To get rid of domestic fleas, you need to understand well how they enter the room, what they are afraid of and what their life cycle is (which, as practice shows, many people have no idea, not knowing that fleas have worm-like larvae, eggs, pupae). In most cases, it is not enough to process only the hair of a pet, wash its rug and do a general cleaning in the apartment.
If domestic fleas have settled in the living area, you have to develop a whole pest control plan with the help of special tools, and then consistently implement it. We will talk about this further.
On a note
Fleas are wingless blood-sucking insects with a so-called complete metamorphosis. An adult female flea with force ejects eggs from herself, spreading them over the hair of the host animal and the surrounding area (floor in the house, carpets). Within about two weeks, mobile worm-like larvae hatch from the eggs, which feed on food debris, decaying biological substances, as well as undigested blood in the excrement of adult relatives. Adult fleas do not live permanently on the host animal (and even more so on human skin), but can stay in its fur for a long time.
The photos below show domestic fleas. It is clearly seen that their body is strongly flattened from the sides:
The complexity of the fight against fleas is as follows:
- flea larvae hide in the most inaccessible places of the room, where it is difficult to get rid of them even with the help of aerosol insecticides;
- adult fleas can be both in shelters indoors and on pets at the same time. Therefore, they need to be displayed both there and there, using different means.
Flea larvae usually disperse throughout the closet, hiding in dusty places, trash cans, behind baseboards and even upholstered furniture, and they are extremely rarely seen.
Photo of a flea larva:
Getting rid of domestic fleas can sometimes be difficult, because in addition to pet hair, all rooms and surfaces must be treated at the same time so that there are no hiding places for parasites. Toilets and nests of domestic rodents deserve close attention, since it is in these places that the optimum temperature and humidity for insects are maintained, and there is also enough food for their larvae.
In the photo - larvae and eggs of fleas:
Why are house fleas dangerous?
A domestic flea is dangerous not only because its bite itches and causes irritation. With constant scratching, the bites become very inflamed, and wounds can form in their place. All these are signs of pulicosis, a disease caused specifically by domestic fleas. It is especially dangerous for children because they are more likely than adults to develop allergies.
The photo shows traces of flea bites on the legs:
However, the main trouble associated with the presence of fleas in the house is the possibility of contracting dangerous infections (the risk is small, but it always exists). So, for example, it was found that these insects can be carriers of pathogens of more than 200 infections dangerous to humans.
Scientists-epidemiologists keep under strict control the populations of animals on which the fleas that carry the plague parasitize.
The most dangerous diseases that domestic fleas carry are:
- plague;
- hepatitis (B, C);
- encephalitis;
- brucellosis;
- tularemia;
- trypanosomiasis;
- salmonellosis.
However, if fleas have started up in the house, this, of course, does not mean at all that they are necessarily carriers of diseases, but their appearance in itself speaks of unsanitary conditions. Therefore, you need to get rid of parasites as soon as possible.
Review
“We probably have fleas in the house from dampness. They bite, of course, unpleasantly, but not fatally. But a small one from them developed an allergy with swelling and inflammation of the lymph nodes. This is what we were afraid of. I had to send her to my mother, and then we ourselves would poison fleas in the apartment for a week.
Nelly, Rostov-on-Don
Fast and comprehensive flea removal
To destroy domestic fleas, you must act according to the following plan.
Find and eliminate ways for insects to enter your home. There are several ways for parasites to enter a house: on the fur of animals, on the clothes of the residents themselves, through ventilation shafts, and also from the basement (if we are talking about the first floors).
Basement fleas are especially dangerous, since among them rat fleas are most often found, which are perhaps the most active carriers of all kinds of infection. Therefore, it is desirable to get rid of parasites in the future not only in the apartment or in the living quarters of a private house, but also in the basement itself.
On a note
A flea that parasitizes a rat is not necessarily a rat.Similarly, fleas in cat hair are not always cat fleas. The fact is that all fleas are very illegible in choosing their prey and easily switch from one type of host animal to another. That is why a person can be bitten by fleas of different types.
The next thing to do is to treat the fleas of pets and their beds. By the way, if a pet starts itching at all more than usual, it is necessary to make a thorough examination of its coat, since in addition to fleas, lice and other parasites can parasitize in it.
Almost everyone knows what a domestic flea looks like. The photo below shows adults, which are usually caught from pet hair by caring owners:
It is easiest to notice insects in the abdomen, neck, armpits. If the examination of the animal revealed parasites, it is imperative to treat the pet's hair with special means (see below for more on this).
