How to quickly get rid of fleas

Fleas can be a problem even in the most spotless home or on the cleanest pet.

Here's how to spot signs of fleas and how to treat your pet - and your home - to keep fleas away.

Flea facts

Fleas are a type of external parasite. There are different species of fleas, such as dog fleas, cat fleas, rabbit fleas and human fleas. It's possible for many species of fleas can infest more than one host species. 

• Fleas only suck blood from their hosts as adults. Adult fleas have mouthparts that are adapted for piercing skin and sucking blood from their host.
• A flea can live from between 14 days to a year, and a female can lay up to 50 eggs in one day - that's 1,500 in a lifetime!
• Some types of flea can leap more than a hundred times their own body length.
• It's estimated that 95 per cent of flea eggs, larvae and pupae live in the environment, not on your pet.

Signs your pet might have fleas

There are a few things you can look out for that could mean your pet has fleas:

• Is your pet scratching?
• Areas of hair loss, bald or sore patches?
• Spots or scans?
• Redness and irritation?
• Thickened skin in areas (e.g. around ear edges)?
• Can you see tiny dark specks in its fur, or small browny-black insects scurrying about?
• Do you have any unaccounted for insect bites yourself?

If you've answered 'yes' to any of these questions, it could mean fleas. 

Comb your pet to check for fleas

A good way to check if your pet has fleas is to groom them using a fine-toothed comb held over something white, like a piece of kitchen paper. Any fleas or flea droppings will be deposited on the surface. Add a few drops of water, and if the droppings turn reddish brown it's very likely your pet has fleas.

If you're still unsure if your pet has fleas or want to know what product to use, speak to your vet for the best advice.

Grooming helps spot fleas and ticks

Grooming your pet regularly has many benefits and will improve the bond between you. Even if, for example, you have a dog with short hair, you should still groom your dog regularly. Making this a regular routine will keep their fur cleaner and will show if your pet has any fleas or ticks.

Grooming your cat will also prevent matting and improve their circulation.

Flea treatment 

It's essential to treat both your pet and your home, as fleas can survive in the environment without a host for many months. Flea treatment can easily be done at home, so here's how to do it:

• Flea treatments: prevent and get rid of fleas by regularly using flea treatment for your pets. See your vet for advice on the best flea products that will work for your pet.
• Treat quickly: If you spot fleas on your pet, treat them quickly, as they can give your cat or dog tapeworms and diseases (make sure you worm your pet as well).
• Clean bedding regularly and vacuum furniture, floors and skirting boards to help destroy fleas at each stage of their lifecycle.
• Throw away the dust bag from your vacuum after each use to prevent any flea eggs and larvae from developing.
• Treat regularly: you may need to treat your pet and home for fleas all year round if your home is centrally heated.

Only give your pet flea treatment that's been recommended for them, ideally one prescribed by your vet. Products suitable for one species may not be suitable for another. Some dog flea treatments contain permethrin, an insecticide that is safe for dogs but highly toxic to cats.

Flea bites and what they do

Flea bites can make your pet uncomfortable and itchy, but they can also bring a host of other problems:

• Allergic reactions: pets can be hypersensitive to flea saliva and suffer an allergic reaction.
• Blood loss: fleas feed on blood, so young or frail animals can become weak and even die as a result of blood loss.
• Tapeworm: flea larvae can become infected with tapeworm eggs. If your pet eats an infected flea it can become host to this parasite. If your pet has fleas you should also make sure your pet is treated for worms.
• Disease: fleas can also pass diseases to your pets. For example, myxomatosis is a serious disease in rabbits that can be spread by fleas.

Getting rid of fleas is a difficult process due to the long lifecycle of a flea. Moderate to severe infestations will take months to control and require a four-step process for complete elimination:

1. Sanitation. Thoroughly clean areas where fleas frequently breed. This includes washing bedding, rugs, and pet bedding, and thoroughly vacuuming and sweeping floors and carpeted areas and along the edges of walls.
2. Pet treatment. Every pet in the home must be treated. Thoroughly bathe pets with soap and water, then comb them with a flea comb. Pay careful attention to face and neck regions, and the area in front of the tail. Soap will act as a gentle insecticide to kill adult fleas. Talk to your veterinarian about choosing the right flea control product for your pet.
3. Home treatment. Begin home treatment at the same time as pet treatment. This keeps all treatment on the same timeline and helps disrupt the flea life cycle. A licensed commercial pest control applicator can help you determine which products are best for inside your home and in the yard. In general, focus outdoor treatment on shady areas and places where pets spend the most amount of time.
4. Follow-up. Fleas have a complex life cycle. At some stages of their life cycle they are resistant to insecticides and other flea control products. In order to get rid of fleas in all stages of the life cycle, two or more follow-up treatments within 5-10 days after the first application are needed. Additionally, vacuuming and sanitation practices should be ongoing throughout this period to pick up all remaining eggs and juvenile fleas.

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