Tips on Getting Rid of Fleas

Eliminating fleas from your companion animals and home is difficult. Anywhere an infected dog has spent any significant time should be treated. For most pet-owners, flea treatment consists of three approaches—treating the animal, the home and the outdoor environment. If you treat only the companion animal, the environment can become infested again, leading to a vicious cycle. Careful planning and using effective products is best way to eliminate fleas.

  1. Treat Your Pet

    • The safest and most effective flea treatments are found at a veterinary office. It's important to use a product that will kill both the fleas that are currently on the dog or cat, as well as flea eggs so as to prevent future infestations. Successful products contain the ingredients fipronil or imidacloprid.

      Preventing future fleas is important, as fleas have four stages of their life cycle, one of which is the pupal stage, where the flea larvae is protected by a cocoon. Flea treatments usually cannot invade the cocoon and the flea will hatch in a few weeks. So your dog needs protection against the second flea outbreak while the home and outdoors are treated again.

    Treat Your Home

    • At home, fleas can live in the furniture, drapes and the carpet. Treat your home and outside environment when you treat your pet. Vacuuming your carpet is the best way to eliminate the presence of fleas in your home. This will remove the adults, as well as their eggs, larvae and pupae. After vacuuming, use an insecticide that contains an insect growth regulator, suggests the Flea Smart website.

      Treat cracks and crevices of your home, as well as any surface on which a flea could live. Pay special attention to areas under tables, rugs and couches and follow the directions carefully on the product label. Effective sprays are found at pet or hardware stores. Repeat two weeks later to kill any fleas emerging from their cocoons. Wash your animal’s bedding and toys in hot water to kill fleas and their eggs.

    Treat Your Yard

    • Fleas can live outdoors and continue to re-infest your pet if not eliminated. The Cats of Australia website suggests using the same spray you treated your home with to treat your yard. Try to treat your yard on a windless day so it won't be blown away. Pay special attention to patio and deck areas, gravel and sandy spots. If your home is high-set, spray or use a flea bomb underneath the house. Being as thorough as possible will kill the most fleas and provide the best protection against future problems. Treat your yard again two weeks after the initial treatment.