It is helpful to understand the life cycle of the flea and the effects of flea infestation to maintain adequate flea control. Once adult fleas find a host animal, they then spend the rest of their life cycle on your pets. Eggs are laid on your pet but then fall off in the environment and finish their development to adulthood. Because cats and dogs have higher body temperatures than humans the fleas generally prefer the animals. Flea bites also can transmit disease such as Bubonic plague which is still a problem in the Southeastern United States.
Some animals are allergic to fleas.
The results produced by the bites of one flea can be very severe. Sometimes it is difficult to understand that the loss of hair, scabs, thickened skin, and offensive odor produced by flea bite dermatitis can be caused by just a few fleas. Other animals, less sensitive, can carry around hundreds of fleas, and rarely be bothered. Complete flea control MUST be aimed at getting rid of the fleas on the animal AND controlling the flea population in the animal's immediate environment . A flea bath with a good flea shampoo will effectively rid an animal of fleas.