Flea control, a common problem for all pet owners

Almost every dog and cat owner will encounter a problem with fleas in the lifetime of their pet. Even the most well groomed pet, living in the most pristine environment will eventually pick up a flea somewhere. Some pet owners will suffer a full infestation of both their pet and home. When this occurs, the flea infestation is extremely difficult to eradicate unless the pet owner fully understands the life cycle, behavior and habitat of the flea.

The flea

The broad misconception is that the flea is a parasite that lives on furry, warm blooded animals, and feeds on their bodies. This is true only during the short span of the reproduction cycle of the adult flea. The flea is a jumping insect that can jump 400 times its body length. During the short span of its reproduction cycle, the adult flea will hop a ride on your pet long enough feast on a blood meal that is required to produce eggs. This cycle of the flea's life is the only time that they are interested in your dog. Once they have dined on your dog's blood, they remain just long enough to lay eggs (most of which roll off of your pet later,) and then they leave.

Fleas actually prefer to live in small dark crevices of your home, such as under your baseboards, and deep in the dark spaces within your carpet, such as found under your furniture. This is why so many pet owners can't seem to eradicate their flea problem completely. These pet owners treat their dogs and cats for the adult flea infestation on their bodies, but do not treat their home, exterior premise, and vehicle for the fleas and larvae that have not reached the adult breeding stage. It is when the immature fleas reach their adult breeding stage that their pet suffers a re-infestation.

To kill fleas, you must kill all stages of their growth cycle

To kill fleas that have invaded your dog and domicile, you must kill the adult fleas on your dog, and the immature fleas and eggs in your home, yard, and car. Each of these will require a different type of treatment. When killing fleas on your dog, and within your home, you should choose the least toxic method available.

Killing fleas on your dog

The least toxic method of killing fleas on your pet is to choose a flea dip or shampoo that contains the natural insecticide pyrethrin or d-limonene. These are considered safe for dogs, cats, kittens, and puppies. After treating you pet with a flea bath, you should apply a flea control product such as Frontline or Advantage. These are long term flea control products that contain a chemical that sterilizes any fleas that return to bite your pet.

Killing fleas inside of your home

For treating the inside of your home, you will have to use caution. Take the time to fully understand  your choices, and use any treatment agent in limited doses. Understand that cats and small dogs are very reactive to any pesticide toxin that you choose. You may choose to use natural  products that dissipate quickly as apposed to long lasting chemical agents. If you use natural agents such as pyrethrin, D-limonene, linalool, or boric acid (20 Mule Team Borax, )  you should understand that these low toxicity products may still produce low level toxic or allergic reactions in you pets. Their advantage is that they are considered less toxic, and less persistent that chemical pesticides. Be aware that cats are prone to toxicity to pyrethrins in large doses.

If you choose to use boron, boric acid, or Borax brand powder on your carpeted areas, remove your children and pets from the treated area. and test it on a small patch of carpet first, and do not allow it to get wet. Brush the Borax into your carpets well, and allow it to stay for several hours before vacuuming it out. This non-toxic treatment will last for about a year. Remember that fleas love darkness, and naturally burrow in sand. Therefore, you should treat all areas under furniture, and in planters. Your car should be treated just as you treat your home.

Flea treatments for outside of the home

Although pyrethrum sprays are available for outside of the home, they are easily dissipated, and soon become ineffective. It is usually safe to treat your exterior areas with persistent garden chemicals such as carbaryl, Malathion, Sevin, diazinon, and Dursban. Treat the fleas in all of the dark crevices and sandy patches, just as within your home. Don’t allow your pets or children to play in the treated areas for a couple of weeks if treated with garden pesticides.

To kill fleas completely on your pets and in your home, you have to understand their life cycle, habitat, and behavior. You must treat them in all stages of their life cycle instead of just the short reproduction cycle when they are feeding on your pets and family. You must also be cautious in the application of flea control pesticides, and apply the least toxic and persistent agents required to kill the fleas.