Fleas are a familiar problem for pet owners across Banora Point, Tweed Heads and the Northern Rivers, and the warm, humid climate here lets them breed almost year round. The frustrating part is that the fleas you see are only a small share of the problem. Most of an infestation lives in your carpets and bedding as eggs and larvae, which is why clearing fleas takes a coordinated effort.
Here is how to get rid of fleas properly, so they do not simply return in a fortnight.
Treat Your Pet First
Start with the animal, since your pet is how fleas travel and feed. Speak with your vet about a suitable flea treatment, whether that is a spot-on, a tablet or a collar, and follow the timing on the label. Wash your pet bedding on a hot cycle at the same time. Treating the pet without treating the home, or the other way around, is the most common reason fleas keep coming back.
Break the Cycle in Your Home
Fleas spend most of their life off the animal, so to reach them you need to work through the house:
- Vacuum daily across carpets, rugs, skirting and under furniture, then empty the vacuum outside
- Wash bedding and soft furnishings your pet uses on the hottest safe setting
- Focus on shaded, less-used spots where larvae hide, such as under beds and lounges
Daily vacuuming for a couple of weeks does a lot of the heavy lifting. It lifts eggs and larvae and encourages any remaining pupae to hatch where you can reach them.
Do Not Forget the Yard
Fleas also thrive outdoors in shaded, sandy or leafy areas where pets rest. Keep the lawn mown, clear leaf litter and cut back growth to let sunlight in, since fleas struggle in dry, sunny conditions. Pay attention to the spots where your pet naps outside, as those are the likely hot spots.
When to Bring in a Professional
If you have treated the pet, the home and the yard and fleas are still turning up, the life cycle has most likely outrun your efforts. A professional, pet-safe pest control service treats the home and yard together, timed to catch the fleas as they hatch, and keeps the products safe around your animals and family.
If fleas have taken over despite your best efforts, get in touch with our team and we will help you get on top of them.
