The ultimate outside flea removal guide
How to get rid of fleas in your lawns, gardens and yards
Flea life cycle |
Flea infestation |
Flea locations in your home
Geting rid of fleas on your dog
Getting rid of fleas in your garden and lawns |
Summary
Pet death and pet illnesses due to adverse reactions to chemical flea and tick products
Flea life cycle
We are often asked "how long does it take to get rid of fleas from lawns, gardens and yards? The reality is, that fleas will only last as long as you let them. If your primary goal is getting rid of fleas and you commit yourself to the removal process, then you can be free of fleas within a few weeks. It's simply a matter of understanding the life cycle of fleas, where they like to hang out and how to get rid of them.
Whilst fleas love to live and lay their eggs on your pets, carpets, rugs, mats, curtains and drapes and furniture, they are equally at home in your garden shed, outdoor furniture such as reclinners, chairs, sofas and timber desks.
Flea infestation
Once people realise they have a flea infestation in their home and outside surrounds their first reaction is to blame their family pet.
However, while it is true, that the fleas in and around your home have most probably been brought in to your home and property surrounds by your or cat or dog, it is preposterous and far from the truth to blame your pets; or indeed other peoples' pets.
Cats and dogs who go outdoors without proper flea protection are cats and dogs who will eventually end up with cat or dog fleas, period!
Therefore the blame as to who caused the flea infestation lies entirely with the pets' parents. If the cap fits, YOU must wear it!
Flea locations in your home
Once fleas have made their way inside and outside of your home and surrounds, they don't linger long on your pets. Recents stats indicate 5% of the flea population in and around your home will be on your pet; the remaining 95% will be ensconced elsewhere, which of course includes your curtains and drapes and indoor and outdoor furniture, decks and sheds etc.
Fleas love warm dark places to set up home and together with your dog's and your families' warm blood to feed on they are in nirvana in your home and outside surrounds!
By their very nature they are tenacious little nasties and getting rid of them is far easier said than done. If you have an infestation you are best to over-do than under-do.
Off course it is a priority to treat your pet, but this must be done in tandem with cleaning and vacuuming your bedding, carpets, curtains and drapes; together with the remainding indoor and outdoor furniture, decking and surrounds.
To be successful, please take a moment to read our articles on:
Fleas in BedsFleas in Carpets
Fleas in Curtains
Fleas in Furniture
Fleas on your pets
Three Steps to no Fleas
Geting rid of fleas on your dog
First off bath your dog with a herbal Shampoo and ConditionerThe trick here is to lather up your pet and leave the shampoo on for a minimum of five minutes at least. Any less and you are wasting your time. Five minutes are needed to completely drown all adult fleas and kill all of the off-spring in the flea's life cycle.
Follow up after his bath with an herbal Spot-on treatment together with attaching a Flea Tag on an herbal Collar.
Fleas flourish and breed in humid, shady, moist and warm areas. If you take a look around the outside of your home, you will see there are plenty of places that fleas could set up camp during the warm months of spring and summer.
One very good preventative measure is to flood your lawns, gardens and yards on a regular basis during dry weather. This kills two birds with one stone. First of all water washes away the feces of adult fleas, which is the main source of food for any larvae that survive the dowsing, and secondly, fleas and larvae can not survive being emersed in water for long periods of time.
Obviously, nature takes care of fleas and larvae during rainy seasons, so it is very important to remember this simple and easy tip, to flood your outside surrounds during summer and dry periods.
Other areas that need your attention are out door furniture, dogs kennels, rabbit hutches, garden sheds, outside garages, in fact any buildings out side where your pets frequent and sleep. All need disinfecting and spraying with an effective anti flea spray, please browse our Stop The Fleas Products range for a variety of outdoor sprays, crystals and powders, all of which are safe for children, pets and plants.
We always encourage natural methods for getting rid of fleas. We suggest some very effective and safe methods of getting rid of fleas in the outside areas of you home in our segment on Home Flea Remedies.
If you would prefer, you can always call in a pesticide professional. Now days most professionals carry products that are not harmful to children and pets and they are also experts at knowing where pesky little fleas like to hang out.
Summary
Getting rid of fleas in and around your home will take diligence on your part; this could take weeks or even months. Therefore you must take the approach as summarise below, other wise you wont be successful:
- Treat the fleas on your pets - we suggest bathing your dog followed by affixing an Herbal Collar and a Flea Tag
- Control the fleas inside and outside your home by using chemical free and safe flea repellants
- Be systematic and regular in your chosen method of flea repellants
- Start now!
Pet death and pet illnesses due to adverse reactions to chemical flea and tick products
The video below is well worth watching. As part of the federal Government's investigation of the safety of chemical pet control products, Chris May speaks to Cindy Tanghetti about the loss of her Golden Retriever; to Jan Jaffe about her dog requiring four blood transfusions; and to Judy Waylen about her dog's hair loss and horrible crusty skin disease - all due to the use of various toxic chemical flea and tick control products
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This article and information forms part of the Carole's Doggie World Holistic Library and is presented for informational purposes only.The information is not intended to be a substitute for visits to your local vet. Instead, the content offers the reader information researched and written by Carole Curtis for www.carolesdoggieworld.com