Bloodsuckers

Ah, summertime. Abundant sunshine, barbecues, lounging by the pool, and, of course, bugs. Lots of bugs, and the kind that like to bite you and, unfortunately, your pets. There's nothing like a flea infestation to take the fun out of your summertime plans. Following are some tips on how to deal with those pesky bloodsuckers if they do indeed invade your pet and your home.

1. Bathe your pet (yes, even a kitty) with a pet safe, soap free shampoo to help wash away fleas, flea eggs, and flea dirt first. Do not use a flea shampoo when bathing your pet, as some pets can have a bad reaction to the mixing of pesticides from the shampoo and topical treatments. Thoroughly dry your pet off and wait 24 hours to apply a topical treatment like Frontline or Advantage. Be sure to use the correct dosage for your size animal - never take a chance on being able to split the medication between several pets. The bulk of the fleas should be dead within 24-48 hours, but if you still feel like your pet has a large number of fleas you can use a product called Capstar available from your vet.

2. Skip the flea collars, powders, and sprays. They don't work and they don't prevent. The extra money it costs for a topical treatment is well worth it, and when you consider that it takes an average of 3 months to fight an infestation (yup, sorry to be the one to have to tell you that)you really need to use the stuff that actually works.

3. Wash your pet's bedding, your bedding, and any other blankets or throws that your pet may have come in contact with. Wait to put those items back out until you've treated the area.

4. Vacuum, vacuum, vacuum. And then vacuum again. Vacuuming helps rid your home of fleas, flea dirt, and flea eggs, so doing it at least once a day makes a big difference. Flea eggs are not sticky; they are designed so that they can fall off the animal wherever they go and spread the eggs around a large area. Think about that for a moment - fall off the animal wherever they go. Yup, that's gross, so vacuum your home thoroughly, including floors, couches, beds, tables, counters - anywhere your pet has been. Be sure to empty your vacuum cleaner bag or canister outside immediately after you're done. If you have a bag system this will mean throwing away the bag every time after you vacuum, but it's the only way to make sure those fleas don't escape back into your home.

5. Treat your home with a carpet and upholstery spray to rid those areas of fleas. Make sure it has an Insect Growth Regulator in it to help break the reproductive cycle. Follow instructions closely to keep your pet and your family safe. If the infestation is really bad you may want to use a flea bomb to help rid your home of the pests, but be aware that all living creatures must be out of the home for several hours in order to use a bomb.

6. Be diligent. Be sure to treat your pet with the topical preventative once a month every month. Vacuum at least once a day. Treat your home a second time if necessary, and put all the bedding through another wash cycle. The battle against the bloodsuckers is a frustrating one, but if you stay diligent and keep on top of them, you will come out ahead.