How to Treat and Prevent a Flea Infestation

Home / blog / How to Treat and Prevent a Flea Infestation
July 6, 2022

Fleas usually come from outdoors or other animals. Once your indoor pets have them, fleas can quickly spread throughout your home. Fleas can transmit disease, that’s why it’s so important to prevent a flea infestation and to treat your pets when they have them.

In this article, we discuss how fleas disrupt your home, and what you can do to prevent and treat a flea infestation.

How fleas disrupt your home

Fleas are tiny, dark brown insects that thrive on the blood of mammals and birds. It is rare for indoor pets to host fleas. So when there’s an infestation, it’s because your pet picked them up from other animals, or from going outside. Once they have them, they can quickly spread them throughout your home.
Fleas can cause a number of problems in your home. You’ll know when there’s a flea infestation because your pets will be scratching more than usual. You will probably have itchy welts, too, and you’ll see small, dark brown insects on your carpets and in your furniture.
Fleas cause illness in both animals and humans. They can transmit diseases like typhus and cat scratch fever to humans. In animals, they can cause anemia from blood loss and tapeworms.

Preventing a flea infestation

Preventing a flea infestation is easier than getting rid of one. The best way to do this is to keep your pets from picking up fleas in the first place. Fleas live in tall grass and in areas where there are a lot of animals. So it is best to avoid these places.

If you live in an area with a lot of fleas, take your pet to the vet for regular check-ups and treatments. You can also use a monthly spot-on flea treatment that is specifically designed for your pet's weight and species. There are also oral treatments, shampoos, and collars that can help prevent fleas.

Keeping your home clean is another way to prevent an infestation. Vacuum your carpets and upholstered furniture regularly. This will help to remove any fleas or eggs that are in your home. Be sure to dispose of the vacuum bag immediately after use so that the fleas don’t escape and infest your home again.
Clean your beddings and your pet’s beddings frequently. Washing them in hot water will kill any fleas or eggs that may already be on them.

Treating a Flea Infestation

If you already have a flea infestation, you'll need to treat your pets and your home. Start with your pets by treating them with flea shampoo, spot-on treatment, oral medication, or a collar. Be sure to follow the directions on the package carefully.

You may also need to use an insecticide in your home to get rid of the fleas. An insect growth regulator (IGR) is a type of insecticide that interrupts the flea's life cycle and prevents them from reproducing. This is an important step in getting rid of an infestation because it breaks the flea's life cycle and prevents them from coming back.

You can identify this Spider by its large, globe-like abdomen, which is often patterned with stripes of black, brown, orange, or yellow. The most common Orb Weaver in Western Washington has a white cross on its back. They are about ¾ to 1 inch in size, not including their legs.

This species is rarely found indoors, however they may make their way in by accident. They are non-aggressive and generally fearful, darting away when their web is disturbed or torn down. While they can be especially numerous September through October, they provide protection against insects, and are pretty much harmless.

Then, clean your entire house thoroughly by vacuuming carpets and upholstered furniture. You may need to treat your yard if the fleas are coming from there. Also, consider cutting tall grass, or putting barriers to keep animals away from your premises.

Call Sunrise Pest Management for flea control

Sunrise Pest Management can help you get rid of a flea infestation in your home. We will work with you to create a customized treatment plan that is tailored to your specific needs. Call us today at (833) 302 1900 to learn more about our services and how we can help you get rid of fleas for good.