How to get rid of fleas

Flea prevention and control are a challenge that every cat and dog owner faces.

It is much easier and less expensive to prevent a flea problem than to treat a flea problem!

Successful flea control requires two steps:

STEP 1

Eliminating fleas from your pet(s). The consistent, monthly use of high quality flea preventatives on all pets in the household will diminish or eliminate the likelihood of a flea infestation in your home.  All flea prevention products are NOT created equal–we can guide you in the appropriate choices of products for your situation.

When there are already fleas on the pets, it is unreasonable to believe that one application of ANY product will resolve the problem.  It will likely take several months to kill all fleas in the environment and may require the use of multiple products.

STEP 2

Eliminating all four stages of the flea life cycle (egg, larva, pupa, adults) from the environment.

The eggs are laid on the pet’s skin, then fall off into the environment where the larvae hatch in 14 to 28 days.

Flea larvae move away from light and deep into carpet fibers, under furniture, under leaves, soil etc in order to feed on organic debris.

Flea pupae produce a sticky, protective cocoon and can survive up to 9 months waiting for appropriate environmental conditions (warmth and humidity) for adults to emerge.  During the pupal stage, they are resistant to environmental insecticides.

The adult flea moves toward light to find a passing host to feed on.  Two days after a blood meal, the flea lays eggs and the cycle starts again.  Adult fleas live up to three weeks and lay about 40 eggs per day!

In an early infestation, step number 1 (eliminating fleas from the pets) may also take care of step number 2 (eliminating fleas from the environment).  However, in heavier or more long-standing infestations, you may also need to treat the home environment with a quality product that not only kills adult fleas, but also contains an insect growth regulator to destroy the eggs and larvae.  Again, not all products are created equal.  We can guide you in the choice of products for your situation.

Persevere and do not despair!  Flea problems CAN BE SOLVED!