There are many home remedies for Gold Coast flea treatment and control such as a flea bomb available through supermarkets, hardware stores or online that can have a positive effect on getting rid of fleas in your house and garden and on your pet. There are also many products out there that don’t work and the end result is a waste of time and money, more flea bites and more fleas.
How to get rid of fleas in your house successfully will take a combined approach through professional flea treatment, animal treatment and thorough housekeeping. It is important to take charge of any flea infestation as soon as it is noticed. An untreated flea infestation does not simply go away, the problem just gets bigger.
- Your house, yard and pets will all need to be treated on the same day.
- Animal flea treatments need to be effective so consulting with your vet beforehand for the best flea control for your dog is recommended.
- Your house will need to be thoroughly vacuumed & mopped and your lawn will need to be mowed short. All grass clippings and vacuuming will need to go directly into your outside bin.
- All animal bedding will need to be thoroughly washed and possibly treated.
- Instructions for after treatment will also need to adhere.
Advice for post professional Gold Coast flea treatment
Be patient! Even if your flea treatment has been done correctly, you will still see newly hatched fleas, usually for several weeks. Do not leave flea-infested areas undisturbed – movement hatches fleas. If the flea treatments are working, fleas will hatch, contact the treated surface and die within a few hours.
Warning: Not all pest controllers offer the same sort of flea treatments. How to get rid of fleas methods employed, how much product is applied & the types of products that are used are all factors. If you are concerned about an infestation be sure to ask your pest controller about what is involved in the flea treatment, will the eggs also be completely eradicated and if there are any guarantees of the workmanship involved.
Flea control measures usually involve fast-acting fumigants to kill adult fleas and insect growth regulators which interfere with the moulting process in larval fleas, preventing them from reaching adulthood. The active ingredient, pyrethrin is considered a natural flea control product as it is a derivative of the chrysanthemum, the pesticide properties have been utilised for centuries.
Are fleas dangerous?
Fleas cause a great deal of annoyance and discomfort for our pets. And they have no problems with leaping off our furry friends and onto us! Their feeding behaviour has several impacts on the health of us and our pets such as:
- Causing allergic reactions and skin conditions such as mange and dermatitis in dogs and cats
- Severe infestations on your pet can lead to hair loss and anemia
- They transmit cat and dog tapeworm
- They readily feed on humans, causing itchy red welts and discomfort
- Scratching welts can lead to secondary infections in both humans and animals
- Some animals and humans can have allergic reactions to the saliva of fleas
- They can transmit murine typhus; bubonic plague and the germs responsible for cat-scratch fever.
Flea prevention in the home and for your pets
Getting rid of fleas isn’t the easiest of things so flea prevention is definitely worth the effort. Adult fleas are surprisingly tough given their tiny size. They can live for up to 20 days without feeding and can easily leap off their hosts if conditions become unfavourable (such as when you’re giving Fido a bath). It has been estimated that up to 80% of a household infestation is made up of flea eggs, larvae and cocoons – not just the adult fleas. The key is to eliminate food and shelter for the larvae, preventing them from maturing into blood-sucking adults. Try the following tips:
- Vacuum thoroughly and regularly to remove the dirt, hair and debris that make up the diet of larval fleas.
- Vacuum to suck up eggs, larvae and cocoons. These tough little guys can continue to develop in the vacuum bag, so be sure to dispose of them when you’ve finished. Is bag only half full? Try popping it in your freezer for a few days to kill any critters. Another tip is to put a flea collar in your vacuum bag.
- Regularly wash your pet’s bedding in hot water and dry in the sun.
- Be vigilant. Groom your pet regularly and look for signs of infection such as adult fleas, flea “dirt” (the dried blood & excrement), welts, hair loss and any biting or scratching behaviour.
- Fleas can enter your home on other animals such as rats and mice. Keep your lawn and garden clear of debris (where they may shelter), fix any holes or access points to your home and consider putting out traps or baits. Also, ask for the assistance of a rodent pest controller for effective treatments.
- Keep your pets flea-free by using control shampoos; flea collars or consult your vet for topical treatments such as Revolution or Advantage.
- Watch where you walk! Sensing your body heat and breath as you pass by, fleas will leap onto your shoes, socks and skin, hitch-hiking their way into your home unnoticed.
- A natural flea control method is also garlic! Fleas don’t like the smell so adding a couple of minced cloves to Fiddo’s daily meal is a great deterrent for fleas as well as being good for your dogs’ overall health – just watch out for their breath!
Still, looking for ways on how to get rid of fleas? We can help! Our recommended Gold Coast pest controllers are always available and can discuss your flea situation with you before applying the best treatment. Drop us a message today and we’ll get right back to you with a true local pest hero near you.