So you found a flea on your pet? Fleas are sneaky little pests -- they can have you fooled into thinking you are in the clear, when in reality their eggs are lying in wait in your carpet. Take back control of your home from the tenacious flea with these 5 steps.
1. BATHE PETS REGULARLY
It’s best to give your pet a bath every two to three weeks, and not more often since you don’t want to strip their coat of necessary oils. Shampoos that contains natural moisturizers like oatmeal, coconut extract, lanolin, and aloe can be soothing to your pet's skin.
2. MEDICATIONS
Oral tablets and other medications control fleas on pets for longer stints, typically one to three months. Be sure to check with your vet before pairing collars, flea baths, and medications, or any combination thereof. You don’t want to overdose your pet.
3. CLEAN CARPETS AND FLOORS
The same day you bathe and groom your pet, be ready to clean house, literally. Adult fleas can lay up to 50 eggs a day and the majority of them will fall into your carpet and hatch into larvae that can burrow deep into carpet fibers. You’ll want to shampoo your rug and wash your floors.
Regular vacuuming is also necessary, since it will pull the fleas, larvae, and eggs from the carpet. Just be sure to empty the bag regularly; if not, the eggs may hatch and cause re-infestation. It also helps to drop a flea collar into the vacuum bag as a preventive measure. When it comes to hardwood floors, you’ll want to focus on the room’s corners and beneath moldings.
4. CLEAN BEDDING AND UPHOLSTERY
This includes not only your pet’s bedding, but also your bedding and any furniture your pet likes to lounge on or near. You’d be surprised how many eggs are hidden, and larvae nestled, beneath couch cushions. Dry cleaning is a great option for bedding and removable furniture covers.
5. CLEAN THE YARD
Keeping a clean home also entails keeping an eye on what’s being tracked into it. If your pet is an outdoor pet, there’s the chance they are bringing the infestation in from your yard. Common areas of infestation include patio furniture, under decks, along fencing, shrubs and bushes your pet may like to rest under, and doghouses.
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