Are you concerned about dog flea control? You should be. Flea season is either here or almost here if you live in the Midwest or northeast part of the United States. Or do you live in an area that's warm or hot year around? In that case, so it is flea season.
If you think fleas come into your home on the back of your dog, you'd be wrong. What your dog brings into your house are not adult fleas but flea eggs. Your dog acquires these unwelcome passengers when it's lying down outside.
When your dog comes into the house, many of the flea eggs stay on it. However, others fall off and that's where the trouble begins. Because now both your dog and your house can become flea infested.
To make matters even worse, fleas are extremely difficult to get rid of due to their lifecycle. The eggs that your dog brings into the house soon become larvae and then pupae. In this stage, they develop a silk-like cocoon, which makes them almost bulletproof. They can lie around your house in the bottom layers of your carpet or cracks in the floor for up to a year without feeding. During this stage of their life cycle, they are almost impossible to eradicate.
Dog Flea Control Strategies
There are many products available for treating dog fleas on your dog. Some of the more popular ones, such as Frontline Plus and K9 Advantix, will kill both fleas and ticks and keep your dog flea free for up to 30 days.
However, ridding your house of these noxious pests is another matter altogether.
The good news is that you do have several alternatives that are reasonably priced and easy use. This includes flea sprays, "flea bombs" and flea powders.
The flea sprays are especially easy to use. All you have to do is spray those areas that you think might be flea infested. For example, this might include your dog's bed, its favorite chair or any other place where the dog hangs out a lot.
Flea Spray
Here are some of the more popular flea sprays on the market.
Frontline Spray
Meriel, the same company that makes the popular Frontline Plus, makes this flea spray. It comes
in a spray bottle and will kill about 98% to 99% of adult fleas.
Cost: $21
Raid® Flea Killer Plus Carpet And Room Spray
This product is said to kill adult fleas and their hatching eggs for up to four months. It has
a wide-angle spray that's good for treating those areas where fleas like to hide. Raid Flea Killer
Plus can be used on upholstery, pet bedding and furniture. The product comes in a 16-ounce can.
Cost: Usually around $7.
Bio Spot Inverted Carpet And Premise Spray
Bio Spot Inverted Carpet and Premise Spray contains Permethrin and. kills fleas and controls reinfestation
for up to 210 days. It is also said to kill spiders, roaches, ants, ticks, and crickets.
Cost: 16oz - $16.99
DustMite And Flea Control
This spray product is a specially formulated borate compound that mixes easily in water and provides long lasting control over dust mites.
Boron is a natural element that is essential for healthy plant growth and aids in the assimilation
of calcium in the human body. Borates have a long history of use in insect control, and are effective
against fleas, termites, cockroaches and ants.
Cost: $16.99
Adams Carpet Spray
Adams Carpet Spray contains an insect growth regulator called Nylar® which kills all stages of the flea, even the pupae. Because Adams Carpet Spray breaks the flea lifecycle, it will control re-infestation for up to 210 days. In addition to killing fleas, Adams Carpet Spray will kill roaches, ants, lice, crickets, spiders, centipedes, and many other insects. It can be used on carpets, rugs, drapes, pet bedding, and upholstered furniture. Cost: 16 ozs. - $13.99
Whitmire Ultracide Carpet Spray w/IGR
This flea control product also contains Nylar and will kill active fleas and insects in carpets
and on leather and other fabrics. It prevents reinfestation for up to seven months, is easy to use,
and its manufacturer says it can even be applied to hard surfaces. One can of the Whitmore product
will treat up to 2600 sq. ft. of carpets, wood floors, furniture and upholstery. It can also be used
on sensitive fabrics where water-based sprays might cause staining. One can of the Adams product will
treat up to 2600 sq. ft. of carpet or other surfaces.
Cost: $24.95
An All-Natural Flea Spray
A flea control product called Ectopamin Flea and Tick Spray is an all-natural solution to fleas.
It comes in an 8-ounce bottle and its manufacturer says it is safe for use around children and pets
of all kinds.
Cost: $13
A Do-It-Yourself Flea Spray
If you're concerned about using a chemical spray, there is an alternative. You can make your own flea spray by mixing equal parts of white vinegar and water together in a spray bottle. This flea control alternative is not only inexpensive, it is environmentally friendly.
Flea Powders
Fleabusters ® Rx for Fleas Plus ®
RX for Fleas Plus is a powder that can be easily brushed into the carpet. It is statically charged
so that it clings to carpet fibers, meaning that very little of it is removed when you vacuum. Fleabusters
® Rx powder attaches to flea larvae as they wiggle by and then dehydrates them to death.
Cost: 3 lb. canister (covers approximately 5 rooms) - $39.95
Zodiac FleaTrol Carpet and Upholstery Powder Plus
The Plus in this product is an insect growth regulator (IGR), which kills fleas, ticks and flea
eggs. One pound treats up to 400 sq. ft. and will protect and control against re-infestation for up
to 12 months.
Cost: 1 lb. - $9.99
Seargent’s Natural Carpet Flea & Tick Powder
Sergeants is one of America’s oldest and best-known provider of pet products. Its all-natural flea
control product kills and repels fleas and ticks on contact, yet is safe for use around children and
pets. The product comes in an easy-to-use container that has enough powder to cover-up a 2000 sq.
ft. Its natural ingredients include cinnamon oil, peppermint oil, thyme oil, and eugenol.
Cost: $10.44
Sentry Natural Defense Flea and Tick Carpet Powder
This Sentry flea control product kills and repels fleas and ticks on contact. It is safe for use
around pets and children. Sentry Natural Defense comes in a ready-to-use, re-sealable container, one
of which will treat up to 1000 sq. ft. or 3-5 rooms. It has a spice scent that will leave your home
smelling great.
