Ann asked 8 years ago
Seem to have a reoccurring flea infestation. I suspect my dog gets it in the park. Wooden floors, so we treat the dog and apartment, clean,Hoover, the usual the works. Is there a flea collar that’s worth getting to stop my dog picking fleas up? Is it worth getting a flea trap in my house? Any advice regarding prophylaxis? Thank you
ann
Adam Retzer Staff answered 8 years ago
Hello Ann, there are a few things you can do to prevent fleas.
As you mentioned, one of these things is keeping a clean home. Regularly vacuum and wash pet bedding and rugs. If your dog picks up fleas, they’ll begin laying eggs on the animal. The eggs then fall into the home. Vacuuming and laundering will remove eggs from the environment before they have a chance to hatch and worsen the infestation.
Controlling fleas is much easier if they are detected right away. Regularly combing your dog with a flea comb will allow you to catch the flea infestation before it gets out of control.
Flea infestation almost always begin outdoors. Infested wildlife enter into yards and flea eggs fall off. The eggs can only develop in shady, humid, wind-protected areas (e.g. under porches or in a dense vegetation). It can be helpful to clear away brush from the sides of structures to prevent the fleas from having viable places to develop.
Flea collars and flea drops can be used proactively. Some owners choose to treat their pets before flea season starts, and continue treatment throughout the summer (or year-round). In the literature, I’ve read this is most common with dual-action flea drops (adulticide and insect growth regulator) such as Advantage II or Frontline Plus. These products come with monthly doses, making it easy to keep pets protected for extended periods. Flea collars will likely work as well, depending on the active ingredients. I believe there are also some oral meds used for prevention, though this isn’t a strong-point in my knowledge yet.
Another tip would be to spray your carpets with an insect growth regulator (IGR). The two common compounds are pyriproxyfen (Nylar) and methoprene (Precor). IGRs mimic the natural hormones ininsects that regulate development. Exposed adult females can’t lay viable eggs. And, more importantly for carpet applications, exposed eggs and larvae won’t be able to mature into adults. IGRs are considered safer than traditional insecticides, because they specifically target the insect endocrine system. And, as a big plus for prevention, IGRs will remain active indoors for around 7 months before re-application is required. You can find IGR concentrate (without other chemicals) online, for example Martin’s IGR.
Flea traps aren’t effective for flea prevention or control. The traps only attract and capture fleas after they’ve fully developed from egg to adult in the carpets and are looking for a host. And even then, they don’t catch them all. Flea traps are most useful for assessing flea populations within a given area.
Hope this help!
Adam
