Get Rid of Fleas In Your Home!
Most
home flea problems are associated with cats and dogs. If your pet scratches often or you are noticing flea bites on
your or your family, (usually on ankles and lower legs) you may be experiencing
a flea infestation.
Fleas
Can Cause:
-
Bubonic Plague & Other Diseases
-
Anemia in animals
-
Hot Spots - infections resulting from an animal biting or scratching a spot on its body
-
Tapeworms - ingestion of the flea may lead to tapeworms in pets
A long-term program for flea control is needed due to the life cycle of fleas, which can take between 2 weeks and 1 year to complete. The effectiveness of a flea control program depends on keeping your pet and its environment clean, and on the proper use of flea control products when needed.
Flea Life Cycle
Eggs
A
female can lay up to 2,000 eggs in her lifetime.
With a lifecycle as short as a few weeks you can imagine how quickly an
infestation can occur. The female lays her eggs on your pet, but because the eggs
are not sticky, they fall off around your home and your pet’s favorite places.
Larvae
Larvae hatch from the eggs once environmental conditions are right (spring through fall in most places). They feed on particles of dust and partially digested blood that is excreted by adults. At this stage larvae can be found in bedding, carpet fibers, cracks in the floor, and other places that your pet spends time.
Pupae
When
the larvae are ready they spin a silk cocoon and become pupae.
This is the stage where they transform into adult fleas.
The cocoon is very sticky and clings tightly to its surroundings.
When the flea is fully developed, it waits until vibrations, increased
carbon dioxide, and heat stimulate it to literally jump out of its cocoon!
Adults
The adults need to get a blood meal within two weeks of emerging from their cocoon or they will die. To cope with this, fleas not only wait to emerge from their cocoons until there are animals nearby, they also can jump up to 150 times their size! This is why it is easy for your pet to get fleas from an area where other animals have been. This is also the life stage were fleas transmit diseases.
Help
I have fleas! What do I do?
Vacuum
Vacuuming
will not only pick up some adults, eggs and larvae, but the vibrations and heat
may stimulate pupae to hatch and be eliminated before they can bite.
Thoroughly vacuum all areas of your home, especially where your pet
spends most of its time. Pay particular attention to carpets and upholstered
furniture. Discard vacuum bag
outdoors in a plastic bag to prevent fleas from escaping. This needs to be repeated at least weekly.
Wash
Bedding
Wash
all bedding your pet may have used (including your bedding) and machine dry on
hot cycle. You may need to repeat
this weekly until the infestation is under control. Discard any cardboard boxes
used for pet beds.
Treat
Indoors
Use
all flea control products according to label directions.
Treat
Pets
Treat
all pets on the same day. Thoroughly
bathe your pet with a flea shampoo. Be
sure to read the label as some products may be dangerous for cats.
Talk
to your vet about flea control products that can control fleas for up to two
months. These are commonly in pill
or spot application form and are highly effective.
Check
with your vet on use of flea collars as some are highly toxic and many are not
effective.
Treat
Yard
Mow
grass, rake and bag leaves prior to spraying.
Use a hand can type sprayer or a hose attachment sprayer.
Dilute product according to label directions and apply to yard.
Pay particular attention to areas where your pets spend the most time
(runs and sleeping areas). Repeat
as label indicates.
The information in this web page is also available in a brochure.
For More Information:
(530) 365-3768