FLEAS:

Adult fleas jump on your pet and bite to feed on the blood.  The fleas produce eggs which drop from your pet to the ground or carpet.  The eggs develop over time into adults and the cycle starts all over again.

Flea bites can be painful and irritating, and can cause serious medical problems such as flea allergy dermatitis, tapeworms and anemia. 

TICKS:

Although ticks are commonly thought of as insects, they are actually arachnids like scorpions, spiders and mites.  Ticks have four life stages: egg, six-legged larva, eight-legged nymph and adult.  Ticks are among the most efficient carriers of disease because they attach firmly when sucking blood, feed slowly and may go unnoticed for a considerable time while feeding.  Ticks wait for host animals from the tips of grasses and shrubs (not from trees). When brushed by a moving animal or person, they quickly let go of the vegetation and climb onto the host. Ticks can only crawl; they cannot fly or jump. 

The best way to stop fleas and ticks in their tiny tracks is to break the reproductive cycle BEFORE the flea season starts.  Most over-the-counter products are not particularly effective and can be toxic, even when administered properly.  Consult your veterinarian for a safe, effective and easy-to-administer flea treatment that will prevent your pet from parasite infestation.