In most homes, your cat or dog is not only a pet, but a well loved member of the family. Unfortunately, you are not the only one that shares this love. Fleas love feasting on your cat or dog’s blood and once they have established a host, they move in and start reproducing.
Blood is necessary for a flea to reproduce and once they’ve had their blood meal, they can start laying eggs within 36 – 48 hours after they have feasted on your poor pet.
But what can you do to curb the infestation and get your pet flea free? Here are a few handy tips for getting rid of fleas on your pet.
Natural Remedies
Coconut oil and apple cider vinegar are not just popular products to use when you are banting. They can also get rid of fleas on your pets!
Lauric acid in coconut oil is a natural flea and tick repellent. Take a dollop of coconut cream and rub it between your hands until it liquefies. Massage it over your pet’s fur making sure to work it all the way down to the skin. It not only gets rid of fleas, but also soothes bites and hydrate your dog or cat’s skin. This remedy is safe to do on a weekly basis.
Apple cider vinegar is also a very effective natural flea repellent. Make a 50 / 50 solution of apple cider vinegar and water in a spray bottle and spray it on your pet daily. Be careful not to spray it in their eyes or on open wounds.
Medicinal Treatments
There are various over the counter and prescribed medications that you can get from your vet shop to treat fleas.
Making use of a monthly fast-acting oral flea treatment can help to immediately get rid of fleas on your pet and is a great ongoing preventative measure to use. Bathe your cat or dog with a specially-formulated flea shampoo on a regular basis. Flea sprays and dips are also very effective to treat current investigations and most gets absorbed through the skin, into the bloodstream.
Effective flea prevention can break the flea life cycle, be achieved through collars, topical or oral products, and can last anywhere from 30 days to 8 months. It is advisable to speak to your vet to make sure what the best medicinal treatment could be and that it is safe to use on your pet. Some pets might experience allergic reactions from some treatments, so to be safe, make sure that you check with your vet first and always read about the side effects before you administer the treatment.
Treat your environment
If your pet has a flea problem, it’s likely that your home and yard will also be infested. Fleas lay eggs on your pets that can fall off anywhere they roam. Make sure to vacuum regularly and treat and clean your pet’s bedding.
Undisturbed and without a meal (blood from a host), a flea can live more than 100 days. So even if your pet is flea free, you can get another break out from dormant eggs waiting to hatch.
Service Master’s flea control solutions include perimeter treatment, residual treatment and garden & lawn treatment. Contact Us today for the best flea prevention and control treatment for your home.