Fleas have to be the most annoying thing that most pet owners inevitably deal with at one time or another. The hardest part of getting rid of fleas is that they seem to just keep coming back. Most often the reason that fleas “keep coming back” is that you never fully got rid of them in the first place. The second you notice your pet might have fleas, you have to start the flea control process immediately, as time is of the essence when it comes to stopping fleas from multiplying.
There are two significant areas that will require your attention. You must pay attention to both areas otherwise you will never win the battle against a flea infestation. The first and most obvious area of attention is your pet itself. The second area of importance is killing the fleas that have jumped off or have fallen off your pet and now live in your carpets or linens. The second category also includes flea larvae.
There are a number of different ways to treat fleas on your dog. You can use commercially available flea products such as Frontline. This is often the most effective method of flea eradication. These products can easily be found in your local pet store. Some people don’t like to use these products and would prefer a natural way of getting rid of fleas. You can try to get rid of fleas naturally using such things as talcum powder, garlic, and olive oil. Each of these methods id effective in getting rid of fleas.
After you have gotten rid of the fleas on your dog, you now have to turn your attention to the fleas and ‘soon to be fleas’ flea eggs, larvae and pupae. Begin this process by washing all clothes, sheets, blankets, cushions, stuffed toys, that are in the areas that your dog has been in. All of these items have the potential to house fleas in different stages of their life cycle. Wash in hot water and if your items can’t be dried in the dryer then hang them to dry in the sun.
After washing all of the bedding, you will need to vacuum every where the dog or cat has slept. Be very careful to vacuum everywhere. Remember to remove the vacuum bag after vacuuming and seal it to prevent the fleas from hopping back out. If possible, steam clean your carpets and sofas. While steam cleaning your belongings use the hottest water possible.
Once fleas have moved into your house, regaining a flea free house is a tough job, but it is possible. You need to be very persistent and thorough with cleaning all areas of your house, and ridding your dog of fleas. Once you have gotten rid of all fleas, remember to keep up the cleaning and flea treatment, since you may see a re-infestation if you have missed some of the flea eggs and larvae. If you continue the cleaning cycle periodically after the first cleaning, you will be able to catch any fleas missed the first time around and end the cycle.
