You may hate fleas, but they love you and your pets. They may also look tiny and harmless, but given the chance, the little monsters can cause great distress and very bad allergies to your pets, and great stress to you as the pet owner as well.
Fleas reproduce very quickly, especially during the summer months. You may only see a couple on your pet today, but if ignored, they can multiply to thousands in less than a month.
The worst thing about fleas is that they are also capable of bringing diseases as well as other parasites similar to them to your home. Now, the question is, “How are you going to stop them?”
Understanding the Flea’s Life Cycle
Perhaps the key to preventing fleas from multiplying and wreaking havoc among your pets and in your household is understanding the life cycle of fleas. This knowledge alone can help you go one step ahead of your adversary and prevent a potential infestation. First, you need to understand that fleas go through four life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Most of the fleas you see on your pets are adult fleas and they are usually just 5% of the total number of fleas hiding in your home. To get rid of the fleas, you need to attack them right where they live – on your pets.
Preventative Measures
There are several ways to deal with fleas. Some of them are by natural means, and some with the help of commercial products. In most cases, it’s ideal to use natural means as they are safer for both you and your pets. However, you need to realize, too, that using flea preventative products such as Comfortis for dogs is a more efficient way to get rid of fleas. The good news is there are now a number of brands that produce anti-flea products that are both safe and effective to use.
Dealing with Fleas from the Inside Out
There are two approaches to dealing with fleas among your pets. One is to kill the fleas from the outside using a specialized spray designed for getting rid of flea eggs and larvae living in your carpets, rugs, and furniture. Dealing with fleas from the outside may also mean applying topical creams on your pet.
A second approach is dealing with the culprits from the inside, and that means letting your pets take oral medication designed not just to get rid of fleas, but also to treat pets suffering from allergies as a result of flea infestation. Most of these medications are designed to protect one dog for an entire month.
Keeping your home flea-free is not a one-time process, and you should understand that prevention is always better than cure. This means you should check your pets and your home for infestation regularly and apply the necessary steps to solve the problem. This involves giving your pets oral medication until they are totally free from fleas and allergies. This also means treating all of your pets even if you’ve only detected infestation in one.
Pet Lover's Guide 