If your dog has fleas, it can be extremely uncomfortable and irritating for him. Not only will your pooch suffer, but fleas can infiltrate your home, and they’re even known to bite humans, too.
If you need to know how to get rid of fleas, it’s important to understand the source of these pesky little buggers. Read on to learn how to eliminate fleas and where these tiny insects live so you can beat them to the punch.
Check and Prep Your Yard
In many cases, your yard could be the culprit for your dog’s flea troubles. Take a walk around your yard and wear white socks that are pulled up to your calves.
While you might look like a crazy person, this method is quite effective for finding fleas. Walk slowly throughout the yard and make sure to pay close attention to the areas that your dog hangs out the most.
Once you’re done, your socks will likely be covered in fleas if they’re present in your yard. Fleas love areas that shady, cool, and moist like leaf piles, trees, and shrubs.
Take a closer look at any plants and inspect the areas your dog loves to lay, dig, or sleep. Check the doghouse and any outdoor furniture as well as under your porch and around the perimeter.
Once you’ve determined that there are fleas in the yard, it’s time to prep the area for treatment. Make sure you give your dog some flea treatment, too, since they are likely suffering.
Talk to your veterinarian about the best course of flea treatment for your four-legged friend. Try to keep them inside as often as possible until the nagging biting subsides.
Next, thoroughly clean your yard and mow the grass. Pick and dispose of any excess weeds and dead leaves that might be lying around.
Areas with stacked wood or piles of rocks are other common places that fleas will breed. The more areas of clutter in your yard, the more places fleas have to live, hide, and reproduce.
How to Get Rid of Fleas: Treatment Options
Once you’ve determined the source and prepped your yard for treatment, it’s time to get down to business. There are a number of methods for how to get rid of fleas, so explore the following options:
- Insecticides: Products designed to kill fleas are highly effective, but make sure you follow the directions on the label carefully. Most insecticides will be in the form of a hose sprayer or a pump. A professional pest control company can help you treat the yard if you prefer. If you want to do it on your own make sure you wear a dust mask and protective clothing with gloves.
- Flood the yard: This may seem odd, but even if you successfully kill fleas, the eggs often stay behind. Hose down rock piles, around garden beds, and under trees. Water the lawn until it slightly floods. This method should kill eggs and larvae since they cannot survive in water.
- Diatomaceous earth: This natural, nontoxic flea killer comes in very fine dust. It’s made from fossilized remains of algae known as a diatom. Spread it all around areas where you think fleas are living, but make sure you purchase the food grade version that is safe for mammals.
- Nematodes: This is another nontoxic and natural alternative that is harmless to humans and pets. Nematodes are microscopic worms that won’t harm your plants but they feed on flea larvae and also work to combat termites. Spray them around shady areas since they cannot live in the heat or direct sunlight.
- Cedarwood chips: Fleas absolutely hate the scent of cedar chips and tend to avoid them at all costs. Sprinkle some of these chips around shady areas of your yard and anywhere they may be hanging out. As you mow the yard, the cedar chips turn into a fine powder that continues to keep fleas at bay.
Provide your Pooch with Relief by Preventing Future Infestation
You love your dog, so it’s best to try and keep those nasty fleas away for as long as possible. Keep your lawn dry whenever you can, since fleas love to live in moist areas. Try not to over-water the lawn and garden.
Create a nice addition to your landscaping by using cedar wood chips as a decoration. Incorporate them into your garden to add a nice look and continuously repel fleas.
A plant called pennyroyal naturally repels fleas after it becomes fully established. This plant produces a scent that fleas hate, so it’s a great way to prevent them naturally. It’s important to note that pennyroyal is toxic to cats and pregnant animals, so use it with caution.
Maintain your yard on a regular by basis with continuous mowing, pruning, and trimming. Fleas can’t deal with the hot sun for a long period of time, so mow your lawn frequently to expose them and remove shady grass.
Prune your trees and bushes to add a bit more sunshine to the yard. With a combination of treatment and preventative care, your dog will get relief and your home will remain flea-free.
Say Goodbye to Fleas Forever
With these helpful tips on how to get rid of fleas, your dog will have a happier, healthier life. A little bit of extra care and prevention can go a long way in ensuring that your pets and your home are clean and safe for everyone.
Contact us today for full-service pest control, and be sure to read our blog about other pests like annoying ants, roaches, and more.
Interested in learning more about flea control? Please visit the following websites:
https://www.domyown.com/flea-prevention-guide-a-484.html
https://www.petsmart.com/dog/flea-and-tick/
https://pets.webmd.com/kill-fleas-at-home
https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef602
http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7419.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flea_treatments
If you love your dog as much as we do, check out this awesome article from our friends at Your Dog Adviser with tips on choosing the right dog food:
https://yourdogadvisor.com/best-dog-food/
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