How To Prevent Fleas
Flea prevention, without adding anything to your Dogs skin can be difficult. However one of the best ways to prevent fleas is the use of the vacuum cleaner. For every flea on your Dog there will be many more, in different stages, around the home. It may be time for a spring clean. Natural flea prevention without applying anything to the Dog or the surroundings will come down to keeping an area as flea free as possible by cleaning. Vacuum all areas extremely well and you will go a long way to cutting down on the number of fleas in the area and break the life cycle of the fleas. As with preventing ticks, it is difficult to beat the chemically based frontline medicine.
How To Get Rid Of Ticks And Fleas
Learning how to prevent ticks and how to prevent fleas really is best attempted to control by avoidance and keeping the house and bedding well cleaned. There really is little else that seems to really work if you want to avoid your Dog getting infestations. Essential oils may help but to be honest I have found little to know actual people who have said these natural remedies completely eradicate ticks and fleas.
Fleas are parasites that feed on the blood of any warm-blooded body. The most common species is the cat flea, which often feasts on cats, dogs and humans.
Habits
Fleas transport themselves on rodents and other mammals. They infest both household pests and wild animals. Fleas use their powerful legs to jump as high as 8 inches vertically and 16 inches horizontally.
Habitat
Fleas usually remain on their warm-blooded hosts at all times. They can also be found on shoes, pant legs, or blankets, which can transfer the fleas to new environments. They are often found infesting opossums, raccoons, and skunks in urban settings.
Threats
Fleas are the most common transmitter of the rare Bubonic Plague. They also transmit the bacterial disease murine typhus to humans through infected rats. Their saliva can cause serious Flea Allergy Dermatitus in pets, and their debris has been reported to cause similar allergic reactions in humans. Fleas can also transfer tapeworms and cause anemia in pets. Flea bites commonly cause painful, itchy red bumps.
Prevention:
Clean and vacuum frequently to help remove flea populations and prevent the laying of eggs. Keep your lawn groomed to avoid rodent habitation. Protect pets by keeping them on a leash when outside, bathing and grooming pets regularly, visiting a veterinarian annually, and using flea treatments according to direction. It is important to hire a pest professional to rid your home of rodents and fleas.
Protect Your Home
Before any insecticide is applied for flea control it is advised to vacuum the premises thoroughly, especially pet resting areas, to remove developing fleas. The entire house should be vacuumed, especially carpets, under furniture, in areas where pets frequent, in cracks and crevices along walls, and in all upholstered furniture. The vacuum bag contents should be destroyed by burning or should be placed in airtight plastic bags and discarded as soon as the house has been cleaned to get rid of the accumulated flea larvae and pupae.
Insecticides available for use in homes include permethrin, esfenvalerate, cyfluthrin, tralomethrin, tetramethrin, pyrethrins, carbaryl (Sevin) bendiocarb (Ficam), propoxur (Baygon), pyriproxyfen (Nylar, Archer), and methoprene (Precor). With spray formulations apply as a light mist to floors, carpets, upholstered furniture, and baseboards. Before spraying delicate fabrics, treat a small portion to be certain that the spray will not stain the fabric. Carbaryl (Sevin) is also available as a dust treatment. Methoprene (Precor) and pyriproxyfen (Nylar, Archer) are insect growth regulators that prevent flea eggs from hatching and larval fleas from pupating into adults that reproduce. Because these products do not kill adult fleas, it is advisable to use these in conjunction with an adult flea controlling insecticide or use products that contain both an adult insecticide and insect growth regulator. With all of these insecticides always read and follow label directions and precautions before use.
Keeping your animals clean and Flea free is one of the best things you can do to prevent fleas from entering your home. If you currently have a flea problem though, hiring a Minnesota professional exterminator is what you should really consider. They can treat your entire home and yard, greatly reducing the amount of fleas in the area. They can also treat to prevent more fleas from reproducing, putting an end to the problem using our less toxic organic product line.
