Fleas are an irritating household pest that are tough to deal with. While these parasites use our pets as hosts and not us, they can be a big problem for both your fluffy friend and your home.
If your pet has fleas, it’s important to get rid of them before you get an infestation. We explain the signs of fleas and how to get them out of your home.
How do fleas get into the house?
The most common way for fleas to get into the home is on your cat or dog. Even if they’re very clean, they can still easily catch fleas by meeting other animals.
If your pet does bring fleas into the house, they can be hard to get rid of. The female flea can lay between 25 and 50 eggs a day, which fall off the ‘host’.
A female flea can lay between 300 and 1,000 eggs in a lifetime, according to Rentokil.
These become adult fleas in 14 days or lay dormant in carpet or furniture fabric until disturbed. According to the RSPCA, it’s estimated that 95% of eggs, larvae and pupae live in the environment, rather than on your pet.
How do I know if my pet has fleas?
If you have a furry pet, it’s likely that your vet has already recommended regular flea treatments.
You should also groom your pet regularly so you can check for fleas or ticks – tiny dark brown specks. Their favourite spots are the neck and tail.
If you’re not sure if they’re fleas, groom your pet with a fine-toothed comb over a piece of kitchen roll. This means that any fleas or droppings will fall onto the paper.
Next, add a few drops of water. Any droppings will turn reddish-brown – an indication that there are fleas.
Other signs your pet may have fleas include:
- frequent scratching
- irritation and redness
- hair loss or bald patches
- spots, scabs or scars
- black specks around your home on floors and other surfaces
- specks of blood on surfaces after scratching
- getting insect bites yourself
Are fleas dangerous to pets?
Fleas can cause allergic reactions, and blood loss in your pets – which can be serious if they’re very young or frail.
Flea larvae can also become infected with tapeworm eggs, which can be passed onto your pet. They might also cause disease, such as myxomatosis in rabbits.
Can fleas get into the house if I have no pet?
Yes, they can. Fleas don’t necessarily require a ‘host’ to get into your home.
They can get in via any old fabric, like clothing and upholstery. Or they might be attached to people who have an infestation at home, usually on their clothes.
Alternatively, they may already be in your home but have been dormant. In warm and humid conditions, the larval stage can last up to six months.
Then at pupal stage, a cocoon forms which is resistant to insecticide.
Afterwards, the flea may also stay inside the cocoon for a long time until they sense a ‘host’ come along.
How do you get rid of fleas in the house?
There are many home-spun remedies that do the rounds, like using salt, lemon spray, baking soda and rosemary. Certain oils like cedarwood are also often listed as useful.
While you could try using these remedies, the best three things to do are: vacuum, wash and treat.
Here’s what you can do to remove fleas:
- Vacuum everything – carpets, upholstered furniture, cracks in the floorboard, and any other fabrics. This should remove adult fleas, but also the eggs, larvae and pupae.
- Empty the vacuum cleaner away from the house - as the fleas will still be alive, so it’s important you don’t return them to the home.
- Wash all your sheets and bedding – ideally, use a hot wash on a long cycle.
- Wash your pets’ bedding in a hot wash – do this every week for a month, or until the infestation is over.
Use flea home spray on your carpets and furniture - to kill any remaining eggs and larvae. Make sure your pets aren’t in the room when you spray and follow the instructions displayed on the box or bottle.
Use topical flea treatment on your pet – topical treatments like Frontline can be used once a month to kill and avoid fleas on your pet.
After using the insecticide (flea spray), let the area dry and then vacuum it thoroughly to get rid of any surviving fleas.
Remember, you may not be able to get rid of them in one go because of the life cycle of the flea. Be patient and prepare to do it a few times before they’re completely gone.
If your infestation keeps coming back, consider hiring professionals, such as Rentokil.
