No matter how clean your dog or how spotless your house is, there are times when unwelcome guests may visit you.
Despite its diminutive size, the flea is a mighty adversary and should not be underestimated! You’ll want to get rid of fleas as soon as you notice there’s a problem to prevent a full-blown flea infestation. So what is the best way of getting rid of fleas in the house?
All about fleas
They may be a complete pain, but the flea is quite remarkable. Not only are there over 2,000 species and subspecies of fleas, but a single female is capable of laying between 40-50 eggs a day for around 50 days. That’s a whopping 2,000 eggs in a lifetime.
Without wanting to sound like a flea fan, here are some other facts about our flea foes;
Flea Facts
- Adult fleas feed on blood; they will use humans, birds, dogs, cats, reptiles, hedgehogs, and any number of other animals as their hosts.
- Although there are over 2,000 different species of fleas, the most common Ctenocephalides felis or the cat flea is the one that is most likely to be found on your dog or in your home.
- A female flea consumes 15 times her own body weight in blood each day
- A flea can survive for more than 100 days without a meal
- A flea can live from 14 days up to 1 year
- Although fleas can’t fly, they can jump 150 times their own height, which’s around 8 inches.
- Fleas have four stages of life; egg, larva, pupa, and adult
- It’s only adult fleas that feed on dogs
- Larvae burrow into bedding, fabrics, and carpets
- Flea larvae feed on organic debris, including the feces of adult fleas
- When a flea jumps on a dog, it will start to feed within 5 minutes and may suck blood for over 2 hours
- A single flea can live on a dog for up to 2 months
- Around 95% of flea eggs live in the environment, not on your dog
- Although most eggs will hatch within two days, if the conditions aren’t right, they can remain in a pupae state for months
- Fleas are tiny, between 1/16th and 1/8th of an inch long
If you’re still not impressed by their survival tactics, you should be. The flea’s adaptability is what makes flea control so tough once they have established a community in your home.
How do I know if my dog has fleas?
Adult fleas are small. They are relatively easy to see if your dog has a bad infestation. However, they can be trickier to find on a cat or dog with a thick, dense, or curly coat.
Even if you haven’t seen any adult fleas, there are signs that you can look out for that may indicate a flea problem:
- Your dog is scratching more than usual
- Licking or grooming more than usual
- Dark specs appear in your dog’s fur
- You have bites
What is flea dirt?
If you suspect that your dog may have fleas, then check your dog’s skin and coat. Fleas like warm places, so check your dog’s armpits, groin, and base of the tail. Although you may not see a flea, if there are signs of blood, dirt, or the areas that look particularly sore, then your dog may have fleas.
If you are still not sure, invest in a flea comb and grab a piece of white paper or tissue. Flea combs are designed with closely set teeth so that they trap the fleas as you pull the comb through your dog’s coat.
As you comb your dog hold the white paper under the comb and see if any fleas or flea dirt falls onto the surface. If there is debris, wet the paper, and any flea dirt will turn a reddish-brown color as it gets wet.
Best way of getting rid of fleas in the house
If you have confirmed that your dog is carrying unwanted passengers, it’s important to tackle the problem on two fronts; you must treat your dog and your home to successfully get rid of fleas.
Treat your home
As only the adult fleas live on your dog, around 90% of the population live in the environment. They can infest your dog’s bedding, carpets, and anywhere where your dog spends time. Don’t forget the places that he’s not allowed, like couches and beds! These will need to be treated too.
Vacuum thoroughly
Vacuuming will remove around half of the flea eggs from carpets and hard floors. If you allow your dog on the furniture, you need you to do that too. If you have a vacuum with a bag, you will need to seal and discard the bag after you have finished. This prevents the fleas from re-infesting your home when you next vacuum.
Wash all of your dog’s bedding
Wash anything that your dog has had contact with. This includes throws, chair covers, and pet bedding. If you know that your dog sneaks up on beds and sofas when you are not there, you need to wash as many of these items as possible.
Don’t forget your car.
If your dog regularly travels in your car, you will also need to vacuum and wash as much as you can in hot soapy water.
Apply insecticides
You will need to use some form of flea control treatment. As the flea has 4 stages to its life cycle, all 4 of the stages must be targeted to eradicate the flea infestation. Remove food, plants, your family, and any other pets, including your dog, before spraying your house with any treatment.
Flea treatments
You have a lot of choices when it comes to flea treatments. Most commercially available flea control sprays for use in the home are chemical-based. Although effective, they can cause issues if used regularly or over a long time. If you prefer a more natural approach, there are plenty of alternatives to get rid of fleas.
If you are diligent, there is no reason for a flea problem to get out of hand. However, if you feel that you are losing the battle against these petite pests, then you can always call in professional pest control services to take care of the problem for you. It would help if you still treated your dog to prevent re-infestation but getting your house professionally cleaned will help you regain control.