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Step 1
To establish whether or not fleas have all ready invaded your home and your pet you must first look for signs of their presence. If your pet is scratching, biting, or chewing areas of his or her body this is a good indication of fleas or other pests that may be on your pet. Spread your pet's hair apart with your fingers. Look for small black-brown, pointed bodied bugs moving around. Although you may not see the fleas hidden, you may see black dander from the fleas on your pet's skin. Many animals have allergies to fleas and their skin may be red and irritated upon examination. You can also check your pet for fleas by running a fine toothed comb through your pet's fur. The comb will excrete possible fleas along with their dander they leave behind on the animal's skin.
Fleas like warm environments they can hide in. Fleas will jump around looking for a host. You may notice them jumping out of carpet, upholstery, and linens. If you have tile floors they will be even more noticeable jumping around as they will be on a non fiberous surface and they are less concealed. Check corners of base boards, window sills and areas where your pet rests in the home. Although fleas may not be visible, it is important to keep your eyes peeled for their black dander that resembles a dirt like substance. This is the flea's waste and eggs. -
Step 2
To remove or repell fleas from your pet it is important to keep your pet clean. Although soap and water will wash the fleas out of the pet's fur, it may not kill them. I have found that pine oil and peppermint oil are very effective in killing fleas on your pet as well as being a "green" alternative. These oils naturally have a strong smell that can irritate your pet's sensitive nose. They can also give a "tingle" or "burn" sensation to your pets already sensitive skin. So look for pet shampoos that contain these natural alternatives. I use "Dr. Bronner's all natural peppermint hemp soap". This is a very strong soap and will burn the eyes and genitals of your pet so dilute, dilute, dilute. This soap is also good for mopping floors, putting in with your dirty laundry, and using on a rag to wipe down surfaces. It will leave your home smelling fresh and kills pesky fleas and their laid eggs in the process.
When washing your pet, you may notice the water coming off is a brown or red color. This is the flea's dander coming off of your pet's skin and fur. Always wash your pet until the water runs clear. Fleas will run to the pets nose, eyes, and ear areas. Keep the cleanser out of your pets eyes and have a wash cloth or rag on hand that you can scrub the pets face with. Check your pet's ears for cleanliness. Fleas, ticks, and mites can burrow in the ear canal of your pet and cause pain, hearing problems, and repeat infestations. I once found a dog that had such severe parasites in her ears that she was temporarily deaf. She had to undergo surgery to rid the parasites from her inflammed ear canal.
Keep pet beds and rugs clean. If you have carpet and upholstered surfaces it is important to vaccum atleast once everyday. These fiberous areas are prime hiding places for fleas. If you are experiencing an infestation in your home, you may want to consider steam cleaning your upoholstered areas to kill any fleas or eggs left behind. -
Step 3
Consult with your veterinarian on internal and topically medications that kill and/or repell parasites on your pet. An outbreak can be a result of many factors and simply bathing your pet may not rid the problem.
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Step 4
Your yard may be a pesky situation as well. I experience an infestation in my own yard every year as a result of dry weather and my neighbor's numerous dogs. Try treating your yard with seven dust or having it sprayed professionally by a pest control company. We have found that fleas like dry conditions so we run water on the lawn as much as possible. During the rainy season fleas are never a problem! Consider a mulch that contains eucalyptus or cedar oils in it. These are also natural "green" repellants for pests. But with time the mulch oils will become less potent and the mulch will need to be replaced.
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Step 5
Check your other animals and treat them also. When my dogs have fleas, my cats also have fleas, even though they reside in different areas of our home. Fleas will jump until they find another host. Just by your pet passing by another pet in the home, their can and normally will have cross contamination with the pests.
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Step 6
Be aware of areas you take your pet. A veterinarian's office, park, or neighbors yard may be a location where your pet picks up fleas. Having your pet on a parasite medication from your vet will protect him or her during times of exposure.
Comments
dwblack said
on 11/12/2009 Dander is not synonymous with feces. Dander is the term used to refer to minute skin or hair cells that sometime cause an allergic reaction. Does this article intend to suggest that the skin cells of fleas pile up and are visible or does the author mean to say that the fecal matter of fleas piles up and may be seen?