A common pet owner annoyance that happens once the warm weather hits is the inevitable flea infestation. For many, it must seem that as soon as you get rid of the last batch, it just starts all over again. Regardless of how recently you were able to get rid of the fleas in your house, it is important not to waste even a single day if you discover fleas again. Once you see a single flea, the quicker you attack them, the easier your flea control will be.
There are two significant areas that will require your attention. You must pay attention to both areas otherwise you will never win the battle against a flea infestation. The first and most obvious area of attention is your pet itself. The second area of importance is killing the fleas that have jumped off or have fallen off your pet and now live in your carpets or linens. The second category also includes flea larvae.
The first step is to remove your dog from your house so he is not re-infected as soon as you give him a good flea bath or treatment. Killing the fleas on your dog will involve either a chemical treatment, such as Advantage or Frontline, or a more natural solution such as olive oil baths, garlic treatments or talcum powder. You can follow up the natural treatment with a flea comb. I wouldn’t suggest a flea comb if you’ve used a flea medication, since these can be pretty toxic chemicals. This might be one reason you choose to get rid of dog fleas naturally.
After you have gotten rid of the fleas on your dog, you now have to turn your attention to the fleas and ‘soon to be fleas’ flea eggs, larvae and pupae. Begin this process by washing all clothes, sheets, blankets, cushions, stuffed toys, that are in the areas that your dog has been in. All of these items have the potential to house fleas in different stages of their life cycle. Wash in hot water and if your items can’t be dried in the dryer then hang them to dry in the sun.
Once everything that you can pick up has been washed, you need to go through the house top to bottom, everywhere your dog has been, and vacuum. Be especially careful to vacuum corners and cracks in floorboards, in closets, under beds, and all your upholstery. Even better, steam clean your carpets and upholstered furniture to get rid of flea eggs and larvae. Throw out your vacuum bag once you have finished the task, which will prevent fleas from escaping, or larvae from hatching and re-infesting your house.
If your dog has fleas, getting rid of them is not a simple task, but it is possible. You have to remember to be consistent with keeping your dog away from new fleas, and cleaning and re-cleaning your house to get rid of any new fleas that were missed in the first round of cleaning. Eventually you will win the battle against fleas and you and your pet will have a much happier summer.