Fleas, also know by their scientific name Ctenocephalides felis, are about the size of a pinhead and are dark brown or black in color. They cannot fly, but are able to jump relatively long distances with their strong hind legs. They feed upon the blood of host animals like dogs, cats, raccoons, mice and humans.
Flea bites are not only itchy and annoying, they can also cause diseases and conditions including bubonic plague typhus, flea allergy dermatitis and tapeworms. There are a variety of flea control methods – traditional and “natural” – available for animals and households that are infested with fleas.
Treating Flea Environments
In order to control fleas, it's important to treat the places they live as well as any animals that are infested. Treatment might be needed both inside the house and out. One way to determine if a yard is infested is to walk around in white socks pulled up to the knees; any fleas will be readily apparent against the white fabric. There are several pesticides available to treat outdoor flea infestations; most contain chlorpyrifos, permethrin, methoprene or pyriproxyfen. Pyriproxyfen doesn’t break down in sunlight as readily as methoprene and is therefore recommended for outdoor use by some professionals.
Foggers do not penetrate into carpets or upholstery, and they may pose some health risks to children and pets. Some experts advise against the use of foggers and flea "bombs."
Pet bedding should be washed in hot water and dried on high heat to kill any larval-stage fleas; this also applies to bed linens if the pet sleeps on family members’ beds. Vacuuming is an important step in flea control, since adult fleas as well as larval-stage fleas live in carpet; it may be necessary to shampoo or steam-clean carpets that are badly infested. Mattresses and upholstered furniture might also need to be vacuumed, shampooed or steam-cleaned. There are a number of spray-on products containing methoprene or pyriproxyfen which can be used to treat carpets and other surfaces.
Treatments for Infested Animals
There are several ways to control fleas on infested animals; pet owners may wish to consult a veterinarian about which flea control option is best for their pet. Flea shampoos, powders and dips sometimes work, but they are not considered as effective as other products because many only work on adult fleas and they may not last as long as other treatments.
Many flea collars are effective only on adult fleas. While some collars contain a compound that is absorbed into the host animal’s skin, others only work on fleas around the head and neck of the host. Newer “flea-stopper” collars contain an ingredient – either methoprene or pyriproxyfen – that spreads over the host animal’s entire body and prevents flea eggs from hatching. These collars can effectively prevent a flea infestation for up to six months.
Another option is a monthly oral treatment in pill form (such as Program, Capstar or Sentinel) that breaks the flea life cycle by preventing eggs from hatching. The active ingredient in Program is lufenuron; Sentinel contains lufenuron and milbemycin, and Capstar contains nitempyram. These products should be used on all pets in the household, or the infestation may spread to an untreated animal.
Many pet owners have successfully controlled fleas with “spot-on” treatments, in which a few drops of a liquid product are applied monthly to the animal, usually around or between the shoulder blades. Brand names include Frontline, Advantage and Revolution; many remain effective even if the animal is bathed or goes swimming, and some formulations also control ticks.
Regardless of which product is used, it’s important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions, and contact a veterinarian with any questions or concerns.
Natural Flea Remedies
There are a handful of so-called "natural" remedies for fleas that do not use chemicals. While some pet owners believe that garlic is an effective way to prevent or control fleas, there is some evidence that it can cause health problems. Some people recommend herbs and oils to combat fleas.
Diatomaceous earth is a product made from tiny fossils; it acts on fleas by cutting their bodies, though it’s too small to cause harm to larger animals. Pet owners can use it outdoors to control fleas; it can also be used indoors, though it often makes a mess and will need to be cleaned up.
Flea traps rely on heat to attract fleas, which then fall through a grid and land on a glue board. They can help control an infestation but will not eliminate all fleas in a household with pets, since they only attract adult fleas and don't eliminate eggs.
Vacuuming, shampooing or steam-cleaning carpets, bedding and furniture, as well as keeping the pet away from areas where there are fleas or other pets, can prevent an infestation.
Even with natural flea control treatments, it’s critical to follow the manufacturer’s instructions, and contact a veterinarian for follow-up advice.
Related Flea Control Resources
About.com Cats: Learn to Control Fleas in Your Home [1]
About.com Housekeeping: How to Remove Fleas From Your Home [2]
About.com Insects: Order Siphonaptera - Characteristics of Fleas [3]
About.com Home Buying: Getting Rid of Fleas [4]
About.com Pediatrics: Taking the Bite out of Fleas and Ticks [5]
About.com Rare Diseases: Bubonic Plague [6]
About.com Veterinary Medicine: The Life Cycle of the Flea [7]
About.com Veterinary Medicine: What You Can Do to Control Fleas [8]
About.com Veterinary Medicine: Best Flea Control Methods [9]
About.com Veterinary Medicine: Tapeworms [10]
About.com Veterinary Medicine: Flea Dirt [11]
About.com Veterinary Medicine: How to Control Fleas, Ticks and Mosquitoes [12]
About.com Veterinary Medicine: How to Give Fleas and Ticks the Send-Off [13]
About.com Veterinary Medicine: How to Get Rid of Fleas [14]
Dermatology Online Journal: Fleas, flea allergy, and flea control [15]
Novartis: Program [16]
Novartis: Sentinel [17]
Frontline: Flea control products [18]
Advantage: Flea control products [19]
Revolution: Flea control products [20]
University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Integrated Flea Control [21]
University of Kentucky Entomology: Ridding Your Home of Fleas [22]
University of Kentucky Entomology: Pet-Centered Flea Prevention and Control [23]
Flea Control Guide: Typhus [24]
Flea Control Guide: Flea Allergy Dermatitis [25]
Flea Control Guide: Foggers [26]
Flea Control Guide: Flea Collars [27]
Flea Control Guide: Capstar [28]
Flea Control Guide: Natural Flea Control [29]
Flea Control Guide: Diatomaceous Earth [30]
Flea Control Guide: Flea traps [31]
Flea Control Guide: Cleaning for Fleas [32]
Flea Control Guide: Dog Park Tips [33]
Flea Control Guide: Flea Treatment Plan [34]
Flea.net: Flea Control [35]
Mother Earth News: Natural Flea Control [36]