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How to get rid of fleas on pets?
How to get rid of fleas on pets?
Fleas are certainly an annoying pest. These tiny blood-sucking insects are well-known for their very irritating and itchy bites, they will hop on your pets and very quickly become a nuisance in your home. Even before you observe an unusual itchy and erratic behavior in your pets, these ectoparasites would have already established themselves in your home, with eggs scattered around bedding, carpets, cabinets, sofas, and various thick materials. And being very tiny, these eggs are very difficult to detect.
The very first sign of fleas in your home, or any home at all, is usually itching from the bites of adult fleas. Fleas are ectoparasites and blood-suckers, in other words, they live on the body of host animals and feed on only blood. They have well-adapted needle-like mouthparts for piercing the bodies of their host animals and subsequently sucking blood to their fill, leaving behind small itchy red bumps or rashes. If you have noticed your pets itching and you suspect these annoying little jumpers may be the cause, then here are ways to get rid of fleas on your pets.
Inspect Your Pet for Fleas
First, inspect your pet to confirm that they actually have fleas. Though very tiny, these insects are visible to the naked eye. Fleas are about 2.5 mm long and with reddish-brown bodies. Look for fleas on your pet by gently parting their fur and carefully looking for these bloodsuckers. You can also use a flea comb to comb through your pet’s fur in search of fleas. If you see tiny insects that jump off when you immediately expose them, small red bumps or rashes on your pet’s skin, or tiny black specks that look very much like pepper specks which are flea droppings, then that’s a confirmation. Ensure you wear gloves while doing this to protect your hands because fleas also bite humans.
Getting Rid of Fleas
After the inspection, if you confirm that your pet has fleas, then here are the steps to follow to get rid of these creepy-crawlies irritating your pet. Get ahold of a flea comb and a small bowl of warm soapy water. Take your time to thoroughly comb your pet’s fur with the comb, and dunk the comb and the tiny insects into the soapy water.
Don’t try to crush them with your fingers as they will quickly jump away, they are very fast. While combing, concentrate around the neck, tail, and underbelly of your pet because these are the areas fleas love to hide in.
Next, give your pet a good shower using a flea shampoo. Flea shampoo contains chemicals that kills fleas and one of the most effective of these chemicals is pyrethrin which is extracted from the chrysanthemum flowers. You can also find out from your vet the best flea shampoo option for your pet. Your vet may also recommend some other flea remedies such as anti-flea powder to put on your pet to kill any tiny bloodsucker hiding in their fur. Give your pet’s bedding a good wash with hot water and set the dryer on the highest heat setting. Wash the bedding every couple of days for at least 2 weeks to make sure every trace of fleas including the eggs, larvae, and pupae, are completely removed.
Also, wash your bedsheets especially if your pet shares your bed with you every once in a while. Wash them the same way you washed your pet’s bedding. Since your pet has fleas, there will be traces of these insects around your home. Take the time to carefully vacuum the entire home, spending extra time on carpets, upholstery, mattresses, cracks, and any tight spaces as these areas are perfect hiding places for flea eggs, larvae, and cocoons. Repeat every day for at least 2 weeks and treat your home with an aerosol spray or fogger that is effective against fleas. You can also find a pest control company to help you handle the entire flea eradication process, it usually takes several weeks to completely get rid of a flea infestation, and the level of infestation will determine how long it takes to get them all out.
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