How to get rid of fleas in your house

Once you have got rid of the fleas on your dog, then the time is come to rid your house of them. Don't underestimate this stage of the flea removal process. After all, if you fail to clear your surroundings of these insects, they are bound to strike back and you will have to start the whole flea treatment from scratch.

Step 1. Wash everything your pet likes to sleep on and/or spend time regularly. This includes bedding as well as rugs, the throw on the sofa, bathroom rug etc. If these objects are past the power of the washing machine (e.g. are full of accumulated dirt inside, where fleas happily reproduce), just throw them away.

Step 2.  Use sprays containing insect growth regulator (IGR) (eg. methoprene or pyriproxyfen), which will prevent the larvae from developing into full-grown blood-thirsty fleas. Room foggers will not be as effective as sprays unless they contain IGR.

Fleas on dogs

The question: “Does my dog have fleas?” has been asked millions of times. Indeed, flea infestation raises a lot of questions. Firstly, how does one figure out that the animal has fleas? Secondly, how does one get about exterminating fleas? And finally: what should be done to ensure that these pesky insects will never come back to haunt us? Well, to find the answers to these questions, just read on.

The species of flea that, as a dog owner, you are most likely to face is the so-called dog flea, Ctenocephalides canis. It feeds on dog and cat blood, though sometimes bites humans, too. Its life cycle consists of 4 stages, whose lengths may differ, depending on the temperature. The cooler it is, the longer it takes for the flea to develop; that is why you most often discover fleas on your pet in the summer.