How to Get Rid of Adult Fleas

How To Get Rid of Adult Fleas

• Book a visit with your vet or groomer so every pet in the home is checked and started on flea treatment.
• Vacuum slowly over carpets, rugs, upholstered furniture and pet beds. Spend extra time where pets sleep and lounge, and under furniture and in other dark spots that rarely get disturbed.
• In the yard, mow regularly and keep ground cover low so fewer shaded, humid hiding spots remain.

Breaking the Flea Life Cycle at Home

The fleas you can see are only part of the problem. Much of a population is hidden in carpet, bedding and soil as eggs, larvae and cocoons, so a plan has to cover the pets, the house and the yard at the same time.

• Treat every pet together: one untreated cat or dog keeps the cycle going. Ask your vet which flea preventive suits each animal, and keep it on schedule.
• Wash, then vacuum often: launder pet bedding, throw blankets and washable rugs in hot water. After each vacuuming, empty the canister or bag into a sealed trash bag outdoors.
• Close off wildlife: screen crawlspace vents and block gaps under decks, sheds and porches so opossums, raccoons and stray cats can’t den there.

Common mistakes:

• Using a dog flea product on a cat. Some are dangerous to cats, so only use products labeled for that species.
• Relying on foggers. The mist settles on open surfaces and doesn’t reach deep into carpet or under furniture, where larvae live.
• Quitting too soon. Cocoons resist most treatments, so new adults can keep hatching for a few weeks. Seeing some fleas after treatment doesn’t mean it failed. Keep vacuuming, since the vibration coaxes them out.

A professional flea service starts with an inspection to find the hot spots indoors and out, then targets those areas with treatment aimed at both adults and developing stages, plus a follow-up visit timed to catch late hatchers. To review the warning signs, see the adult flea infestation page.