How many fleas are on a dog

There are a few things you can do to reduce the number of fleas on your property. The best way to keep fleas from multiplying in your home is to remove them from the environment. You can do this by vacuuming carpets, cushions, beds, chairs, furniture, along baseboards and floors daily. Pay particular attention to bedding. Most attract these pests with a special type of light that mimics a host passing by, attracting fleas and then trapping on a sticky card.

Consider replacing bedding when faced with a severe infestation. Treat your carpets with steam, since high heat and soap can kill fleas in all four stages of their life cycle.

As a temporary measure, reduce the amount of time pets spend indoors, as a precaution. Remove water and food sources for rodents on your property, including putting away bird feeders, emptying birdbaths, making sure trash containers are tightly closed and keeping pet bowls indoors until the infestation is brought under control.

Specially-designed metal combs can remove adult fleas from your dog or cat, especially when you focus on their face, ears, neck and tail. Insect growth regulators are low-impact alternatives to chemical treatments which may be recommended by your vet to target fleas and larvae. These treatments can come in the form of a spray, pill, dip, flea collar or injection.

Some botanical insecticides are now available that use citrus oil and pyrethrum to control adult fleas. Nonchemical Treatments. Special metal flea combs are available that help effectively remove adult fleas from the coat of pets.

Removing fleas can provide comfort to the animal and reduce flea breeding. Combing pets at regular intervals also is a good way to monitor the flea population and help you decide when other control measures might be necessary.

Controlling cat fleas in buildings requires a variety of approaches. Before starting a control program, look through each room to determine areas where larval development occurs. Flea populations are highest in places where dogs or cats regularly sleep.

Thoroughly and regularly clean areas where you find adult fleas, flea larvae, and flea eggs. Vacuum floors, rugs, carpets, upholstered furniture, and crevices around baseboards and cabinets daily or every other day to remove flea eggs, larvae, and adults.

Vacuuming is very effective in killing larvae in the carpet, picking up adults, and stimulating preemerged adults to leave their cocoons. Launder pet bedding in hot, soapy water at least once a week. Thoroughly clean items you bring into the building, such as used carpets or upholstered furniture, to prevent these from being a source of flea infestation.

Several insecticides are registered for controlling fleas indoors. The most effective products also contain the IGR methoprene or pyriproxyfen. Use a hand sprayer or aerosol to apply insecticides directly to infested areas of carpets and furniture.

By Harriet Meyers Mar 30, 3 Minutes. Mar 30, 3 Minutes. Fleas go through four life cycle stages : Egg Larva Pupa Adult The adults live on animals like your dog, where they digest blood and lay their eggs. Prevention and Treatment The best way to deal with fleas is prevention. Here are the steps you need to take to eradicate fleas in your home: Wash all dog beds and soft dog toys in hot, soapy water.

Repeat this frequently until the infestation has ended. Wash your own bedding, throw rugs, bath mats, and any blanket or cushion where your dog likes to sleep in hot water. Vacuum all carpets, hardwood floors, linoleum, and tiled floors, curtains, and upholstered furniture, and throw away the vacuum bag immediately in an outside garbage bin.

You will need to vacuum on a regular basis to be sure all of the stages are addressed. Choose and apply an environmental flea control spray or fogger that will treat all stages of fleas, or call a local exterminator. Choose and apply a spray, pellet, or nontoxic flea treatment for your yard. Keeping grass and brush short will also make your yard less inviting to fleas and ticks.

Patch fences to discourage raccoons, rabbits and other wildlife that carry fleas from coming into your yard. If your dog has ridden in your car lately, you should vacuum the seats.

Steam cleaning the carpet can kill some of the larvae as well. Remember, though, that vacuuming and shampooing a carpet will still leave a good percentage of live fleas, so some sort of chemical treatment may be necessary. The entire house is now ready to treat for fleas.

Several choices are available including highly effective foggers. Boric acid-based products may be a safer option for homes with small children or other situations where chemical residues are a concern. The most effective products are those which contain both an ingredient to kill adult fleas and an ingredient to kill the other life cycle stages. The latter is called an insect growth regulator. Methoprene is one such growth regulator. Aerosol foggers may not penetrate well enough, in some cases, to kill all the hiding fleas and larvae.

Another option for indoor control is a sodium borate product that is applied to carpeting. You should consider calling a local exterminating company for an estimate and a guarantee that their procedure will rid your premises of fleas. Flea eradication won't be cheap, but what price will you put on living free from flea infestations?

As for outdoor control, sprays and pelleted insecticides are generally used after dog houses and dog kennels are cleaned thoroughly. An insect growth regulator is a good choice here as well. Pyriproxifen is more stable in sunlight and lasts longer outdoors than methoprene.

Production ceased in December of When choosing a diatomaceous earth product look for a food-grade product like DiatomaceousEarth Food Grade Powder , which is safe for use around pets. Certain nontoxic nematodes tiny worms can also be spread in areas of the yard which are warm and moist and which pets and fleas frequent. The nematodes feed on the flea larvae. And once there is a cover of snow on the ground, much of the major source of fleas is eliminated.

Be sure to consult your veterinarian regarding which methods and products will be best for you and your pets. Your veterinarian will be your best source for current flea information.

Home Dog Care Center. How to Handle Fleas on Dogs. Written by: PetMD Editorial. Published: March 02, Image via iStock. How to Spot Fleas on Dogs How do you know if fleas are causing all that itching pruritus in veterinary terms?