Flea treatment in Haarlem: pet and home together
Only the adult fleas live on your dog or cat. Meanwhile, eggs, larvae and pupae are lying in the carpet, in the seams of the sofa, in the pet bed and between the floorboards. Treat only the animal and that reservoir keeps producing new fleas; treat only the house and your pet keeps bringing them back.
That is why two treatments go hand in hand: your vet treats the animal, we take care of the home. We treat floors, rugs, furniture and sleeping spots with a professional product, paying extra attention to the places where your pet lies most. That way the flea treatment tackles the entire life cycle.
Signs of a flea problem
Fleas are tiny, dark and jump a long way, so you rarely get a good look at them. Watch out for these signs:
- A pet that scratches or licks more often, especially at the base of the tail and the neck.
- Small itchy bites, often in clusters around the ankles and lower legs.
- Black specks in the coat or pet bed that turn reddish-brown on a damp piece of kitchen roll – flea dirt.
- Jumping dots on a light-coloured floor or on white socks.
You can get fleas without a pet too, for example after moving into a home where a dog or cat lived before.
Why fleas sometimes appear out of nowhere
Flea pupae can lie in a crack or rug for a long time. They hatch as soon as they sense vibration and warmth – when people walk through the house again after a holiday, for example. That is why an infestation sometimes seems to come from nowhere. Hedgehogs, neighbourhood cats and birds' nests near the house can also bring fleas in.
After treatment you will often see the odd flea for a while. These are insects emerging later from their pupae, which then come into contact with the product. Keep vacuuming every day during that period: the vibration makes the pupae hatch sooner.
What to do before and after treatment
Good preparation makes all the difference. Clear the floors so we can reach everywhere. Wash the pet bed covers, loose cushion covers and blankets on a hot cycle and vacuum thoroughly: floor, skirting boards, under furniture and the seams of the sofa. Empty the vacuum bag or canister outside straight away.
Have your pet treated by the vet around the same time. Never use dog products on cats; some are toxic to them. If you find small blood spots on the sheet and get bitten mainly at night in bed, read about bed bug treatment as well.
Preventing new fleas
Keep your pet protected all year round on your vet's advice, winter included, because in a heated home the flea life cycle simply carries on. Wash the pet bed and blankets regularly and vacuum more often where your animal likes to lie. Try to keep hedgehogs and stray cats from nesting under the house or in the shed.
Moving into a home where pets used to live? Vacuum thoroughly before you lay any flooring. For all other pests in and around the house, you can rely on our pest control in Haarlem service.
