So your pet has been diagnosed with fleas… . Although quite bothersome, this is certainly not cause for panic. If left untreated, fleas can lead to skin problems, intestinal parasites, and some other infections…but they are very treatable. Here’s how:

  • Treat ALL pets in your home with appropriate flea medication.There are many good options available – let us know if you need help picking the right ones for your pets. If some animals remain untreated, they can serve as a reservoir and keep the infection going! Make *sure* that any flea products used on cats are designed for cats (some dog flea products can be dangerous for kitties!!).
  • Treat the environment.Only a tiny fraction of the flea life cycle is spent ON your pet. The eggs and immature larvae are produced in huge numbers and fall off into carpet, upholstery, and other parts of your home. Launder all bedding in hot water with color-safe bleach. Vacuum thoroughly then carefully wipe out the vacuum cannister or remove and dispose of the vacuum bag (If you skip this step, the vacuumed eggs will hatch back out and re-infest your home!).
  • Repeat.Although the simple steps above are effective, it may take some persistence and repeated treatments to completely eliminate fleas from the environment. If you find yourself struggling to get a flea issue under control, you can also consult with a pest management company to help with additional treatments of you home and property.

And you may ask the question,
“How can my pet have fleas? I am very sensitive to insects and I have not been getting any bites myself!” – We taste terrible to fleas. They truly prefer dogs and cats as their natural hosts. As long as there are pets available for a blood meal, they will avoid biting people.

“Do I need to worry about fleas during cold weather?” – Fleas are certainly not as likely a problem during colder (as in, below freezing) months. However, recent winters have been quite mild so we recommend continuing with flea prevention year-round. Also, if you already have fleas in your home, they can stay warm and thrive indoors over the cold weather months!!

“My pet has been diagnosed with a flea problem, but we don’t see any fleas on them?!” – If pets are very sensitive to fleas, it may only take a bite or two to generate an allergic skin reaction. Also, if your critter is very fastidious, they may groom so well that they lick away the evidence.

“My vet is talking to me about my home being infested. Do they think I keep a filthy household?” – I promise you, we do not. Fleas are an all-too common problem. Any one of us has probably had a pet with fleas at one time or another. Our only goal is to help you fix the issue and get your pet feeling well as quickly and safely as possible. Please do not hesitate to reach out with questions about flea treatment or prevention.