The Importance Of Keeping The House Free Of Fleas

Keeping the house free of fleas is a fundamental act of hygiene to preserve the well-being of all family members. And also to avoid many diseases.

Fleas have great resistance and can survive in poor conditions. It is assumed that a flea can survive for more than 1 week without feeding.

Furthermore, they are able to reproduce quickly in favorable environments, such as the back of a pet. An adult female can lay more than 50 eggs a day.

For all these reasons, ongoing prevention work is always preferable to remedying an infestation.

8 Simple Tips to Keep Your Home Flea Free

1. Preventive antiparasitic treatment in your pet

Previously, it was necessary to expose the dog to strong chemicals when the animal already had a good part of its body invaded by fleas. This treatment is ineffective for many reasons. In addition to affecting the health of the animal and the owner by its strong smell, it used to be used to visualize fleas.

A few years ago, preventive treatments emerged that do not expose the animal to any risk. Just keep a routine of applying pipettes or spray indicated to repel fleas, preventing them from getting close to the animal’s body. Ideally, apply them at least 2 times a year and consult a veterinarian before opting for a particular product.

You can also opt for flea collars.

2. Adequate lighting and ventilation

Fleas are very sensitive to sunlight or artificial light and prefer to be sheltered or hidden to protect themselves. It’s one of the reasons they’re mostly on the back of the animal. There, the hairs concentrate and produce shade.

Therefore, it is recommended to provide adequate ventilation and lighting to keep the house free of these pests.

3. Improved hygiene

Having a pet already requires reinforcing the hygiene of the home. And to avoid the appearance of fleas, it is especially necessary to pay attention to darker corners and spaces. In them, waste accumulates and parasites can be “disguised”.

4. Cut your pet’s fur

As we have seen, fleas prefer more secluded and shaded places to “hide” and breed. Therefore, they proliferate more quickly on the back of dogs with abundant hair. It is advisable to cut your pet’s fur at least once a year, preferably during the summer.

It’s also good practice to brush dogs 1-2 times a week, preventing dead hair from accumulating.

5. The bath time

Fleas are not very fond of water as they can drown easily. Therefore, a good measure to prevent the emergence and combat the proliferation of these parasites is to bathe your dog periodically.

In winter, it is not advisable to constantly expose the animals to water, it is appropriate to bathe them only once a month. During the summer, you can bathe yourself a week. Hair and skin must be dried well after bathing.

6. Apply specific liquids or aerosols for the home

Some specific products are already marketed to keep the house free of fleas. They are liquid or aerosol cleaners that prevent the entry and reproduction of these parasites.

7. Beware of street sidewalks

Taking your dog for a walk is great for both your health. However, be careful not to expose it too much to fleas and ticks. Especially during the summer, you should avoid taking it to dirty environments or letting it come into contact with abandoned or poorly cared for dogs.

8. Natural and household flea remedies

Natural remedies to keep the house free of fleas are effective. The smell of certain substances can prevent these parasites from approaching or cause them to migrate. Furthermore, they are much less aggressive to health.

You can opt for monthly cleanings throughout the house with some homemade infusions and preparations instead of an industrial chemical.

There are four easy home remedies to fight fleas:

• Eucalyptus oil
• Mixture of lavender oil and apple cider vinegar
• Mixture of water, lemon juice and baking soda
• Mint infusion with pennyroyal

Keeping a flea-free home is easy with proper preventive care. Taking care of the home is also part of responsible pet ownership and healthy breeding.

Main image source: Cristián Arriagada.