Getting rid of fleas on your dog alone does not treat the overall flea problem. During the flea cycle only about 5% of fleas are actually living on your dog or cat. The other 95% of fleas are living in your house or yard. That is why it is so important to get rid of the fleas and in your house and on your dog at the same time.
It is important to treat all of your pets and your home on the same day. It is pointless to treat your home and not your pets, and it is also pointless to treat you pet and not your home as each one will re-infest the other if not treated simultaneously.
What you need to get started
Your vacuum cleaner is a very important tool in gaining control over fleas
Step 1 - Get rid of the flea infestation in the house
The first step is to vacuum. It has already been mentioned that only 5% of the fleas are living on your pet and that the other 95% are living in your house or yard. If you have dogs that live inside or regularly come inside the house you need to get rid of the vast majority of the fleas quickly and easily. You can achieve this by vacuuming them up.
This is what you are vacuuming up
EGGS
Fleas that are living on your dog lay eggs.
The eggs drop off your pet and land on your carpet or floor.
LARVAE
The eggs hatch and become larvae.
These little worm like creatures have hair structures which act like legs and enable them to move around.
PUPAE
After a while the larvae pupate. This means that they spin a cocoon around themselves and begin a change. In the cocoon they are changing into adult fleas. It is just like a caterpillar which spins a cocoon and then emerges as a butterfly.
*Important Fact*
While the flea is in the pupal stage (above) it is impervious to insecticides. The cocoon is waterproof and no insecticides can get in to kill the developing flea. This is the reason you must vacuum up as many of these pupae as possible. The vibrations from vacuuming also stimulates the fleas to emerge from their cocoons and they will be exposed to the insecticide that will be used.
Where to Vacuum
Flea eggs fall randomly wherever your dog or cat goes, but once the eggs hatch they become larvae and have hair like bristles on the outside of their body that enable them to move around. This allows them to move to places they feel most comfortable in. They like to get out of the light and into crevices, so when you vacuum pay lots of attention to places such as near base boards, cracks in floorboards and under furniture, beds and rugs.
You will need to purchase a flea spray containing IGR. IGR is short for Insect Growth Regulator. Check the label for this ingredient.
The next step in getting rid of fleas is to spray with the insecticide of your choice. Spray all carpets, rugs and places your pet sleeps with a flea surface spray, flea bomb or fogger that kills flea eggs, larvae and emerging adult fleas. Check the label for for active ingredients. You must use one that contains IGR. (Insect Growth Regulator) Make sure you get into every nook and cranny and pay special attention around base boards and under rugs, beds and furniture. Precor 2000 Plus is a hand held flea fogger. It has both a knockdown agent and a long lasting insect growth regulator. The fog can be directed under furniture and appliances.
Most people will find insecticides in aerosol form easier to apply than liquids unless you have a pressure sprayer.
Don't forget to remove or cover any fish or reptiles that are in the house.
After spraying the insecticide try not to vacuum for about a week if possible as the IGR component will have a residual effect.
What is IGR?
IGR is short for Insect Growth Regulator. IGR acts as Birth Control for Fleas. It is a protein that works on the developing flea eggs and larvae and stops fleas from developing to maturity so they cannot reproduce.
fleas live in the yard?
Yes fleas can live outside the house in sand and gravel. Spray patios, under decks, verandahs, kennels, crevices, along fence lines and anywhere your dog sleeps. It is not usually necessary to spray the entire yard or areas which are exposed to sunlight as the larvae avoid bright places.
The flea spray you use in your house is fine to use in the yard too.
Next wash all of your pets bedding and soft toys. Shake them well and hang them in the sunlight to dry.
STEP 3 - Using a flea product on your dog
The older generation of flea control products (Flea powders, flea collars and dips) are now completely obsolete. The latest treatments are top-spots, which are much safer for both pets and humans. These are applied to the skin, usually between the shoulder blades and the chemicals disperse through the skin’s oils. Usually applied monthly they include Advantage, Frontline and Revolution. Most top-spot flea treatments can be used on puppies from 8 weeks of age.
Have a chat to your vet or vet nurse to find out which Top Spot product would be mo