What you
can do if you have a Flea Infestation Problem
The best flea control is prevention. Unfortunately, sometimes people and
pets find that their environment is already infested with fleas. Rather
than resorting to toxic chemicals and poisons to eliminate fleas, you should
know there are safe and natural alternatives.
First, washing is effective in eliminating fleas. Combing and Shampooing
your pet is a great way to immediately eliminate fleas from your pet. If
fleas are found on the comb, dip the comb in a bowl of soapy water. When
shampooing your pet, we recommend using a natural and gentle shampooing
product instead of a flea dip or pesticide shampoo. Soap and warm water
kills fleas without poison. Be mindful that shampooing too frequently may
cause your pet’s skin to become overly dry. There are gentle pet shampoo
products on the market specially formulated for animals with dry or problem
skin. See
Bobbi Panter’s Itchy Dog shampoo and
also
www.biconet.com/pets/hypoSham.html
and
www.biconet.com/pets/fleaRelief.html
Shampooing tip:
Use warm water and start lathering around your pet’s neck and work back
towards the tail. This way any fleas on your pet trying to crawl away from
the shampoo will not congregate onto your pet’s face.
To
eliminate fleas from your pet’s bed, you should wash your pet’s bedding with
detergent in HOT water and dry bedding thoroughly in the dryer. This will
help prevent your pet from becoming re-infested when he or she sleeps.
Frequent vacuuming of floors, rugs, furniture, and pillows is an effective
way of getting fleas and their eggs out of your pet’s environment. To
prevent caught fleas from climbing out of the vacuuming cleaner’s bag and
re-infesting your pet's environment, be sure to properly dispose of the
vacuum cleaner’s bag after vacuuming. Proper disposal of the vacuuming
cleaner's bag also avoids the risk of having those collected flea eggs from
hatching inside the bag and ultimately re-infesting your pet’s environment.
Diatomaceous earth, a natural substance made up of finely crushed fossils,
is safe and effective in killing fleas. When viewed under a microscope, you
can see that its particles are sharp. These sharp edges cut into the flea’s
outer shell and cause it to dehydrate and die. The flea’s larvae is
affected the same way. Diatomaceous earth can be "dusted" onto carpets
infested with fleas. Allow it to sit several hours or overnight before
vacuuming. It is harmless to animals and children when used as directed but
should not be inhaled. Available at
www.hydromall.com/happy_grower16.html
and can be purchased in garden centers.
To control fleas in your yard, you can use Nematodes. Nematodes are
microscopic worms that eat flea larvae and are therefore a natural way to
control flea population. Nematodes reportedly avoid "desirable" bugs.
Fleas and nematodes do not like hot sun, so it is recommended that you place
nematodes in moist shady places in your yard. The nematodes multiply
quickly and will promptly start controlling the fleas in your yard.
