Fleas carry life-threatening diseases and parasites, such as typhus, bubonic plague and tape worms. They can cause serious allergic reactions in dogs and cats, which require costly medical intervention. In young, old or already ill pets, they can suck enough blood to cause anemia and even death.
How to Control a Serious Flea Infestation
Serious flea infestations can occur in carpeted houses, in yards, especially those visited by feral cats and dogs, and on pets. A walk through the house or the yard in white socks is a good way to check for fleas. If the fleas are visibly hopping onto the socks, an infestation is present.
The best course of action in case of a serious infestation of fleas is to call an exterminator. Often clearing a house of fleas takes several visits. No home remedy will eliminate a serious flea infestation.
At the same time, consult a veterinarian about the best way to rid your pets of current flea infestations.
How to Prevent Fleas
Effective prevention of flea infestations has become relatively simple. Topical products such as Frontline kill fleas within hours of when they jump on your pet. They also have low toxicity and are much less dangerous to a pet than fleas.
Topical products and some heart worm pills, such as Sentinel, contain compounds that interrupt the breeding cycle of fleas or growth inhibitors that prevent larvae from maturing.
Several products, such as diatomaceous earth, are effective when applied to the yard.
Does Bathing Kill Fleas?
Bathing a pet will drown many fleas, especially if a ring of flea shampoo is placed around the pet’s neck to stop the fleas from moving onto the pet’s head to escape the water. However, bathing will not kill every flea and they reproduce at an amazing rate so if even a few remain alive after the bath they will quickly restore the population.
Watering the lawn will also kill some fleas and their larvae but will not eliminate an entrenched flea population in the lawn.
Does Natural Flea Control Work?
Many natural flea control methods and products can be used in combination with or instead of chemicals. However, in case of a serious infection, consult a vet. The low toxicity of current products makes the trade-off favorable for insuring that you are riding your pet of fleas.
Regular vacuuming and washing the pet and pet bedding is another method of controlling the flea population. A flea comb can also be used to remove live fleas, which can be immobilized by alcohol, then removed and dropped in water.
Many herbal products are on the market, including collars and food additives such as garlic, but consult a vet before relying exclusively on herbal products to control fleas.
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