Ask a group of pet owners what they know about fleas, and you’ll probably get a mixed bag of answers. Some will be spot on, others will be well-meaning (but wrong) advice passed down from someone’s auntie.

So, we’re here to set the record straight. Here are five common flea myths pet owners believe, along with the truth behind each one.

It’s easy to think that fleas are only a spring or summer problem, but they don’t check the calendar. The flea life cycle depends on temperature and humidity, and in the right conditions, a flea can go from egg to biting adult in as little as 12 to 14 days.¹ Your cosy, centrally heated home can provide exactly those conditions, all year round, regardless of what the unpredictable Irish weather is up to outside.

Adult fleas live on your pet, but eggs, larvae and pupae develop in the environment, setting up camp in your carpets, rugs, bedding and soft furnishings (yes, it’s as bad as it sounds). They don’t care what season it is. In fact, flea problems can sometimes become more noticeable when the heating goes on, as the sudden warmth can encourage adults to emerge.

That’s why it is a good idea to consider year-round flea prevention for your pet, depending on their lifestyle and risk.

If one pet in the house has fleas, it’s likely that every pet is at risk. Adult fleas don’t tend to hop between animals once feeding, but female fleas are prolific egg layers. Those eggs fall off into carpets, bedding and furniture wherever that pet goes. The eggs then develop into new adult fleas in the environment, which jump onto any pet that happens to be passing.

Treating only the itchy pet can leave an untreated animal feeding the newly emerging fleas, keeping the dreaded cycle going. This is often a reason owners think that their flea treatment is failing.

It’s a very common myth, but fleas don’t need your cat to set a paw outside. They are sneakier than that. Fleas can arrive on shoes, clothes or bags, or hitch a ride in on a dog who has been outside or in areas other animals go. Foxes and other wildlife, sniffing around the back door, can also bring fleas close to the house.

Once fleas are inside, they can happily stay there, feeding, laying eggs and continuing their life cycle entirely within the comfort of your living room.

For some pets, flea bites are a minor irritation. For others, even one or two bites can trigger flea allergy dermatitis, an allergic reaction to flea saliva that causes intense itching and skin inflammation. Keeping up with regular flea prevention is especially important for these pets, as they can become unbearably itchy and sore.

Then we have the flea tapeworm, Dipylidium caninum. Your pet can catch this tapeworm when they swallow an infected flea, which happens surprisingly easily during normal grooming. The first sign of a tapeworm infection might be spotting crawling segments (which look like grains of rice) around your pet’s back end.

These are all good reasons to keep your pet’s flea protection up to date.

Dog and cat flea treatments should not be used interchangeably, and this is one myth with life-threatening consequences. Some flea products made for dogs contain permethrin, an ingredient that can be used safely in certain dog products but is highly toxic to cats.

A cat can be at risk if a dog product is applied directly to them, or by rubbing against, grooming or sleeping beside a recently treated canine friend. That’s why it’s always important to check products fully before applying them to your pet. If you’re ever unsure, just check with your vet, pharmacist or qualified retailer.

You should also always look for veterinary authorised products, as these have to go through strict safety and efficacy tests before hitting the shelves.

Myths aside, protection still matters

Flea myths tend to have one thing in common: they make fleas sound like less of a problem than they really are. In reality, fleas have some pretty nifty ways of finding your pet all year round, so it’s often best to keep up with flea control and help prevent the headache of a flea infestation.

The FleawayPlus range includes spot-on treatments for dogs and cats containing fipronil and (S)-methoprene. Fipronil kills adult fleas and ticks, while (S)-methoprene inhibits the development of immature flea stages, helping interrupt the flea life cycle.

Explore the FleawayPlus range

If you’re already battling an infestation, your house may also need treating. Read more about treating your home here.

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