How to Get Rid of Fleas
Many of the typical sprays and powders people use on their pets are not that effective. They tend to work for awhile, then wear off, or get washed off, or just stop working. Also, many people don’t realize that effective flea control requires that you kill the fleas in your home as well as the fleas on your pet.
What’s the most effective way to control fleas?
Many of the topical flea treatments they make today, such as Advantage, Frontline and Program, are very effective. They’re also quite easy to apply, and don’t involve all the muss and fuss associated with most sprays and powders. They’re generally applied between the pet’s coat once a month. They spread over the animal’s whole body, and provide long lasting protection.
Treat your home as well as your pet
In addition to treating your pet, you also need to insure that your home, and any areas that the pet frequents, are free from fleas. The flea life cycle consists of four distinct stages, and during some of these stages the fleas are resistant to typical flea control products. There are specific products and methods you will need to use in your home, yard, and any other areas your pet comes in contact with. Our page on home flea control provides a comprehensive guide to effectively eliminating fleas once they’ve infested your home.
Using natural flea control methods
Instead of using chemical flea treatments on your pet and in your home, you may prefer to try some natural flea control methods. These involve home remedies, such as diatomaceous earth and essential oils, which will kill or deter fleas without chemicals. The first step to effetively controlling fleas without toxic chemicals is to ensure that they’re eating a nutritious diet which will promote their overall health.
Feeding your pet garlic and brewers yeast can help repel fleas. Good grooming is another good way to both be aware of fleas on your pet, and eliminate those that exist. See our natural flea control page for more information.
Regardless of your flea control needs, the information in this site should help you make an informed decision regarding the best products or methods for your particular problems. Throughout the site we also link to external websites which provide more in depth information about fleas and flea control.
Integrated Flea Control
Good information on the flea life cycle, and various flea control products that are available, from the University of Nebraska.Smarter Flea Control
A good summary of flea control methods and products from the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture.
May 5th, 2009 at 1:18 pm
My dog had fleas. I gave hime to shampoos and flea treatments in the last week. I haven’t seen any fleas on him or in my house. Is it a good idea to bomb anyway. It’s been 2 weeks since I’ve treated him but I am afraid to those creepy crawlies.
May 5th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
Hi Nikki,
As we state on this page, flea bombs are not particularly effective. You’re better off following the steps on this website, washing bedding, vacuuming carpets, etc.
If you need to spray, concentrate on the specific areas that are infested. Use a spray that contains both a growth regulator and an insecticide in order to kill both adult fleas and their eggs. Both Knockout and Siphotrol brand sprays are suitable, and available from Entirely Pets.
May 6th, 2009 at 10:43 am
Just another update! I last wrote in on the first of August and have now been flea free since that date. I will still continue to vaccumn every day even tho I don’t see or feel the fleas any longer. I am just going to stay a step ahead in this hot Texas weather to make sure I don’t get them again. As far as seeing eggs like one of the writers inquired about, I have never seen one, but just vaccumn just in case for a while. It is constant attention for a while but the results will be worth it! VACUUM, VACUUM, VACUUM!!! Spot spray as needed. It worked for me and its all I did to get rid of them, but I did it everyday for 2 weeks. Good luck. I am going to get some Nematodes at the merchantile too.
May 6th, 2009 at 11:08 am
I have been flea free for a month now. The daily vacuuming is the ‘key’ to this after spraying your carpets for the fleas. I know had I not vacummed everyday I would more than likely still be having the problem. You can’t just wash & expect them to go away. You have to treat your carpet & vacuum. I never did anything special to clothing other than keeping up with the laundry, so that nothin was laying around for them to gather in. I feel you are fighting an endless battle if you don’t vacuum. James you can live in the tub, but the moment you get out, if your not doing the the previous steps, then you being clean isn’t doing a thing to rid your home of these pests. Good Luck…barefoot & flea free
May 7th, 2009 at 9:02 pm
I hve 2 dogs and a cat, I ahve been having a flea problem for a whle. Both of my dogs continue to get the pests/ I vacuum everyday sometimes more than once I have used 3 shampoos, sprays, frontline and somethings I am sure I just don’t remember/ nothing has worked! I don’t know what else to do!
May 20th, 2009 at 1:33 am
We found fleas in our home, but we don’t have any pets. It’s probably from neighbours cat (she used to sleep on our door mat and now it’s sprayed with anti-cat thing). What’s the best way to get rid of them? We vacuum quite often so I consider extra, natural methods, due to a fact that we have a 6 mths old baby. What herbs/oils are the best to help prevent fleas?
May 20th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
Hi Marcin,
Many people comment on this site with the same complaints you have, i.e. they homes are infested by fleas brought in by other people’s pets. The best you can do is concentrate on vacuuming, and washing any infested bedding or other items you can.
For natural methods, see our natural flea control page for info on using diatomaceous earth, borax, etc. If you’re careful, you might also consider some spot treatments of heavily infested areas with Knockout or Siphotrol brand sprays, which are available from Entirely Pets. These sprays will kill both eggs and adult fleas, and they’re purported to be harmless to humans. At the very least, perhaps you can use them on the areas of your carpets that might be most heavily infested.
June 1st, 2009 at 9:54 am
i have used baby powder and it work real good for fleas on my dogs or use wet tea bafs and rub on your pets and it will help with the itching.
June 4th, 2009 at 11:40 am
Our dogs got fleas last year for the first time in 20 years. I had brought them to get their nails cut and 2 infested kittens had been there before them and that is how they got them.
Anyway, I freaked out and started researching as I dont use chemicals and feed a raw diet.
I bought a 50# box of perma-guard food grade diatomaceous earth online and used this on my dogs. It was a pain as I had to reapply often cause my dogs swim in the summer but it was worth it.
I bought mule team borax at the grocery store and used this on my rugs, in the cracks of my wood floor, under furniture in any rooms the dogs go. I sprinkled it evenly on the rugs and then swept it in evenly even more. I did the same things on the wood floors so it would get in the cracks.
I also vaccummed often but not when I first put the borax down. I bought natural flea spray and used this on the beds.
No more fleas–Yeah. We also had the winter in our favor so they couldn’t get anymore outside. I never got nemotodes as they werent in our yard to begin with. So far they dont have any fleas this season and I dont go to the groomer anymore I do their nails myself. If they did get fleas I have all the supplies from last year.
June 11th, 2009 at 11:13 pm
beyondfleas Says: as we stated on “this page”
May 5th, 2009 at 1:35 pm – page not available –
host not found – ? would like to see if we can find it.
Thanks
June 11th, 2009 at 11:14 pm
Dear Barefoot -
What did you spray your carpet with?
Thanks
July 2nd, 2009 at 6:34 am
I need to know if I use white vineger or apple cider vineger on my cats for flea control and how much. my cats do not go outside. thank you