Dogs and cats are very susceptible to fleas, but they can be protected. To prevent fleas on your pet:
- Limit the amount of time your pet spends outdoors.
- Limit contact with wild and stray animals.
- Bathe and brush pets regularly.
- Check for fleas regularly.
- Fleas prefer warmer and more humid months, but if there is an animal to feed on, fleas can survive year-round.
- Talk to your veterinarian about flea control products that are right for your pet.
- Treat pets for fleas year-round to kill adult fleas and prevent new ones from hatching.
- Always follow product instructions.
- If you find a flea on your pet or in your home, learn how to get rid of fleas right away to avoid further infestation.
Getting rid of fleas is a difficult process due to the long lifecycle of a flea. Moderate to severe infestations will take months to control and require a four-step process for complete elimination:
- Sanitation. Thoroughly clean areas where fleas frequently breed. This includes washing bedding, rugs, and pet bedding, and thoroughly vacuuming and sweeping floors and carpeted areas and along the edges of walls.
- Pet treatment. Every pet in the home must be treated. Thoroughly bathe pets with soap and water, then comb them with a flea comb. Pay careful attention to face and neck regions, and the area in front of the tail. Soap will act as a gentle insecticide to kill adult fleas. Talk to your veterinarian about choosing the right flea control product for your pet.
- Home treatment. Begin home treatment at the same time as pet treatment. This keeps all treatment on the same timeline and helps disrupt the flea life cycle. A licensed commercial pest control applicator can help you determine which products are best for inside your home and in the yard. In general, focus outdoor treatment on shady areas and places where pets spend the most amount of time.
Follow-up. Fleas have a complex life cycle. At some stages of their life cycle, they are resistant to insecticides and other flea control products. To get rid of fleas in all stages of the life cycle, two or more follow-up treatments within a couple weeks will be needed after the first application. Additionally, vacuuming and sanitation practices should be ongoing throughout this period to pick up all remaining eggs and juvenile fleas.