With more than 2,000
different species of fleas, it's no wonder they're
so abundant around the globe. So it's important to
be prepared, whether you're at home or traveling with
your cat or dog. Due to factors such as local climate
conditions, the flea season as recommended by the
Flea Index may vary from year to year. It should also
be noted that fleas (in their various stages) can
survive indoors during the cold weather months, therefore
a monthly flea control regimen is recommended. Consult
your pest control operator about flea prevalence in
your area, how long it lasts and the recommended time
to start your cat or
dog on flea control.
Once you have decided
you need to contact a professional to take care of
a flea problem, here are some tips to help prepare
ahead of time.
How
You Can Help Your Family and Your Pet
What you do
is critical for a successful flea control program.
When you decide to use a professional service there
are important things you need to do immediately before
and after they treat your home and lawn. Flea control
is a three-step process, home, lawn and pet.
Before
Treatment:
- Observe where pets
spend time-inside and outside the home.
- Take your pets to
a veterinarian to be checked and treated for fleas.
To help avoid reinfestation don't let freshly treated
pets back into your home or yard until it has been
treated.
- Vacuum carpets, floors,
rugs, drapes, upholstered furniture, mattresses
and cushions. Use a vacuum with a disposable bag
and dispose of it by incineration or sealing in
a plastic bag.
- Wash or dispose of
all pet bedding.
- Clean or vacuum wood
and tile floors with special attention to grooves,
cracks and baseboards.
- Sweep porches, steps
and decks
- Cut the lawn and remove
debris and clutter prior to yard treatment.
- All unwrapped food
should be covered or placed in cabinets or the refrigerator.
Food preparation surfaces and utensils should be
covered. Pick up pet bowls from inside as well as
outside of the home.
- Be sure to remove
all toys, decorative items, pillows and other items
off the floor, including under the bed and closets,
so that all areas of the floor can be treated.
- Cover fish tanks and
remove birds and hamsters when the technician arrives.
- Make arrangements
for everyone including pets to remain out of home
and off the yard for approximately 4 hours after
treatment to allow for area to completely dry.
After
Treatment
Once your home and yard has been professionally
treated, there are important things you need to do.
- All occupants and
animals should stay off treated surfaces until they
are dry.
- Vacuum carpets every
day for 10 days and remove the vacuums bag outdoors
and dispose of properly. Don't be alarmed if you
see adult fleas when you are vacuuming. These fleas
were in the pupa and egg stages, which aren't killed
by the insecticide application. However, there is
enough residual control to last up to 4 weeks. That's
enough time to kill adults as they emerge and give
good control in most situations.
- Wash food preparation
surfaces and utensils that might have come in contact
with the insecticide.
- Do not allow flea-infested
pets in your home. If this happens, the house may
get reinfested and retreatment will be necessary.
- Check all screening
of foundation vents and other access areas to keep
mice, rats and squirrels and other fleas carrying
wild animals out.
