If you’re a pet owner, it’s very likely your furry friend is going in and out of your house often. When your pet goes outside, fleas can jump on them when they walk around trees, shrubs, tall grass, and leaves. On dogs, cats, and other pets, fleas will likely get on the neck, back, belly, and in and around the ears. Not only can these fleas live on your pets, but they may also invade your living space, causing havoc for you and your pet and potentially a flea infestation in your home.
Once your flea-infested pet comes inside your home, the small, jumpy insects can often hop from your animal and hide in places like furniture, carpet, bedding, and cracks in the floor.
A flea infestation is frustrating, but an organized, structured approach can help you eliminate the problem.
How Long Will It Take to Get Rid of a Flea Infestation?
Once an infestation happens in your home, getting rid of fleas may prove to be hard, since a flea’s life cycle is long. It is estimated that clearing up a moderate to severe flea infestation could take 3-4 months. Usually it involves a four-step process:
- Sanitation (cleaning)
- Pet treatment
- Home treatment
- Prevention
What Are Ways to Get Rid of Fleas?
Specifically, you can try several practical and easy ways to get rid of fleas in your home:
Use preventive measures with your pet
The best way to prevent an infestation in your home is to make certain fleas aren’t landing on your pet’s fur. You can:
- Limit the time your pet spends outside.
- Try to keep your pet from having contact with other animals and strays.
- Check for fleas regularly on your pet. You can part your pet’s fur to check for fleas on the skin.
Invest in products to prevent or repel fleas
There are several products that can help prevent or kill fleas on a pet’s fur. Some options are:
Apply topical products. Products that contain fipronil will kill fleas that have attached. But they won’t necessarily prevent fleas from landing on a pet’s fur. The topical product works usually 24 hours after the fleas have attached. But topical options that contain permethrin will repel and prevent flea attachment. Always make sure the product is right for your pet. Some dog products, for instance, can kill cats.
Put a collar on your pet. Collars do have the ability to repel and prevent fleas (and ticks), but they must be attached closely to the skin. Not all collars are effective, though, and some can cause serious side effects. Always check with your vet to see which ones to use.
Use a flea comb. A flea comb can help get rid of adult fleas. Your pet’s hair will pass through the comb, but the fleas will not. Pay special attention to the neck and tail areas where fleas are likely to gather. Once the fleas are removed, dunk them in hot, soapy water to kill them.
Give your pet a bath or use flea shampoo. Soak your pet in warm water, lather up with nontoxic soap or flea shampoo, and rinse.
Talk to your veterinarian about which product will work best for your pet based on safety and effectiveness. Here are questions to ask:
- How often should the medicine be applied?
- How long will it take the product to work?
- What if my pet has a reaction to the product?
- What if I continue to see fleas even after I’ve used the product?
- Do I need to use more than one product?
Make sure your surroundings are clean and tidy
Wash all pet and family bedding. Every week or two, wash bedding in hot, soapy water. If an infestation is serious, you will likely need to throw it away.
Vacuum every day, especially in places where pets hang out. It is very important to vacuum every day to get rid of larva, eggs, and adult fleas. Vacuuming is one of the best ways to control an infestation. Make sure you get baseboards in the basement, cushioned furniture, carpets, and cracks and crevices on the floor.
Steam clean carpets. Hot steam and soap can kill fleas at any stage of the life cycle. Target areas where pets sleep.
Make certain to patch fences. You want to prevent raccoons, rabbits, and other animals from entering your property since they carry fleas and may pass them along to your pets.
Prevent fleas in your yard. Mowing your yard frequently exposes the soil to sun and limits fleas. Do not overwater, and rake debris frequently. This prevents fleas from having any shady or moist places to breed.
Choose a flea control spray that treats all stages of the fleas. Make certain that the spray or pellet treatment for your yard is nontoxic. You can also call a local exterminator to help with the process.
Show Sources
Photo Credit: iStock/Getty Images
SOURCES:
American Kennel Club: “How to Get Rid of Dog Fleas.”
American Veterinary Medical Association: “Safe Use of Flea and Tick Preventive Products.”
CDC: “Preventing Fleas in the Yard,” “Preventing Fleas on Your Pet,” and “Getting Rid of Fleas.”
Cleveland Clinic: “Flea Bites.”
Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine: “Flea and Tick Prevention.”
Parasite and Vectors: “Efficacy of a new combination of fipronil and permethrin against Ctenocephalides felis flea infestation in dogs.”
Toxics: “Treatment of Permethrin Toxicosis in Cats by Intravenous Lipid Emulsion.”
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: “Controlling Fleas and Ticks Around Your Home.”
