Flea activity in California and Nevada is on the rise this time of year, and many pet owners are finding them harder to fight off than ever. Several new studies have shown that fleas are becoming increasingly resistant to at-home treatments such as Frontline® and Advantage®. This makes ridding your pets, home or business of this pest even more difficult.
For May’s Bug of the Month we will look at the “flea facts”, how to get rid of them, and how to keep them out.
There are several types of fleas, the most common in California and Nevada being the cat flea and the dog flea. The cat flea is the more aggressive of the two, commonly known to infest both cats and dogs despite the name. Many people believe that once their pet is treated for fleas, their problems are over. They could not be more wrong.
Female cat fleas lay about 400-500 eggs in their lifetime, which each hatching in about 1-12 days. Since they prefer to lay their eggs between or on hairs, the eggs are often brushed or shaken off in common pet sleeping or resting areas. The eggs can hatch and survive without a host and adult fleas can survive for months without a meal, feeding off of stored body fat. So how do you get rid of these tricky pests?
Get Rid of Fleas This Spring
Treat the Pet
A good first step is to treat your cat, dog, or other infested pet/s with flea products found at most pet stores. Regular flea baths or topical flea treatments are recommended throughout the warm season. If your pet is already infested, use a flea comb to remove fleas and eggs before and after treatment.
Spring Cleaning
Once your pet is treated, the home will need some attention as well. All couches, chairs, floors, and especially pet resting areas should be vacuumed thoroughly. Be sure to vacuum along all floor edges and corners, behind furniture, in every room. Even if you have not seen fleas on your bed, all bedding should be washed as well. This is especially true if pets are allowed on the bed. Pet beds, pillows, or anything else they may have come into contact with should be washed if possible.
House Arrest
If your pets are inside-outside pets, you may want to temporarily keep them inside after treatment so they do not bring more fleas in with them.
Professional Treatment
If the problem persists after taking these steps, you are not alone. Many local pet owners have found that taking the usual steps have failed to produce the same results seen in years past.
Having a licensed pest control technician come in to treat your home or business is a great way to take that extra step. At Advanced IPM, our flea treatments are effective and reliable and can last month’s depending on your cleaning schedule. Had enough pet pest stress? Give us a call today for an expert opinion and free quote from one of our friendly professionals.
