'Tis the season for fleas - part two

June 20, 8:49 PMPhiladelphia Pet Care ExaminerLeah McClellan

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The best defensive strategy against fleas is a vacuum cleaner, a washing machine, and hot water. A dryer helps, too. Extra vigilance during the warm months is important, and that not only means thorough, regular housecleaning, it also means examining your dog or cat frequently, especially if your dog takes walks, visits dog parks, or plays in a yard where other critters visit, or if your cat is an indoor-outdoor cat.

Why is a vacuum cleaner so important? When a flea lays eggs, they drop off the animal. When they hatch, the larvae live in the dog's or cat's bed, in your bed, in the carpet, in the cracks of a hardwood floor, and anywhere they can find an organic food source such as crumbs or dead skin and—best bet for them—fecal matter from other fleas, which is recycled blood (also known as flea dirt).

Flea eggs and larvae as well as the dirt are swept up easily from carpets in a typical vacuum cleaner, especially one with a rotating brush action. It's important, though, to vacuum very thoroughly and cover every square inch of surface. Use attachments to reach in corners and crevices and under heavy furniture. Move furniture regularly, if possible, and vacuum underneath. Vacuum upholstery, curtains, and even the sides of carpeted stairs, anywhere that fleas or eggs or larvae can hide. Vacuum your pet's bed if it's not easily washable or has no removable cover. If you have hardwood or vinyl floors, vacuum and mop. When you're all done, carefully throw away the vacuum cleaner bag, especially if you think (or know) you already have fleas. Some experts recommend placing a flea collar or part of one in the bag, to kill fleas right away (they can multiply right in the bag), but you can also take the vacuum cleaner outside, transfer the bag into a plastic garbage bag, tie it up immediately (very tightly), and place it in the trash can or Dumpster.

Why is a washing machine and a dryer so important? Fleas drown easily, first of all, in any water temperature, and the eggs and larvae usually get washed away. Using hot water and the maximum temperature in the dryer ensure that eggs and larvae are destroyed. Launder your pets bedding weekly. If your pet sleeps on your bed, then wash all your bedding weekly. If you have a bedspread or comforter you'd rather not wash so often, and if your dog or cat sleeps in a regular spot on your bed, try covering the area with a sheet or two, and wash the sheet frequently. Wash throw rugs and anything else your pet comes in contact with as well.

Since flea eggs can easily fall off, take care to draw up a sheet, blanket, or towel by the corners and fold it inward before taking it to the washer. You might want to have the machine already filled with water and then plunge the item in right away to prevent any live escapes (if fleas are already present).

You should also check your dog or cat for fleas regularly. A flea comb is best, and you can buy one in almost any pet store. Combs designed for lice on humans also work well although, for most examining purposes, almost any sort of fine-toothed grooming comb can work. Take a close look at fur caught in the comb, or place the fur on a damp, white paper towel and look carefully, especially at the base of the fur that was closest to the skin. An actual flea will be obvious (small, flat, black or dark brown, jumps quickly, and very hard to catch), and flea dirt looks like tiny, dark grains of sand; it's hard to miss if there's a lot of it and your pet is normally pretty clean. If your pet has a light coat, you may not need the white towel to see it. You can even separate the fur on the animal, without combing, to see if there's any flea dirt or fleas on the skin. Pay close attention to areas around the ears, neck, back, and hindquarters, since that's where they tend to congregate.

One way to check your house for fleas (if you think you may have a problem) is to wear light-colored or white socks and pants around the house for a few days. Check around your ankles regularly. If there are fleas in your carpets or anywhere in your house, you'll see them on your socks or pants soon enough.

What should you do if you find evidence of fleas? Next  1, 3

If you found this article helpful, you might also want to learn about ticks.

For more info: .Tackling fleas on cats