A Cheap & Easy Way to Get Rid of Fleas
Inexpensive topical and oral chemical and organic flea treatments can be used to rid your pet, home and yard of fleas. Products can be purchased through your veterinarian, at the local pet store, online or at the supermarket, depending on the product type. Applying topical prescribed flea treatments to your cat or dog at the first sign of fleas and then monthly thereafter will kill live fleas and flea eggs and prevent re-infestation. By comparison, shopping for the best prices and discounts online and applying products yourself can keep costs down.
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Things You'll Need
- Prescribed Flea Medicine For Your Pets, such as Advantage, Frontline or Revolution
- Capstar Oral Flea Products
- Flea Comb
- Borax to Sprinkle on carpets
- Vacuum Cleaner
- Flea Bomb or Aerosol Spray
- Outdoor Yard Flea Product
- Soap, Hot Water and Mop
Instructions
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Ridding Fleas Inexpensively
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Treat your household dog or cat as soon as you discover fleas. Use a topical prescribed flea medicine. Apply the medicine to the back of your pet's neck by parting the fur and applying it to the skin. Repeat the treatment monthly. Capstar oral flea treatment is also a cheap way to kills live fleas within a half hour of application in combination with your topical flea treatment. Capstar is only effective for the first 24 hours and does not prevent re-infestation. Capstar can be administered as often as necessary within a 24-hour period. Six Capstar tablets cost around $21. Only prescribed topical treatments prevent fleas from returning to your pet. Prices for prescribed flea products vary from $60 to about $85 for a six-month supply. After applying treatments, comb through your pet's fur to remove dead fleas and flea dirt.
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Wash pet areas and pet bedding with hot soap and water. Treat carpets with an inexpensive carpet flea powder or borax. Sprinkle it on the carpet, wait 24 to 48 hours, and keep pets and children away from the area during treatment. Vacuum the carpets, remove the bag from your vacuum and toss the bag in the garbage..You may have to repeat the cleaning every few days until there are no more visible signs of fleas. Steam clean your carpets if you don't want to use chemicals.
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Purchase a veterinary-strength flea bomb and treat each room of your house. Leave your home and take your pets and children with you while the bomb is working. Read the instructions for the correct time for when it is safe to return.
For alternative methods, use an aerosol spray or organic flea killing products purchased online. Fleas are difficult to get rid of because flea larvae can remain in your home under carpets and in cracks. When the larvae hatch, fleas re-infest your home. Repeat the process if you continue to see fleas in your home.
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Treat your yard with veterinary-strength outdoor flea applications or organic products to rid the yard of fleas and avoid fleas from coming in your home again. Plant pennyroyal in your yard to rid your yard of fleas naturally, without having to use pesticides and chemicals.
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Homemade remedies can be used to rid your pets of fleas. Check with your veterinarian first before using them. Sprinkle 2 teaspoons a day of brewer's yeast or garlic on dog food for dogs 50 lbs. or more, a 1/2 to 1/4 teaspoon a day on dog food for smaller dogs and 1/8 of a teaspoon a day on cat food. Do this more no more than two weeks. Boil two cups of water and a sliced lemon, let it stand for 12 hours, put it in a spray bottle and spray on your pet to rid your pet of fleas.
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Tips & Warnings
Comparison shop for the best prices and discounts at the pet store or online, and ask your veterinarian to match the prices. Read labels for health and safety warnings.
Certain flea products may require a prescription from your veterinarian. Check with your veterinarian before purchasing them.
Chemical flea bombs, aerosols and yard sprays may be harmful to your pets and to humans, so make sure you and your pets leave your home when bombing or spraying.
Wear gloves and a mask when you are applying treatments. Wash your hands with hot soapy water after applying treatments. Avoid getting the chemicals on your skin or near your eyes. Run the air conditioning or fans and open windows to help dry the chemicals and remove odors from your home.
Chemical flea medications should not be given to pets that weigh less than 2 pounds or are younger than 4 months of age.
