Essential Steps To Make Your Home A Flea-Free Zone
Fleas may be wingless, but these pests really get around. Fleas can live without hosts for several months according to the RSPCA. Make sure it's not your home they're thriving in. Follow these steps to make your home a flea-free zone.
Get Busy Dust-Bustin'
Be sure to vacuum your carpets and rugs regularly. Getting rid of fleas takes more than the average weekly vacuuming, though. Also use a hand-held or vacuum attachment to clean sofas, chairs, loveseats, curtains, and other cloth furniture. Don't just vacuum, though. Be sure to throw out the bag as soon as you're done, and then take the trash out to the road. Fleas are resilient, and they can stay alive in the vacuum bag and quickly re-infest your home.
Take Your Pet in for Treatment
There's not much sense in being vigilant about keeping your home in tip-top shape to kick fleas to the curb if your pet is bringing them back in from the great outdoors. A cat or dog who's dealing with a flea problem can keep introducing them to even the cleanest homes. Go to your veterinarian or Kenmore Veterinary Hospital for the flea treatment. Oftentimes the flea treatment will be combined with tick prevention and other medicines to keep your pet healthy. Whichever treatment is recommended for your canine or feline, be sure to follow the instructions carefully.
Transform Your Yard Into a No-Flea Haven for Your Pet
After you have completed the recommended flea treatment for your pet, you may feel like you're in the clear. That's true, but if your yard is still flea-infested, your pet is likely to face these pests again when going outside. Before letting your dog or cat back outside, reclaim your front yard and backyard by clearing any dark, moist spots where flea larva may be lurking. Cut the grass and prune bushes and overgrown trees that may be ideal spots for fleas to thrive. You may also opt to plant eucalyptus bushes or citrus trees in your yard near areas where fleas may be. Alternately, spread cedar chips in the affected area.
Finally, keep in mind that fleas are not like to disappear any time soon. The Los Angeles Times reported that fossil fleas have been discovered that are as old as 200 million years old. Since they're here to stay, it's important to be on your guard and take these steps to banish fleas from taking over your home and being a pest to you, your family, and your pets.
