Say Goodbye to Unwelcome Guests: 6 Tips to Help Pet Parents Get Rid of Fleas

Bye-Bye Pests: How Pet Parents Can Get Rid of Fleas

As a pet parent, you dread a few things: illnesses, injuries, accidents in the house, and fleas. Once your pet has fleas, it’s a race against time to get them off your pet and out of the house. Active flea and tick prevention is the best way to ensure your furry family member remains flea-free. Otherwise, you may have to keep your pet out of the house in a pet carrier or travel kennel for dog safety while professional pest control handles the issue. Use the following tips to help you strike fear into fleas in your area and keep your pets happy, healthy, and clean.

Preventing Infestation

A flea prevention plan can make a difference. Check out these three tips to help prevent an infestation before it can start.

Stay on Top of Vet Appointments

Put your pets into carriers or large dog kennels in the car, drive to the vet, and stay current on vaccines and medications, including flea and tick treatments. Vets offer topical and oral flea and tick treatments, which should kill the pests immediately if they ever jump on for a ride and take a bite. You can also ask for recommendations on the best flea and tick prevention methods. 

Maintain a Regular Bath Schedule

Regularly bathing your pets will help you keep them clean and check their skin. Fleas are visible to the human eye, so a quick search through their fur can give you an all-clear or an uh-oh message. You should also note any changes in their regular grooming, which could indicate something is happening under the surface. 

Keep Pets Away From Suspicious Foliage 

Fleas and ticks could be anywhere, but pets are more likely to pick them up in warm, dry places. It’s a good idea to stay on trails and search your pet for any apparent signs of pests when you get home. If they’re a free spirit who loves the tall grass, it’s especially important to talk to your vet about oral flea medication.

Eradicating the Fleas

Fleas happen; these three tips can help you get rid of them on your pets and in your home so everyone can move on with their (less itchy) lives.

Use Vet-Prescribed Treatments

First things first, you need to get pests off your pet. One of the most effective ways to do so is with your vet's flea and tick medication. Speak with your vet to get the best treatments for your pets, whether you have a dog or cat at home (or both!). There may be a range of treatments available, including topical and oral options. 

Wash and Groom Pets and Their Bedding

If your pet has fleas, give them a bath using a special flea shampoo. That helps kill the fleas, eggs, and larvae that have begun to multiply. Give your pet a flea bath even if you received an oral treatment from the vet. Follow the bath with a grooming session that involves a flea comb for a fine-tooth treatment that not only pulls out the dead pests but also helps you get the live ones. Immediately dunk the comb into warm, soapy water to help kill the fleas (be careful because they jump). 

Hire a Professional 

If the flea infestation is extensive or topical house and pet sprays don’t work, you may have to hire professional pest control. You and your pets must be out of the house when this happens. You can use well-made travel dog cages or cat carriers to keep your pet comfortable outside the home for the designated time you must stay away. You could also schedule a pet sleepover at a friend’s house or board them with the vet or a boarding facility for a night. 

Flea infestations can become a big problem if they’re not handled promptly. When you notice a few flea bites on your body, it might be too late to avoid the flea eradication steps. Make sure you use active flea prevention to stay on top of your pet’s health and keep them happy.

About Petmate
When it’s time to take care of your pet, the best people to turn to for support are those at Petmate. Petmate is a pet supply brand with many products for pet parents. Whether you’re a cat person or a dog person, you can find feeding supplies, pet toys, and bedding for cats and dogs. Petmate is passionate about providing pet owners with all the options and tools they need to create a comfortable space for their four-legged friends. The next time you’re looking for a kennel, dog food storage container, or a new catnip toy, pick something out from Petmate.

Find pet supplies and information to keep your four-legged friends happy at petmate.com