of their time. Pet bedding, floor crevices, carpeting, along baseboards and areas near their favorite sleeping and napping sites are especially likely places where eggs will be found. These eggs hatch into legless larvae. The larvae spin a cocoon and, depending on environmental conditions, emerge as adults in as few as five days. The adult fleas then mate (after a blood meal from your pet) and then lay eggs. The life cycle is then repeated - until control measures break the cycle. The total life cycle can last from 25 days to several months. Un-hatched flea eggs have even been frozen with liquid nitrogen and brought back to life !

The most important thing to remember when starting a flea control treatment, is that fleas only feed on 1 food source. Blood. That's it. Nothing more, nothing less. Adult fleas feed on blood through their piercing sucking mouthparts, and immature fleas feed on the dried blood feces of the adults. Blood feces from the adult flea can be found where immature fleas are found and that is where the problem originates. Solve the problem with adult fleas, kill the immature fleas and try to prevent the outbreak of a new infestation and your flea problems will be greatly diminished. This can only be obtained through a complete and thorough treatment.

Fleas can also transmit diseases. Typhoid fever and bubonic plague are the worst of them (and thank goodness there's not too much of that around to transmit). But they can also transmit tapeworms to dogs, cats, and even small children !

Before Treatment

What You Need To Do Before A Flea Treatment

Observe where pets spend time -inside and outside the home. The areas where your pet spends the majority of its time sleeping is where the majority of the adult fleas and immature fleas will be found. If you have a doghouse, pillow or cage, then these areas need thorough cleaning and sanitizing.

Take your pets to a veterinarian to be checked and treated for fleas. To help avoid re-infestation don't let freshly treated pets back into your house or yard until it has been treated.

Vacuum carpets, floors, rugs, drapes, upholstered furniture, mattresses and cushions. Use a vacuum with a disposable bag and dispose of it by incineration or sealing in a plastic bag.

Wash or destroy all pet bedding.

Clean or vacuum wood and tile floors with special attention to grooves, cracks and baseboards.

Sweep porches, steps and decks.

Cut the lawn and remove debris and clutter prior to yard spraying.

All unwrapped food should be covered or placed in cabinets or the refrigerator. Food preparation surfaces and utensils should be covered.

After Flea and Tick Treatment

Once your home and yard have been treated, there are important things you need to do.

All occupants and animals should stay off treated surfaces until they are dry.
Vacuum carpets every day for 10 days and remove the vacuum bag outdoors and dispose of it properly. Don't be alarmed if you see adult fleas when you are vacuuming. These fleas were in the pupa and egg stages which aren't killed by the insecticide application. However, there is enough residual control to last up to four weeks. That's enough time to kill adults as they emerge and give good control in most situations.

Wash food preparation surfaces and utensils that might have come in contact with the insecticide.

Do not allow flea infested pets in your home. If this happens, the house may get re-infested and re-treatment will be necessary.

Put your pet on either Frontline Plus or other topical treatments available from your veterinarian or local pet store for long term control of fleas.  Be sure to talk with your Veterinarian before using single dose flea treatments on your animals.

How To Get Rid Of Fleas - 5 Step Treatment Guide

Flea Control Indoors

1. Vacuum, Vacuum, Vacuum!

Fleas will live under furniture, rugs, near windows, under cushions on sofas, chairs, and any place animals sleep. It is very important to vacuum and treat the areas where animals sleep or rest. A good thorough vacuuming of all floor surfaces (carpet or hardwood floor) will help to pickup adult fleas and eggs. It is best to dispose of the vacuum cleaner bag after vacuuming before the first treatment as fleas can live inside the bag.

2. Spray all Floors and Under Furniture

Fleas will live under furniture, rugs, near windows, under cushions on sofas, chairs, and any place animals sleep. It is very important to vacuum and treat the areas where animals sleep or rest. A good thorough vacuuming of all floor surfaces (carpet or hardwood floor) will help to pickup adult fleas and eggs. It is best to dispose of the vacuum cleaner bag after vacuuming before the first treatment as fleas can live inside the bag.

3. Fog The Inside Areas of To Kill Adult Fleas

Fleas will live under furniture, rugs, near windows, under cushions on sofas, chairs, and any place animals sleep. It is very important to vacuum and treat the areas where animals sleep or rest. A good thorough vacuuming of all floor surfaces (carpet or hardwood floor) will help to pickup adult fleas and eggs. It is best to dispose of the vacuum cleaner bag after vacuuming before the first treatment as fleas can live inside the bag.

4. Flea Control Outdoors - Spray The Yard and Lawn

Fleas usually live in cool shaded areas close to moisture, under shrubs, trees, bare areas of ground, etc. They normally don't live in open grassy areas.

5. Flea Control On Animals - Treat The Animals

Dogs and cats are the most important part of the battle. Without them, the fleas cannot survive.  Frontline Plus or other topical on spot work monthly. Dips and shampoos usually don't provide consistant control - and normally only work for limited time.

Vacuuming again 24-48 hours after treatment will help to pick up dead fleas and eggs. (There could be thousands of eggs). This treatment strategy may need to be repeated every few weeks to get 100% control of fleas.

Spray the yard and the house every week until control is obtained. In order to kill the adult fleas you have to overcome the flea life cycle. Several applications may be needed before the adult fleas are killed.

You need professional quality products, to obtain the best flea control.