When fleas get on your dog or your
cat, it's only a short ride to inside your home, where the
fleas will lay eggs, multiply, and quickly become a huge
problem.
How does it all happen so fast? Take a look at this video from
the makers of Advantage II about how a home flea
infestation starts, and how quickly it grows.
Make sure fleas are never a problem by finding the right flea and tick
protection for your pet! If you do have to fight off fleas,
check out our infographic on how to Get Rid of Fleas in 8 Steps.
7 Steps to Flea Control in Your Home
Once youโve gotten rid of your
petโs fleas, you should be home-free, right? Unfortunately,
no. When it comes to flea
control in your home, getting the pests off your pet is
just the first step.
Follow these 7 steps to flea control in your home and you and
your pet will be living the itch-free life again in no time.
1. Bathe Pets Regularly
Even though only about 10 percent of the flea population that
is now infesting your
home lives on your pet, those pests are creating the
main cause of home flea infestations, eggs that grow into larva and
eventually into adult fleas. These eggs, which are laid in the
petโs coat, can be transferred to carpets, furniture, bedding
-- pretty much wherever your pet rests, sleeps, or spends most
of their time.
Itโs best to give your pet a
bath every two to three weeks, and not more often
since you donโt want to strip their coat of necessary oils. For
every other bath, use a flea shampoo containing Precor, an
Insect Growth Regulator, as well as natural moisturizers like
oatmeal, coconut extract, lanolin, and aloe. Just be sure to
read the label carefully. Certain products are made
specifically for cats, dogs, kittens, or puppies. In severe
cases, you can use a flea dip but you should speak with your
vet beforehand.
2. Accessorize
Weโre talking about everything from collars to lotions to
combs. Once youโve given your pet a bath, grab a flea comb. Combing out fleas is
actually one of the best ways to control fleas since the fleas
get caught in the comb's teeth and are removed from your pet's
coat. But thereโs still the issue of the eggs, so youโll want
to choose lotions, powders, and collars that contain an Insect
Growth Regulator to prevent eggs from hatching.
3. Medications
Oral tablets and other medications control fleas on pets for
longer stints, typically one to three months. These medications
contain an Insect Growth Regulator such as Lufenuron that
causes the female fleasโ eggs to be unable to hatch. Just be
sure to check with your vet before pairing collars, flea baths,
and medications, or any combination thereof. You donโt want to
overdose on your pet.
4. Clean Carpets and Floors
The same day you bathe and groom your pet, be ready to clean
house, literally. Adult fleas can lay up to 50 eggs a day and
the majority of them will fall into your carpet and hatch into
larvae that can burrow deep into carpet fibers. There they feed
off the dry blood found in flea feces that has also fallen into
the carpet.
Youโll want to shampoo your rug and wash your floors, as well
as use an insecticide containing both an adulticide such as
permethrin and an Insect Growth Regulator such as methoprene or
pyriproxyfen. Zodiac Fogger is one of the few great home
flea control products that are effective and produces no
residual odor. Be sure to let the carpet and floors dry before
allowing your pet back on them.
Regular vacuuming is also necessary since it will pull the
fleas, larvae, and eggs from the carpet. Just be sure to empty
the bag regularly; if not, the eggs may hatch and cause
re-infestation. It also helps to drop a flea collar into the vacuum bag as a
preventive measure. When it comes to hardwood floors, youโll
want to focus on the roomโs corners and beneath moldings.
5. Clean Bedding and Upholstery
This includes not only your petโs bedding but also your bedding
and any furniture your pet likes to lounge on or near. Youโd be
surprised how many eggs are hidden, and larvae nestled, beneath
couch cushions. Dry cleaning is a great option for bedding and
removable furniture covers.
Again, use a product containing both an adulticide and an
Insect Growth Regulator, and be sure to let all surfaces dry
before letting your pet come in contact with them. Some people
prefer to use an insecticide in the form of โfoggersโ or โbug
bombsโ that include those active ingredients.
6. Clean the Air
Speaking of โfoggersโ or โbug bombs,โ aerosol sprays are
available that kill fleas on contact. Spraying them in entrance
areas and under and behind beds, furniture, and other places
your pets like to hang out is very important, since these are
areas in which the infestation will thrive. You can choose one
with natural active ingredients such as peppermint oil, cinnamon oil, lemongrass
oil, thyme oil, and eugenol or an Insect Growth
Regulator.
7. Clean the Yard
Keeping a clean home also entails keeping an eye on whatโs
being tracked into it. If your pet is an outdoor pet, thereโs
the chance they are bringing the infestation in from your yard.
Common areas of infestation include patio furniture, under
decks, fencing, shrubs, and bushes your pet may like to rest
under, and doghouses. Using an insecticide containing
chlorpyrifos or permethrin in these specific areas can be
effective. You can purchase these as either a pump-up sprayer
or a container that can easily be hooked up to your garden
hose.
It can take two to four weeks for an infestation to be
completely removed.
More on Fleas and Ticks
Is Cat Flea Control
Necessary?
The Flea Life Cycle
Your Flea and Tick Questions
Answered
