How can I Eliminate Fleas from my Home?
Fleas are a bothersome pest if they appear in your home. Fleas are parasitic insects that affect people and animals alike, and removing them from your home can be a tedious and difficult process. If your dog or cat has fleas, you can generally tell because they scratch excessively. If your dog or cat is an outside animal, treat him or her with a flea collar and flea prevention topical medication. If your dog or cat is an indoor animal and you suspect fleas, inspect your animal and home carefully.
Odds are, if your dog or cat has fleas, they will be in your home as well. The best place to look for fleas on an animal is behind the ears and on the abdomen, especially in the crooks around their hind legs. Fleas are jumping insects, and though they may have found a suitable host in your pet, they will often jump off into bedding and carpet in search of new ones.
There are several ways to eliminate fleas from your pet. However, the only way to eliminate fleas from your home is first to eliminate fleas from your pet. To treat your pet, provide him or her with either topical or oral flea prevention medication.
Whether sold by a veterinarian or a pet store, the medication should break the life cycle of the fleas. Not all medications kill eggs and larvae; some only kill the adult flea. If you need help figuring out what to give your pet, ask your veterinarian.
Once you have treated your pet, you can begin to eliminate fleas from your home. You can try any number of practical ideas to eliminate fleas, but diligence is necessary for success. You should first wash all of your pet’s bedding in hot water, using bleach if possible.
Treat furniture and carpet by thoroughly vacuuming and then dumping the collection bag or container outdoors to eliminate fleas hiding in the bag. If you are comfortable using flea spray in your home, there are many different types that can be used on furniture and carpet. Though not as effective as repeated and thorough vacuuming, flea spray is an additional measure you can take to eliminate fleas.
Keep in mind that if you have not successfully treated your pet, you will be fighting a vicious cycle in your home. Many people mistakenly believe that fleas are prevalent only in the spring and summer, but your pet can get fleas in the fall, too. If you prevent fleas with oral or topical medication, you may not ever have to eliminate fleas from your home. As the saying goes, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” and nothing could be truer when it comes to fleas.
Written by J. Beam