Cost: $10.99
Flea “bombs” and foggers
Fortunately, this is a bomb that will not damage your home. There is no explosion at all. In this case, “to bomb” simply means fogging your house with an insecticide. When you fog a room, the residue left from the spray will kill fleas, as well as other insects, and free your home from these pests.
Zodiac Fleatrol(Tm) Foggers
Another way to control fleas is with a fogger. These can be very effective because the fog will settle into all kinds of tiny cracks and crevices were powders and sprays might not reach.
FleaTrol Foggers have a dual action, fast acting formula, which the manufacturer claims is the
quickest, easiest and most economical way to treat and protect your home. It kills ticks, fleas, ants,
cockroaches, mosquitoes, spiders and even silverfish on contact. It also kills flea eggs and flea
larva. FleaTrol Foggers contain Precor, an insect growth regulator, which will provide up to 210 days
of protection by preventing flea eggs from developing into adults.
Cost: 6 oz. 3-pack - $12.95
Raid® Flea Fogger
This S.C. Johnson flea control product kills fleas on contact, as well as their hatching eggs.
It will keep your home protected for up to four months. Raid Flea Fogger contains the insect growth
regulator Vigren.
Cost: 3-pack, 5 ozs. - $18.69 Enforcer Flea Fogger with FGR
One can of the Enforcer fogger can treat up to 5000 cu. ft. or a room 25’ x 25’ x 8’. It’s active
ingredients are Nylar, Pyrethrins and Permethrin. Enforcer will kill flea eggs, fleas, ticks and other
noxious insects.
Cost: $8.26
Yard Flea Treatments
If you have a large yard, it probably won’t be possible for you to protect it against fleas and ticks. However, if you have a small yard, there are sprays available that can eliminate the fleas and flea eggs, so that your dog will not bring them into the house.
There are chemical insecticides available that will kill adult fleas and flea eggs. However, you must be careful in choosing one because a powerful insecticide can also harm birds and small mammals.
Diatomaceous earth
Diatomaceous earth or DE is made up of the crushed fossils of freshwater organisms or marine life. Insects like fleas have a waxy coat, which helps prevent water loss from the body surface. The Diatomaceous earth slices through this coat which causes dehydration and eventually the death of the fleas due to dehydration.
Only Natural Pet All-in-One Flea Remedy contains DE as its main ingredient. It is odorless, non-toxic,
and shows results in just the few days. This flea control product can also be used indoors and even
on your dog.
Cost: $14.99
Nematodes
Nematodes are another natural way to control fleas. They are microscopic worms sometimes known as “killer roundworms” and may be the simplest answer to flea control. Nematodes act by preying on the larvae and cocoon of the fleas, as well as those of more than 250 other harmful insects. However, they will not harm beneficial insects, birds and mammals.
You can purchase nematodes in a commercial pack size and then simply mix them with water and spray your yard and garden.
For example, one nematode product, Scanmask, is available online and contains 7 million live beneficial
nematodes.
Cost: $19.99
Bio Spot Yard & Garden Spray RTU
This product is said to keep your yard and garden clean for up to a one-month period. It is very
easy to use –just hook it up to your garden hose and spray away. Bio Spot Yard & Garden Spray RTU
kills fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, crickets and other insects.
Cost: $18.99
Virbac Yard Spray Concentrate
This concentrated yard spray kills fleas and ticks including deer ticks and other species that
transmit Lyme disease. However, it will not harm grass or foliage. Virbac Yard Spray Concentrate is
easy-to-use – you simply fasten it on your garden hose and start spraying. This spray will kill fleas,
ticks and fire ants on contact and one 16 oz. container treats up to 6000 sq. ft.
Cost: $15.58
ORANGE GUARD Home Pest Control
Orange Guard may actually be used in the production of organic fruits and vegetables. It is EPA
registered in 50 states, and will kill and repel hidden bugs including ants, roaches and fleas – both
indoors and outdoors. For that matter, ORANGE GUARD Home Pest Control can even be used around food.
Cost: $10 .99
Cleaning And Vacuuming
The best flea control strategy for ridding your home of fleas is to use a flea spray, dust or fogger to kill as many of the fleas and flea eggs as possible. Once you have done this, you need to sweep and sweep some more with your vacuum. Be sure to remove the vaccuum bag and put it in a plastic bag after you finish vacuuming. This is to keep the fleas from returning to a cozy spot to reproduce. Another good idea is to put some flea powder into the vacuum bag before you vacuum.
Be sure to vacuum thoroughly those dark, moist areas in your home, especially where your pet sleeps or frequents. You should pay a lot of attention to areas under your furniture, along wallboards, as well as area or throw rugs and cracks in your flooring.
It is unlikely that you will be able to see that you are sweeping up fleas or flea eggs but you probably will be removing the feces, the eggs and the pupae. Something you have working in your favor is that vibrations stimulate fleas. As you vacuum, the vacuum’s vibrations will cause the pupae to emerge, making them vulnerable to insecticides and further vacuuming.
Dog Flea Control
Flea sprays are very easy to use and can be very effective. So can flea powders. However, flea powders may be a bit more difficult to apply. Flea foggers or bombs are also easy to use and can be effective if you don’t mind dealing with the mist. And, of course, yard flea treatments are an entirely different issue.
In the final analysis, the dog flea control treatment you choose should kill both flea eggs and adults fleas. Beyond that, the only other real variable is price and availability. However, the best answer to this question is to talk to your veterinarian to see what he or she recommends.
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Dog Flea Medicine