Do you want to treat your dog from fleas for the last time? If so, you can check out the following tips on how to treat your dog and your home. Later, infestation prevention tips will also be shared to prevent the same problem from coming back.
Treat your dog
The very first step to deal with fleas on dogs is to treat him. You should be able to target the adult fleas and their larvae.
Killing the latter is essential to ensure your pet will become flea-free.
However, you should ensure that the active ingredients in the treatment also include methoprene or pyriproxyfen to kill even the larvae.
NOTE: Do not bathe your pet for five days after the application of the spot- treatment. The reason behind it is that it works by migrating into your pet’s subcutaneous fat so that his body will be resistant to fleas.
Otherwise, his natural body oils carrying the flea treatment won’t be enough if you bathe him right after the application. In short, the medication will just be washed away, rendering it ineffective.
You can also consider applying an over-the-counter medication that can get rid of the fleas in a matter of hours. With flea-killing shampoo, you can bathe your dog a week after the treatment. However, don’t overdo because it might irritate and dry your pet’s skin. After bathing, use a quality dog dryer, which will safely treat your four-legged friend’s fur.
So in all cases, treat him, but be gentle on his skin.
Treat your home
Right after treating your dog, start treating your home because flea infestation can grow and spread quickly. It is also time consuming and a headache to eradicate when the problem worsens. That is why you need to apply several ways on how to get rid of flea infestation in your home. Check out the following to start.
Steam the carpet up
It is one of the best ways to treat your home from fleas because it can reach deep enough the carpet to stimulate the pupae and make them leave their cocoons.
Steaming is also non-toxic and is a non-chemical way of getting rid of fleas. Choose a powerful steam cleaner that can generate up to 200 degrees Fahrenheit, which is strong and effective enough to use for carpets and upholstery.
Vacuum the carpet
Use it to suck flea eggs, larvae and adult. For the best results, use a flea collar inside the cleaner to kill the eggs that got inside it immediately.
Use flea killers
Some include baking soda and salt (natural flea killer) or insecticides for severe flea infestation.
If using chemicals, you might want to leave it to pest control professionals. They can make use of a safe and effective pesticide that combines adulticide and insect growth regulators.
IGRs, in particular, can get rid of the larvae effectively.
The pros can come up with a great plan and approach on how to get rid of fleas at home based on the level of infestation. They can also apply the flea killers at the right timings and places.
Nevertheless, they can eliminate fleas because they make use of no guesswork but a streamlined process of pest control.
As flea infestation is hard to eliminate when it becomes worse, pest control should be left to licensed pest professionals who have the tools, experience and knowledge to treat the infestation efficiently and safely.
Protect your pet from future infestations
Once you’ve gotten rid of pest infestation, prevent it from coming back! It is the best way to keep a flea-free dog and home. Keep reading in the following section to prevent a future infestation.
- Bring your dog to the vet for a monthly spot-on flea repellant treatment. Also, consult your vet about a preventative medicine against fleas.
- Even if your dog is already flea-free, use flea shampoo on him. You can also make it more natural by adding a few drops of tea tree, lavender or citronella, if the shampoo is a bit harsh.
- Put a flea collar on your dog while he’s playing outdoors especially if you’re living in a flea-populated area. You can take it off him once he’s indoors.
- You can also add garlic and brewer’s year to his food. It may help in repelling fleas.
- Wash his food bowls, sleeping areas and toys on a regular basis.
- Brush your pet’s coat thoroughly after playing outside especially in high grasses or wooded areas.
Final Thoughts
Follow these tips on how to treat your dog’s fleas finally. For the best results, consider getting help from pest control services for a comprehensive approach to treat the infestation in your home and pet. Finally, consider the infestation prevention tips to ensure the fleas won’t return to invade your dog and home.