Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Things You’ll Need:
- Washing machine
- Flea/tick pet shampoo
- Hot, soapy water
- Flea/tick spray or powder
- Prescription flea-control medication
- Pet flea comb
- Vacuum
- Veterinarian
Step1
The best way to get rid of fleas is by prevention; fleas thrive in heat and humidity (and are most active in summer and fall), so assess your pet and his environment frequently.
Step2
Help prevent fleas indoors by vacuuming your home thoroughly and frequently, paying close attention to corners, cracks, crevices and basements. Dispose of vacuum cleaner bags conscientiously, as adult fleas can escape. Also, choose your pet's friends wisely; avoid animals you suspect may carry fleas. Dog parks are fun, but a move-able feast for fleas!
Step3
Remove any fleas from your pet using a fine-toothed pet comb designed for flea removal, and drop the fleas into soapy water to drown them.
Step4
Wash pet bedding in hot, soapy water weekly; this is the most likely site for flea eggs and larvae.
Step5
Prune foliage and keep grass trimmed short to increase sunlight, as flea larvae cannot survive in hot, dry areas. Remove any piles of yard debris close to your home.
Step6
Bathe pets weekly, if possible, to get rid of fleas. If bathing is not an option, speak to your veterinarian about appropriate alternatives.
Step7
Watch your pet for signs of flea trouble: excessive scratching and biting, especially around the tail and lower back, and possibly raw patches where the animal has been biting and scratching himself. Also watch for 'flea debris' (black, granular dried blood) and fleas themselves on your pet's skin.
Step8
Talk to your veterinarian about various treatments for your flea-plagued pet: a flea adulticide applied monthly to the skin; a monthly pill that prevents fleas from reproducing but doesn't kill adult fleas; and multipurpose products that prevent flea reproduction and control heartworms, hookworms, whipworms and roundworms. Also consider flea collars and flea powders.
Step9
Look into chemical flea-treatment products to apply by hand around the environment in spray or powder form. Ask your veterinarian for a recommendation on the best product and how to use it.
Comments
Teddi14 said
on 7/15/2008 Very informative! I am trying to keep my house from being infested right now. I found some live fleas on the dog last week.
jjcoocoo said
on 7/9/2008 I babysit a couple little kids that I am pretty sure have fleas and now I have fleas in my house and I don't even have pets! I was recently at their house and their pets are covered with them! I know they have to have them too as they have always complained of itching. (this now makes sense being at their house) So now I have a flea problem and my 2yr old daughter is getting bit up, because they always play in her room. What do I do? As long as the kids are in my house they are just going to coninue to bring them in, you can't put a flea collar on chidren. How do I tell their parents that they are infesting my house with bugs? This also worries me because I have my baby in the house. I am afraid to lay him down on the floor to play anymore.
mcfleury95 said
on 7/8/2008 i tryed frontline and it doesn't work at all!
bmi57 said
on 7/2/2008 Great information about those aweful little critters. Thanks for sharing.
bobbie8883 said
on 4/14/2008 The best thing to do is get frontline. This is for fleas and ticks. it is a little pricy, but it will get rid of them. Bathing youe pet often is not good for there coat at all.