A few things about fleas With the ability to jump upwards of 7 inches and across 13, fleas are very adept at jumping on dogs, cats, and of course people.
Once they have made it on to a host, a flea has the ability to bite over 200 times in one day.
While it's true that they can live with almost any warm-blooded animal, they seem to like young puppies, kittens and adult animals with weakened immune systems the best.
Their flat bodies allow them to crawl through even the thickest coats.
With such a highly effective blood sucker on the loose, how can we keep them away? Have the fleas arrived? How do you know if the fleas are already on your pet and spreading throughout your house? One method to find fleas is to do a thorough inspection of your dog.
You can use a large white sheet and spread it across the floor.
Place your dog in the middle of the sheet and use a flea comb to slowly comb through your dog's coat.
As the fleas jump off your pet, capture them before they're able to get away.
I've even heard of some people using Vaseline on the flea comb to help trap them.
Ways to get rid of the fleas Now that you know the fleas are on your pet, odds are extremely good that they're also spreading throughout your house.
It will just be a matter of time until the flea eggs fall off your pet and onto your carpet, furniture, and bedding.
After this has occurred, in a few weeks the new eggs will hatch and start the process all over again.
It is imperative that you get rid of the fleas as soon as possible before they have a chance to spread! The first item on the agenda is to get the fleas off of your animal.
We've had a lot of luck using a spot-on flea treatment to get rid of fleas.
Some examples of these are Frontline and cheap K9 Advantix.
Using these as directed should kill the fleas within a day and then help protect your dog for a month.
The next problem is to get rid of the fleas in your house.
One solution for this is to use a flea bomb which is also known as a flea fogger.
This device can be found at most hardware stores and is very simple to use as directed.
It is recommended that you vacuum very well before using a flea fogger and again after the process is complete.
It's also important that you spray your dog's bedding as well as your yard to make sure you get rid of any existing fleas.
Personally I have found the type of sprayer that connects to the end of the hose to be the easiest to use and very effective.
Summary Once you have determined that your dog has fleas, it is very important to get rid of them on your dog, house, and yard.
Once you are done with this process, your house and yard will need to be retreated in a few weeks.