Fleas

Dog and cat owners—be careful!

Flea season is approaching and may cause some trouble if your pet spends time outdoors from mid-July through the end of October.

In fact, two (2) infestation cases have already been reported in less than 24 hours.

In both cases, the owners mentioned that their pets regularly go outside and stay around the property for extended periods:

• a dog tied up in the yard
• a free-roaming cat

Caution is essential, as fleas are constantly searching for a host—and your pet could easily become their next food source.

Fleas jump onto the animal, bite, and feed on its blood.

The pet then becomes a carrier of this parasite, supporting its reproduction and contributing to the infestation of the home.

Within just a few days, you may start noticing these tiny insects jumping on your floors and becoming active as you walk by. In fact, fleas react to vibrations in the floor and will jump onto their host.

Although they do not reproduce on human blood, they can still cause discomfort by biting you, leaving small red, swollen skin irritations. These bites can be quite itchy and bothersome for several weeks.

Since fleas can jump up to about 20 cm (8 inches) high, bites are most commonly found around the lower legs, although they can occur anywhere on the body—especially if your bed becomes infested.