How to Get Rid of Fleas

One summer day as my kids played with our dogs, I scooped up my 2 year-old daughter and noticed tiny specks flicking all over her. We had a flea problem, and I had to get on top of it fast! It's rather disgusting actually. Fleas can be a year-round problem in some parts of the U.S., especially in the warm, humid months of spring and summer. Even a mild infestation can be hard to control and even harder to eradicate completely. Fleas can carry Lyme disease, bubonic plague, and tapeworms. Below are the steps I took to get rid of fleas NOW!

1) Bathe your pet in a good flea shampoo every week, maybe twice a week for the first week or two. Work up a good lather and keep the pet in the soapy lather for at least 5 minutes. The soap film will smother most of the fleas that try to hang on. A flea dip is also a good idea. Check your local pet store. ***If you want a natural alternative for controlling fleas, check online.

2) Call your Vet. He can give you a pill to give your pet each month, or prescribe a flea repellent that is applied to the pet, usually on the back, between the shoulder blades.

3) Keep a close eye on your pet's activity. Look for signs of fleas on your pet such as excessive biting and scratching, or areas where your pet has scratched raw patches in it's coat. Also keep an eye out for live fleas, dead fleas and flea specks - tiny black granules of dried blood.

4) Throw any bedding out or wash it thoroughly in hot, soapy water at least once a week. Apply a light dusting of flea powder or spray after each washing.

5) In the house, vacuum once a week and clean thoroughly in cracks, corners, nooks and crannies - this is where fleas can hide and even lay more eggs. Make sure you throw out the vacuum bag outside as soon as you're finished cleaning. I put my used vacuum bag inside of another trash can bag and tied it off, just to be sure.

6) In the yard, keep the grass short, get rid of any piles of debris, and spread nematodes in your garden. These are naturally occurring tiny worms that eat the fleas. There's also a number of herbal and holistic methods to get rid of and control fleas. You must stay on top of this as flea eggs can lay dormant for years until a food source comes along. Check with your local lawn and garden store.

The best way to control fleas is to prevent them. It's much easier than trying to get on top of an infestation. If the infestation is out of control, you will need to enlist the services of a trusted, professional exterminator. If you don't want to expose your kids and pets to a lot of chemicals, there are a lot of natural alternatives for controlling fleas online.