How to Get Rid of Fleas on Cats and Dogs

A tiny creature like a flea can not only make an animal’s life miserable but the pet owner’s too. After all, fleas leave behind painful, itchy bites and can also be carriers of viruses and bacterial infections. Therefore, if you find these insects on your pet, you need to get rid of them as soon as possible — fleas won’t disappear by themselves.

5-Minute Crafts would like to tell you about a few methods for how to get rid of fleas on your pets.

How to tell that your pet has fleas

Fleas are not always easy to see with the naked eye, although you can often find traces of them on the fur of your pet — dark grains that look like particles of black ground pepper. You may also find flea marks on your pet’s bed, clothes, and toys.

Since flea bites make pets feel uncomfortable, they will scratch themselves frequently. In some cases, they may also lose their hair and develop skin infections.

If you spot fleas on your pet, you should take immediate action. Otherwise, the insects will reproduce quickly and irritate the animal.

How to get rid of fleas on your pet

There are several ways to get rid of fleas. You can choose the most suitable one for you and your pet or use a few of them simultaneously to be sure of the result.

1. Give your pet a bath.
Warm water and regular, mild soap will do. It’s not necessary to use a special shampoo — some components of these products can act aggressively and dry out the skin of an animal. If you do decide to try flea shampoo, consult your vet before use.

Follow these instructions when bathing your pet:
1. Start at the head and work your way down the animal’s body. If you begin in the middle of the pet’s body, fleas will flee to higher places and jump in different directions.
❗ Be careful not to pour water inside your pet’s ears.

2. Lather the pet’s body so that you can see the suds.

3. Massage the pet’s coat and skin for about 10 minutes to remove flea eggs that may be deep inside the pet’s coat.

4. Rinse your pet with warm water and pat its coat dry with a towel.

2. Use diatomaceous earth.
Diatomaceous earth is a fine powder made from diatoms. The powder particles have microscopic jagged edges that damage the exoskeletons of insects.

Use diatomaceous earth as follows:

1. Put on gloves and a face mask before handling. Tiny particles can enter the airway and mucous membranes, causing dryness and irritation.

2. Apply the substance to the floors, carpets, pet beds, any other areas where your pets go most frequently, and where fleas are most likely to hide. Don’t apply it directly to the animal.
❗ Please note that the product is not as effective if wet.

3. Comb your pet with a fine-tooth flea comb.
Use a flea comb to remove fleas and their eggs from your pet’s fur. The teeth of the comb are spaced in a way that animal hair can pass through them while fleas can’t.

Proceed as follows:
1. Prepare a comb and a bowl of warm, soapy water.

2. Dip the comb in soapy water, then begin to gently comb your pet’s coat. Be especially careful when handling the neck and tail of the animal — fleas are most often found there.

3. If you spot a flea on your comb, dip it into the soapy water. Don’t try to crush the fleas, they can jump very quickly.

4. Remove soap residue from the animal’s coat by rinsing it in the shower with warm water.

4. Use a flea control product.
There are many different flea control products on the market that can kill or repel fleas. They can be in the form of drops, sprays, and tablets, and they can also be applied to collars.
However, you should be careful with the use of insecticides because they can cause serious side effects in a pet, including lethargy, nausea, and convulsions.
In order not to harm the pet, it’s worth using these products as prescribed by your vet and strictly following the instructions.

How to get rid of fleas at home

• Wash your bedding and other items your pet has come into frequent contact with. Use hot water to kill flea larvae and remove their waste products. For the best results, you can use some bleach or an antimicrobial detergent.
  ❗ Keep in mind that one cleaning may not be enough. Wash your bedding regularly until the flea marks are gone.
• Use a vacuum cleaner to clean carpets and upholstered furniture. Don’t forget to clean any cushions and inner parts of your furniture. Carpets can be vacuumed or shampooed.
  ❗ After you finish vacuuming, carefully remove the bag from the vacuum cleaner and seal it in a plastic bag so that the fleas can’t get out.
• Clean cabinets and your car’s fabric surfaces. Often, pet owners forget that fleas can hide in more places than carpets or upholstered furniture. Fleas can also live on the shelves of closets, in clothes, and in cars. To remove them from various surfaces, use a special flea fogger.
  ❗ Before using this product, remove any indoor plants and unplug all electronic devices. To protect your airway, work in a mask or respirator, and after completing the work, leave the room for a while.