If you have noticed your pet scratching a lot, biting their skin, or patches of hair loss, there is a good chance you need to treat your pet for fleas.
These tiny pests can cause a lot of discomfort for your pet and you can end up with a flea infestation in your home.
So, it’s essential to treat pet fleas at the first sign that your pet has brought one home. This will help to prevent fleas becoming a nuisance to you and any other pets you might have
In this article, you will find some great ideas and tips on how to treat pet fleas and get rid of them for good.
How Your Pet Gets Fleas
Your pet cat or dog can pick up fleas from other animals or from just being outside. Fleas have the amazing ability to jump great distances. In fact, according to information provided by the ASPCA, fleas can jump 10,000 times in a row – the distance of 3 football fields!
Depending on the conditions, fleas can live on your pet for anywhere between 16 days and 21 months. They thrive anywhere on an animal’s body but are most often found on the abdomen, base of the tail, and head.
How to Treat Pet Fleas Quickly
If you have discovered that your pet has fleas, quick treatment is essential to prevent them infesting the fur of your pet.
Getting rid of fleas with chemicals
One of the quickest ways to get rid of fleas is to use a chemical treatment. There are generally 2 options available:
- Pills. Pills taken orally can start to work within 30 minutes and will usually kill off most of the fleas on your pet within 4 hours.
- Spot-on treatments. These are placed on the skin of your pet and should destroy most of the fleas within 12 hours. The treatment provides protection for up to a month.
Getting rid of fleas naturally
Some pet owners prefer other methods of eradicating these jumping pests from their pets. One of the most common ways to get rid of fleas naturally is to use a good flea shampoo.
Shampoos work by killing off fleas from the fur of your pets. However, the shampoo needs to stay on the coat for around 10 minutes to work effectively. Once you dry your pet, you use a special flea comb to remove all the dead fleas from your pet.