SAN DIEGO — Fleas are wingless bugs that bounce and feed on the blood of animals and people.
With over 2,500 flea species worldwide, there are greater than 300 species in the US, based on the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC).
However do you know that in San Diego, there are extra fleas right here than in every other metropolis within the nation? Dr. Zarah Hedge, chief medical officer with the San Diego Humane Society, joined FOX 5 to debate why that’s the case.
“The local weather right here is simply nice year-round, so we do see a peak within the summertime, however we see fleas and ticks year-round on this local weather simply due to the nice and cozy climate that we now have,” she stated.
Fleas and ticks can carry a number of totally different ailments corresponding to Anaplasmosis, Ehrlichia and Rocky Mountain noticed fever.
“These are issues that may additionally have an effect on people, so not solely can we get sick from these, our canines and cats may get sick,” Hedge stated.
Whereas solely a choose few can have an effect on individuals’s well being, the most typical fleas of the U.S. embrace the Cat Flea, Canine Flea, Floor Squirrel Flea and Oriental Rat Flea, per the CDC.
The CDC recommends to restrict their pets’ outside time, prohibit contact with wild and stray animals, bathe and brush pets repeatedly and examine for fleas repeatedly.
“Discuss along with your veterinarian and see what product goes to work greatest on your pet, whether or not that’d be a canine, cat, rabbit. There’s a number of merchandise on the market and they are often topical, oral capsules and so actually simply figuring out what’s greatest after which retaining them on that repeatedly, and on this local weather, year-round,” Hedge stated.
Even pet homeowners with indoor cats, it’s vital to maintain them on flea preventives as a result of pests can are available the home, the SDHS added.