And, finally, only at the final stage should a set of measures be taken to process the premises. This is perhaps the most difficult part of the work, since it is necessary to process every square meter, including hard-to-reach places behind cabinets, baseboards, and in parquet crevices. You can carry out such processing yourself if you purchase the necessary insecticides, or you can call professional exterminators.
If everything is done correctly, then only after that the active phase of the fight against fleas can be considered over. But let's also clarify some of the nuances ...
Flea control products
Means that help get rid of fleas are very widely represented on the market today.Many manufacturers specializing in insecticides offer a wide range of sprays, drops and shampoos from these insects.
At the same time, it is necessary to strictly distinguish between preparations for pets and preparations for the treatment of premises. There are no universal remedies, and animals cannot be treated with indoor flea control and vice versa.
We remove fleas from pets
Most often, pets are the source of fleas in the house. Accordingly, the fight against insects must begin with the treatment of pets. In this case, you can choose the most convenient and sparing option, in accordance with the age and health of the animal.
The range of flea remedies for pets is quite wide:
- Flea powder. These drugs are designed specifically for kittens and puppies, they have minimal toxicity and are gentle. But you need to be prepared for the fact that the remedy will have to be used more than once, since its effectiveness is generally lower than that of other drugs.
- insecticidal shampoos. For example, under the brands Dr. Zoo, Rolf Club, Phytoelita, Lugovoi produce many products with an anti-flea effect. Depending on the degree of infestation of the pet and the type of shampoo, fleas can usually be removed from him in 1-3 baths.
- Drops from fleas and ticks. For example, preparations from Bayer, Stronghold, Hartz and a number of domestic manufacturers are sold immediately in pipettes. It is enough to apply liquid to the withers and rub into the skin to kill fleas already on the pet and protect the cat or dog for 1-3 months.
- Sprays.Usually, insecticides in this form of release not only allow you to quickly get rid of fleas, but also help protect your pet for several days. Aerosols Hartz, Frontline, Stronghold and others are sprayed on the coat and rubbed into the skin with your fingers.
- Flea collars. They are a convenient means of preventing the appearance of fleas, as they repel parasites and do not allow them to infect the animal at all. In other words, the collar is an additional protection: it is recommended to wear it after using powder, shampoo, drops or spray. But getting rid of fleas with it can be somewhat more difficult than using other means, since collars are primarily a preventive measure.
It is important to take measures to protect your pet from fleas until the parasites are completely removed from the premises. Otherwise, already a few days after dressing, they can jump on the pet again right in the apartment and survive in its fur during the period of the insecticide in the room.
Removing fleas indoors
Getting rid of fleas in the house is usually more difficult than getting them out of the pet's fur, since you need to destroy not only adults, but also larvae that can hide in the most inaccessible places.
Here are some more photos of flea larvae:
One of the most effective means for self-destruction of fleas in the house are insecticidal preparations for dilution and subsequent use in the form of sprays. For example, Get, Lambda Zone, Delta Zone, Agran, Xulat, Tsifox, etc. have proven themselves well. For a certain area of \u200b\u200bthe room, it is required to use a specific amount of the drug in the dilution indicated by the manufacturer.
In addition, when processing small areas, aerosol products can also be used, which are sold in cans ready for use: Reid, Kombat, Dichlorvos Neo, etc.
When the drug is selected and purchased in the right amount, it is necessary to carry out a full-scale preparation and processing of areas:
- remove any accumulation of debris;
- wash the bedding of the animal;
- remove people and pets from the premises;
- spray an aerosol or diluted insecticidal preparation over the floor, carpets, baseboards, crevices, upholstered furniture, into the ventilation shaft;
- leave the premises for several hours;
- upon return, do airing and wet cleaning.
The photo shows how a pest control worker processes furniture using a cold fog generator: such installations greatly facilitate the spraying of an insecticidal solution:
In order to prevent fleas from reappearing in the house, it is recommended to protect animals with flea collars (at least while walking on the street), and keep folk remedies that repel insects in the house - bunches of wormwood and tansy, special insect sections. These measures are very likely to protect the house from the re-entry of fleas and their reproduction.
An example of how residents of a house are forced to deal with fleas from a filed every day
The main mistakes made when treating a pet for fleas
Treating your dog for fleas and ticks
