Eliminating fleas & ticks can seem like a complicated and frustrating endeavor. But don't dismay, it can be done! Eliminating fleas and ticks can be sucessfully accomplished by these few simple steps:
1) Apply a topical flea/tick treatment every 4-weeks all year long.
Most people only apply treatments after they notice an infestation on their pets or in their homes. By then, a life-cycle has already been started. Meaning, if you see the fleas or ticks, chances are the eggs (or, larvae) have already been released on your pet or in your home. One female flea can lay up to 50 eggs per day
2) More is not better.
When it comes to treating your pet with topical treatments, follow the timeline recommended. Do not apply treatments too close together. If a spot-on treatment recommends an application every 4-weeks, do not reapply sooner. Doing so, will not help. In fact, it may harm your part (the additional chemicals added in a short time span can make your pet sick). If the treatment is not working after 2-weeks, you may need to try another type of spot-on. Now, just like pet foods, there are many different "qualities" of treatments. Some of these treatments are nothing more than concentrated fly-sprays that are used for battling fleas!
3) Treat your house or pet bedding (even if you don't seen any fleas inside).
Most people do not know that a flea egg can stay dormant for up to 2-years before hatching! (If that doesn't creep you out...nothing will) A good IGR (Insect Growth Regulator) spray works great to break the flea life cycle. "Bombing" your house or pet area with a flea fogger is also a great way to kill both flea eggs and larva. Be sure that whatever fogger you purchase, it has as one of its active ingredients an IGR. NYLAR is a good IGR that is found in both foggers and spray applicators. One great advantage to NYLAR is that unlike alot of IGR's, NYLAR will not break down in the sun. This is especially useful in homes where there are large windows and alot sunlight
4) Vacuum, Vacuum, Vacuum
If you have carpet, in order to get rid of any eggs layed by fleas, you should be vacuuming 2-3x as often as you usually do (2-3x per week). Just remember that you should be dumping your vacuum canister or changing the bag atleast once per week also. If you do not, that vacuum simply turns into one big flea nest for fleas to hatch in! One solution to preventing your vacuum from becoming a "mobile flea farm" is to buy any flea collar (we recommend Zodiac because it's effective and reasonably priced at under $9), cut a 3-4" piece off and put it in your vacuum bag/canister.
5) Specifics?
So, you may be wondering what we specific products to try? Here are a few suggestions:
1. SPOT-ON TREATMENTS: Advantix II for dogs: Works great for both fleas and ticks, 4-month supply. Contains the chemical permethrin which is used for repelling insects...great for keeping fleas and ticks OFF your dogs so you can worry less about lyme disease.
2. FOGGERS & RTU SPRAYS: No-Bite Sprays and foggers work great for both cats and dogs. The RTU spray can be used directly on your pet or on the pet's bedding and furniture. No-Bite Spray contains the IGR Nylar, so it'll hold up in sunlight.
