Fleas are more than a nuisance to pets — they can cause irritation and disease. Even pets that go outdoors for limited periods can bring fleas indoors, spreading to other pets and possibly causing an infestation in your home. Effective flea control depends on a multifaceted approach to stop fleas before they infect your pets.

What Are Fleas?

Fleas are small, wingless insects that feed on the blood of animals. There are more than 2,500 fleas species, with more than 300 occurring in the United States. Cat fleas (C. felis) and dog fleas are among the few species that transmit the disease. Despite their name, cat fleas are the most common flea found on dogs, cats, and other domestic animals.

Dog fleas (C. canis), which spread Dipylidium caninum to dogs and cats, are widespread in Europe but very rare in the United States. D. caninum is a tapeworm sometimes found in humans, too. Fleas are not only a health risk for your pets. If they get into your home, you are at risk of getting bitten and developing related health issues too.

Why Fleas Are Dangerous to Pets

Fleas can transmit bacteria and other parasites when they bite animals or humans. Their bites can also cause irritation that leads to more severe health conditions.

When fleas bite pets, they inject their saliva into the wound. This causes an allergic reaction that leads to itching, scratching, sores, and hair loss, a condition called flea allergy dermatitis. Dogs have symptoms down the back, to the tail base, and down the rear legs. This area is called the “flea triangle.” In cats, flea allergy dermatitis is usually seen on the head, neck, and down the center of the back. Constant licking and chewing can lead to secondary bacterial and yeast infections.

Keeping Fleas Off Your Pets

Preventing fleas is much easier than trying to get rid of an infestation. Using flea prevention collars and treatments might repel/kill fleas before or after they bite.

Fleas live in dark, moist places out of the sunlight. Pets can pick them up when they go outdoors, but that isn’t the only way. Indoor dogs and cats can still get fleas in several ways. For example, dogs might come into contact with other dogs while on a walk or during a playdate at another dog’s home.

Pet owners mistakenly believe that Indoor cats are immune to fleas. But people can easily carry hitchhiking fleas indoors on their socks or pants legs without realizing it. Homes with other pets that go outdoors can bring the insects back inside. Cats that go outdoors are at an even greater risk. They can get fleas from wildlife such as squirrels, birds, and rabbits.

Once these tiny insects enter your home, they can quickly become a serious problem. They can hide in your pet’s bedding, behind your baseboards, in your carpet, and in the cracks of your flooring. If your pet carries in as few as five female fleas, you could have an infestation of thousands within a month.

How to Protect Your Cat or Dog

Spring and summer are the most problematic times for fleas on pets. In warmer climates such as Texas and California, temperatures never get cold enough to limit these pests altogether. You need to take steps to protect your cat or dog year-round.

The life cycle of fleas has four stages, including:

1. Adult fleas lay eggs
2. The eggs hatch into larvae
3. Larvae develop into pupae
4. The pupae turn into adult fleas

The best flea prevention will target several phases of the lifecycle. The adult fleas live on the pet, while the other stages can occur off the pet, including in your home. You should also choose a flea collar that kills and repels. If a product doesn’t repel fleas, pets may still have live fleas and eggs on them. The adults can jump onto other pets, you, or your home before the medicine takes effect.

Never put a flea collar meant for dogs on a cat or vice versa. The chemicals used for dog collars are toxic to cats and kittens, while those used in cat flea collars won’t effectively kill fleas on dogs. Cats are more sensitive to harsh ingredients. A Naturals flea and tick collar effectively protects cats against fleas and ticks using natural ingredients.

A Seresto collar is one of the most effective flea collars sold for dogs today. In addition to killing and repelling fleas, it is also effective against ticks and chewing lice, and it aids in treating and controlling sarcoptic mange on dogs. The Seresto collar is also waterproof, so it’s great for sporting dogs that spend a lot of time outdoors.

After a Flea Infestation

Once you have a flea infestation in your home, it can take months to get rid of it using the following step-by-step process:

Clean and Sanitize — Clean places where fleas breed, including bedding, carpet, rugs, and floors. Steam cleaning is a great way to get rid of fleas in the cracks between boards and in the carpet. Otherwise, vacuum and sweep floors thoroughly.

Treat All Pets — Bath them using soap and water, then comb them with a flea comb. Apply a flea treatment or flea collar that is right for your pet.

Treat Your Home — Treat pets and your home at the same time. This will disrupt the fleas’ life cycle and get fleas under control. Naturals’ home spray lets you protect your home from fleas and prevents flea infestations. Spray it on your pets and their bedding for safe, effective protection from biting bugs. Treat the outdoor areas at the same time.

Repeat — To get rid of fleas at all stages of the life cycle, you must continue to clean and sanitize throughout the following weeks. Provide at least two follow-up treatments within 5 to 10 days of the initial application.

Shop Grange Co-op to Protect Your Pet from Fleas

Once temperatures begin creeping up, your dogs and cats become increasingly susceptible to fleas. Get everything you need to prevent flea bites and the nasty health issues they can cause. If you need help choosing the right flea-prevention product, let us know. Our experts are always happy to help.