breaks the life cycle of these dangerous and annoying pests

Life Cycle Of A Flea

Although fleas can be a problem for your pets all year, flea populations typically explode about 5–6 weeks after the weather starts to warm up.

EGG STAGE
A female lays about 2,000 eggs in her lifetime. In one day, a single female flea can lay up to 50 eggs. The eggs aren't sticky – they quickly fall off your pet and into areas of your home. In 2-10 days, the eggs hatch.

LARVAL STAGE
After hatching, the larvae head toward dark places around your home and feed on "flea dirt" – flea feces containing partially digested blood from your pet. The larvae grow, molt twice, then spin cocoons, where they grow to pupae.

PUPA STAGE
Immature fleas spend approximately 8–9 days in their cocoon. During this time, they continue to grow to adulthood, waiting for the signals that it is time to emerge.

ADULT STAGE
Full-grown adults detect heat, vibrations and exhaled carbon dioxide from inside their cocoons, telling them a host is nearby. The adults leave their cocoons, hop onto a host, find a mate and begin the life cycle all over again.

The entire life cycle can be as short as 2-4  weeks.

Prevention

FRONTLINE Brand Products kill fleas already on your dog or cat and help to protect against new flea infestations – even if you forget to re-apply them on time.  In addition to applying FRONTLINE products, the following steps can also be taken to prevent fleas from infesting your pet:

Vacuuming - Frequently vacuum the areas your pet is around, especially carpeted areas in your home, any furniture that is frequented by your pet, and in your car (if your pet rides in your car). This will clean up as many immature fleas (eggs, larvae and pupae) as possible.

Washing - Regularly wash your pet's bedding, blanket and other washable items in the hottest water possible (check the laundering instructions to make sure that washing in hot water isn't a problem).

Yard Work - Mow your lawn and rake up any leaves, brush or clippings.