Introduction

Methods used to eradicate fleas from your home depend on the severity of the infestation. Prescription topical treatments placed on the dog’s skin, professional pesticide services, and cleaning the dog’s environment may all be used to eradicate fleas.

Eliminating Fleas from Your Home

Prescription topical treatments such as Frontline and Advantage are highly effective at removing all fleas from the dog’s environment in a short amount of time. As soon as a flea lands on the dog it dies, or fleas currently on the dog die with the application, and any new fleas that hatch and then land on the dog will die as well. Eventually, with continual once a month applications, no new fleas are available to lay eggs and the flea infestation is completely eliminated.

Light flea infestations may be eradicated by removing the fleas from the dog’s skin with a medicated shampoo or flea comb. Washing the dog’s bedding in hot water and thoroughly drying the bedding, vacuuming and cleaning the carpets on a continual basis, and cleaning and vacuuming any hard floors in the dog’s environment will help to remove fleas from the dog’s environment too.

In very severe cases where flea infestation is becoming a health hazard to the dog(s) in the home and people living in the home, professional pesticide services which use sprays or bombs, may be needed to completely eradicate fleas in the home.

Reducing any new introduction of fleas in the home will help to prevent any new infestations. Recently adopted animals should be treated for fleas before they enter the home, and pet owners should regularly check their pets for any signs of fleas to stay on top of new infestations.