Do I have dog fleas in my home?

If you have determined that your dog has fleas, the chances that you have them in your home is extremely high. By the time you notice your dog scratching and biting excessively or you see a flea in their fur, there could already be thousands of eggs and larvae in your home. These would be found in areas your dog frequents such as the bed, couch, carpeting or rugs, favorite sleeping spots, and feeding areas.

Adult female fleas lay up to 50 eggs each day. These eggs don’t stay on your pet. They fall behind your dog in areas called source spots. These are the few spots where you dog spends his time the most. Up to 95% of the flea eggs and larvae in your home can be found in these source spots.

How did my dog get fleas and bring them into my home?

The fact that your dog and home has fleas does not reflect poorly on your ability to keep your home clean. People from all walks of life get flea infestations because fleas are relatively easy to transmit.

When young fleas are in their cocoons, vibrations, sounds, and heat trigger them to hatch and look for a host. Their ideal host is a dog, cat, or other mammal, but sometimes they will jump on humans and feed if necessary. Fleas also have the amazing ability to jump up to 2 feet. This means you, and your pets, can pick up fleas from anywhere and bring them into your home.

Some of the common areas where you might involuntarily pick up these annoying hitchhikers are dog parks, in your yard, hotels, and other people’s homes. There are some ways you can limit your exposure to fleas and prevent an infestation.​

Dog parks, yards, and other people’s homes

When you go to dog parks or other outdoor areas, make sure your dog is wearing a flea collar that repels fleas. There are also sprays and spot treatments, which will help to keep fleas from jumping on your dog. Also make sure you spray your shoes, socks, and bottom of your pants with a bug spray that repels fleas as well. Some of the natural repellant sprays for dogs can also be used on humans.

Hotels and vacation homes

When you take your dog with you to a hotel or shared vacation home, you can do two simple tests to check for fleas. Take a white washcloth and dampen it with some water. Wipe the cloth on carpeting, the bottom of the drapes, and furniture. Look for red or rust-colored streaks, which could be “flea dirt” or digested blood.

For the other test, take a pie pan or plate, and fill it with water and a few drops of dish detergent. Place the pan under a light source, like a nightlight, and wait for about an hour. If there are fleas in the area, they will be attracted to the light, fall into the pan, and drown.​

Your yard

Another preventive measure you can take is to treat your yard. In many communities, neighbors will walk their dogs in the grass along the sidewalk. Use an insecticide and repellent for your yard to prevent other dog’s fleas from becoming your problem.

Read more from Dogdogbha

Contact me at About.me and Gravatar.com