Did you know the fleas you see on your pet only make up 5% of the total flea population in your home? Fleas are annoying, dangerous, hard-to-kill pests that feed off your pet's blood. When a flea bites, it causes your pet to scratch, which can lead to skin infections, flea allergy dermatitis, and hot spots. Worst of all, when your pet is chewing or licking himself or herself, a flea can accidentally be swalllowed, which causes tapeworm!
Even cold temperatures outside don't protect your pet and home from fleas. Truth is, your home's warmth could increase the likelihood of harboring fleas indoors and on your pet! That's why it's important to treat your pet and home each month to prevent future flea infestations.
Don't let your pet suffer: complete the four steps below to get fleas out of your home and away from your pet!
Treat Your Pet
If you haven't done so already, bathe your pet and wash his or her fur with a
flea killing shampoo, like Be Flea Free Shampoo, or give Capstar and apply Frontline Spray. All three products kill fleas on contact and help stop scratching. Make sure to apply a flea and tick preventative like Flea4X for Dogs or Flea3X for Cats each month to stop fleas from jumping back on your pet.
Use carpet spray - use sprays on carpets and upholstery in the home. Fleas love dark places, so spray under furniture and in crevices.
Fog your house - some foggers last in your home up to 7 months, which in most cases is enough time to kill all the life stages of a flea. You may need to use 2-3 foggers depending on the size of your home. Learn how to fog your home.
Spray your yard - fleas can attach to clothing and shoes and come into your home to feed on your pet. Kill fleas before they come into your home with a yard spray.
Tip: In order to kill all the flea life stages, you MUST treat your home and yard again - 3 to 4 weeks after your first treatment.
Thoroughly Clean Your Home
Cleaning your home is a very important step to eradicating a flea problem. Vacuuming, sweeping and mopping help get the eggs, larvae, and pupae out of your carpets, upholstery, tile, and wood floors.
Vacuum all the carpets & rugs in your house.
Throw away the bag each time - Flea pupae will hatch from the vibrations your vacuum causes. Throw away the vacuum bag so newly-hatched fleas can't jump back into your carpet.
Sweep & mop any tile or wood flooring - it may seem silly, but since fleas love dark places, they can live in your baseboards as well.
Wash your pet's bedding - fleas love to nest in the same place your pet does to keep feeding on him or her. Don't just take the cover off of your pet's bed, since fleas can be hiding in the stuffing as well.
Wash your pet's toys - Fleas and eggs will definitely hide in your pet's toys, so wash toys thoroughly. If you can't wash one of your pet's toys, it is best to throw it out.
Tip: Wash all of your and your pet's belongings in
hot water to kill fleas and flea eggs.
...And Don't Forget to Prevent it From Happening Again!
Flea infestations are very hard to get rid of. It's not uncommon to see fleas days or even weeks after you have treated your home.
Vacuum carpets, rugs, and furniture regularly (this is the single best defense against an infestation).
Sweep tile and wood floors, focusing on baseboards and crevices.
Don't leave belongings outside for an extended period of time. Fleas attach themselves to shoes and other items that you have taken off at the door and then hitchhike into your home when you bring the items indoors.
Use a natural borax treatment, which can work for up to a year without causing harm to your family and pets.
Spray your yard for fleas with a yard spray and make sure to focus on shady, moist, dark areas.
