Fleas are pesky parasites that no pet parent likes to deal with! Not only can they be a nuisance for your cat or dog, but if left untreated they can also infest your home. We've put together our list of top tips for protecting your fur babies (and your home) against fleas.
Top 5 tips for protecting your pet against fleas
Posted by PetDirect on 2nd Nov 2020
1. Treat all of your pets
It is important that all your pets are treated for fleas, even if they don’t come into contact with one another. There are a wide range of flea treatments for your dog and cat available including chewable tablets, spot on treatments and flea collars. Your dog or cat can shed flea eggs around the house which will hatch into fleas that can jump onto other animals.
You may find that your dog shows signs of having fleas quite quickly, whereas cats are more private about their grooming and may not show obvious flea symptoms. An easy way to check for fleas in cats is to use a flea comb regularly to identify whether there are any fleas or flea dirt hiding in their fur. Flea dirt looks like small, dark particles that can be easily confused for soil. Grab a pet wipe and run over the dirt, if it turns a browny red then it is flea dirt (digested blood).
2. Treat your pet for fleas all year round
Just because it’s not flea season doesn’t mean that your pet won’t catch these itchy pests. Given our climate, fleas are an issue all year round and it is easier to prevent fleas than to try and treat an infestation.
The lifecycle of a flea depends very much on the temperature and humidity. In warmer weather, fleas can emerge in 3-4 week cycles. If the conditions are just right, they can emerge in as little as 12 days! The maximum time it may take is around 140 days, which means the flea larvae can sit in your carpet or furniture for quite some time.
3. Make sure you use the product correctly
Make sure you’re buying a trusted flea treatment brand. Next, check the dosage your are buying is correct for your cat or dog. This is done by weight and will be listed on the packaging of the treatment. You can get your pet weighed at the vet if you don’t know their correct weight.
If you are using a liquid flea treatment then you must part the hair at the back of your cat or dog's neck to apply the product directly onto their skin. If your pet is wet when you apply the treatment, or gets wet before it has dried properly, this may mean the product isn’t absorbed properly and won’t be effective. If you are using a Seresto Flea Collar, make sure it’s fitted correctly. You should be able to fit two flat fingers between the collar and the skin. If the collar is loose then it will not work properly.
Make sure you know how long each treatment lasts for. Treatments such as Advantage and Advocate last for 4 weeks, whereas the Seresto Flea Collars provides 8 months of protection.
4. Learn the flea life cycle and think about where your pet may have caught them
If you have followed steps 1, 2 and 3 and are still seeing fleas it doesn’t mean that the product isn’t working. No flea treatment can stop fleas from jumping onto your pet, however if you have treated them correctly the flea will be exposed to the ingredient and will eventually die. If you are able to pick any visible fleas off of your pet, this is a good sign. Healthy fleas are too fast to catch, so this would mean that the fleas have already started dying.
It can be hard to tell exactly where your cat or dog might have picked up fleas, but common sources include infested wildlife or strays that have come into your garden, pathways or parks that you visit (your pet doesn’t need to come directly into contact with these animals to catch their fleas - these can be left behind in the environment). Has a friend brought their dog round to your house recently? This could be another reason behind new fleas appearing on your animal.
It’s relatively normal to see a few fleas on your pet from time to time, even if they have been treated. Once the flea comes into contact with the product it will begin to die. WashBar Flea Repellent is a great natural option to help repel fleas in between treatments.
5. Be patient
If you do have fleas in your household it can take up to several weeks for them to disappear. If you are still concerned after a few weeks, it is always a good idea to contact your vet.
If you have any questions about keeping your pet flea free, don't hesitate to reach out to one of Pet Direct's Customer Service Experts on 0800 200 240.