Fleas: The Other Bug in the Bed
Published June 28, 2011
Flickr User sutty jane
The subject of bed bugs has become a hot topic of interest across the country over the past year. And since bed bugs thrive in warm weather, with the summer months on top of us, a discussion of the dangers fleas present, as opposed to the benign consequences that bed bugs cause, seemed to be something highly necessary to bring to public awareness.
And while I didn’t intend to take a bite out of your day I was itching to share some rather disturbing statistics revealed in a nationwide survey conducted by Banfield Pet Hospital, the country's largest provider of veterinary care. The survey Banfield conducted found that three out of four pet owners claim to be aware of the danger of fleas, but that only 11 percent of pet owners consider it worse to have fleas in their beds than bed bugs.
Conducted by Directive Analytics, Banfield Hospital's “The Other Bug in the Bed Survey” concluded that 67 percent of pet owners share their beds with their pets, yet only 16 percent are more concerned about fleas than bed bugs and 55 percent are concerned about neither fleas nor bed bugs. While fleas are capable of transmitting diseases to humans, bed bugs actually present no serious health risk to folks who receive bites from them.
However, in a recent study released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the CDC cited fleas as a top concern when it comes to zoonotic diseases; meaning they are diseases capable of transmission from animals to humans. Along with other serious illnesses, fleas are capable of transmitting tapeworm and cat scratch fever to people. And much like the types of marks left on humans made by the bite of a bed bug, fleas can also leave similar bites and sores
Jeffrey Klausner, DVM, senior vice president and chief medical officer of Banfield Pet Hospital, offered a comment on the issue.
"While Banfield Pet Hospital is certainly not discounting the issue of bed bugs, the survey brought to light the need to educate pet owners about the dangers of fleas and proper year-round flea prevention,” Klausner said. “With nearly seven out of ten pet owners sharing their bed with their pets, it is important that both the public and pet owners understand that fleas not only bite, but also spread disease to both humans and pets."
According to Banfield Hospital’s internal research team (Banfield Applied Research & Knowledge (BARK)), there has been a 16 percent increase in dogs, and a 12 percent increase in cats under their care since 2006. BARK also found that the number of fleas increases through spring and summer.
Banfield created “The Other Bug in the Bed” awareness campaign to ensure families aren't "bit by the misinformation bug" and to spread the word about proper flea prevention for their pets. For more information about fleas and for a downloadable coupon for a special offer on a veterinarian and EPA approved monthly flea preventative, visit their website, www.banfield.com/.
Pet owners can download special offers for year-round parasite control and also squash a few fleas and ticks in a fun game, at their Facebook page.
Do you think fleas present a serious danger to pets? Leave a comment with your opinion.
Shortly after retiring as a social worker and psychotherapist, I discovered my "writer's voice"…
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Comments (4)
Wish this story came out sooner since I bought sprays, powders, mattress covers and traps (one bug is all we caught) and bed bug experts at my home for nothing. Spent a fortune. No bed bugs. It was one of my cats who keeps freakin running out of my house. She brought fleas into my home.
Ruth, while I don't agree that ALL dogs should be outside ALL the time, I did have a dog that lived her entire life outside. I have 2 other dogs and they are in and out. Primarily, they are house dogs, but they love their time outside as well. And my Bailey who lived outside chose that life for herself. She hated being in the house. She would bark and howl and dig up the floor and eat the walls. She was not unloved, nor did she feel slighted by being outside. She was well cared for. I treated her for incontinence and thyroid disease. She saw the vet twice a year for routine checks, thyroid bloodwork to monitor her medication and senior wellness bloodwork and urinalysis. She had two doghouses, one was insulated, and she stayed cozy warm in winter and cool in summer. I know this because no matter how cold it got outside (and we had sub zero temps) the water in her igloo never froze. She was a working farm dog (as are my other 2) and she prefered to be out. I would ask her to come inside and even coax her with food on the really cold nights. All to no avail. She just would not come in. While I do believe that the majority of dogs should be inside with the family, I also believe in a dog earning it's keep. They should be well versed in obedience and have to practice it to earn attention, etc. I realize this view may be unpopular, but as a trainer/behaviorist, I have seen way too many behavior issues that started because the dogs were spoiled. Oh, and btw, if I had chickens, you can bet your bottom dollar I'd have another stictly outdoor dog to guard the coop. Dogs are happiest when working for a living, and for some, that means being outside.
As far as the fleas go, PLEASE use Frontline to prevent them. Once you get them, they are almost impossible to get rid of them. And working for a vet, I have seen lots of adverse reactions to other flea preventions, especially in cats.......
Subjectivity is unimportant here. It's a fact that fleas can kill very young, very elderly and debilitated companion animals. Prevention is so simple and effective now, with topicals being the first line of defense. There is no excuse for flea infestation. And of course, keep cats indoors only, and dogs outdoors, please!
And of course, keep cats indoors only, and dogs outdoors, please! You're not serious jmuhj. Keep dogs outside?? Dogs are family pets and belong in the house with the family... not outside. How would you like to live outside away from your family? Dogs don't like it either. They do have feelings. They feel love, fear and dislike. If you have outside dogs as pets, you don't deserve to own them. They deserve better. If I want to sit on my couch, I have to ask my dogs 1st. That's how it should be. outside dogs.
Fleas can cause all kinds of problems for pets, and you. They can cause redness, bumps and a lot of itching. I try to keep all of my pets free of any kind of fleas bec ause if your pet has fleas, they are most likely in your house. And it takes a lot to get rid of them.