Dog fleas are a problem that too many of us have been plagued with, but more importantly too many of our beloved pets have been plagued with. Getting rid of fleas is not an easy task, but with the proper plan and a certain amount of diligence it is possible to live a flea free life again. Let's go through the steps necessary to get rid of fleas and keep them from coming back.

In order to rid your house of fleas and prevent them from coming back, you need to understand that the adult fleas on your dog make up only about 5% of the flea infestation - the other 95% in various stages are living in your house and yard. Therefore it is very important to do a total treatment (at the same time!) of all possible flea locations, and get rid of the fleas, flea eggs, larvae and pupae.

1 -Rid your house of fleas - first, take your dog outside so that he won't be spreading fleas back to the areas that you have just cleaned. Second, pick up anything and everything that is on the floor in all of your living spaces, including bedrooms, bathrooms, closets ? everywhere your dog has access to fleas will exist. Wash EVERYTHING - launder your clothes, sheets, dog toys, dog bedding, blankets etc. Anything that can't be dried, hang up to dry outside in the sunlight.

Now do a thorough cleaning of your entire house, using the vacuum on all carpeted and upholstered items, and soap and water on all hard surfaces. Steam cleaning your upholstery is a good idea if you have access to a steam cleaner. One thing to be careful of after vacuuming is to dispose of the vacuum bag so that fleas or larvae do not re-emerge and create a new infestation. Remember that surfaces in your basement, garage, and patio also need cleaning if your dog is in contact with these areas. One last place that is often forgotten about is the car - you will want to vacuum or steam clean the upholstery to get rid of fleas that have taken up residence in your vehicle. Once you have cleaned all surfaces, have a professional flea treatment done of your entire house. Make sure you and your pets don't return until the recommended amount of time has passed.

2 - Rid your outdoor spaces of fleas - any fleas that are outside the home are a problem as well, since they will be brought back into the house again the first time you dog visits these areas. At the same time that you are having your house treated for fleas, it is a good idea to have your yard and any other outdoor space treated as well. Remember to pay special attention to dark humid places where fleas typically like to hide, such as corners, cracks, and underneath things like your patio deck.

3 - Kill the fleas on your dog - give your dog a bath with dog shampoo. Once they have dried off use a flea comb to check for any fleas that you have missed.

4 - Kill fleas for the next 2 weeks to prevent re-infection - 2 weeks after the initial treatment, any fleas in the larvae stage which were impervious to the chemical treatment will now hatch and reinfest your home. After the initial treatment, make sure to follow up with vacuuming, floor washing, laundering and pet bathing regularly over the next two weeks, and your chances of catching young fleas before they have a chance to re-infest will be greatly increased.

Keep reading on http://my-dog-has-fleas.com to find out more about Dog Flea Remedies.

Posted under Dogs

Being a responsible pet owner means that you must take your pet's health and welfare seriously. One such aspect that must be taken very seriously is the inevitable experiences with dog fleas. Dog fleas can seriously affect your pet's health. Your dog's ability to get a good sleep will be hampered. In addition, the itching and biting can take a serious toll on your dog's coat and skin.

What is the best way to get rid of dog fleas? There are different answers to that question. You must get rid of the actual fleas on your pet plus you must get rid of the fleas in your pets environment. If you do not pay special attention to getting rid of fleas in your home, your pet will quickly get re-infested. Once you have gotten rid of the fleas on the animal and in your home, you would be wise to engage in some preventative steps. Some easy flea prevention steps will go a long way in preventing future bouts with fleas.

Thankfully, ridding your pet of fleas has gotten easier. There are now readily available products that can be applied to your pet's coat. These products, including Frontline and Advantage, can rid your pet of fleas within 2-3 days. You simply apply a small amount of the solution to the back base of the animal's neck. With natural scratching and licking your animal will spread this solution around their entire body. The solutions are non-toxic and very effective.

There are also ways to get rid of fleas naturally. More common methods include rubbing olive oil on to your pet's skin. Working from the head to the tail, the olive oil drowns the fleas. Of course, this method can prove to be expensive for larger animals. A similar method uses baby powder or talcum powder.

Pay close attention to the areas in your house in which your pet sleeps or passes his day. These areas will, most definitely, have fleas. Vacuum every surface your pet may have come into contact with. If feasible try to steam clean your furniture and carpets using the hottest water possible. Make sure you wash all of the bedding, throw blankets, pillow covers etc. Once you have vacuumed, make sure you seal the vacuum bag and take it out of your house.

Once your pet and home are free of fleas you can take some steps to prevent future infestations. There are a number of ways to avoid future infestations. Some people add small amounts of garlic to their pet food. Other people like to douse a bandanna in citronella oil and tie it around the animal's neck. There are also commercially available flea prevention medications that your pets can ingest once every few months. For more information on getting rid of fleas or flea prevention speak to your vet.

Go to My Dog Has Fleas to find out more, including how to get rid of fleas.

Posted under Dogs