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Pet flea and tick control is a multi-step
process. Adult fleas and ticks spend most of their time on an animal, but flea eggs, larvae, and pupae are most |
often found in the
pet's environment - especially in carpeting, bedding,
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INDOOR CONTROL
Use
products that contain adulticides and insect growth regulators (IGRs) to get all stages of the flea life cycle and to kill ticks. There are three
essential steps to indoor control.
- Vacuum regularly and thoroughly, especially below drapes and under furniture
edges. Use a flea and tick
carpet powder to get deep
down into the carpets. You may also wish to sprinkle carpet powder on and vacuum your carpeted cat furniture. Remember to enclose the vacuum bag in a
plastic bag and discard it away from your home.
- Wash your dog's bedding weekly. You may also wish to spray an inverted carpet
spray on drapes, rugs, and upholstered furniture. This can also be used on dog bedding and resting spots.
- Use
foggers to get into areas like
baseboards, moldings, and cracks – anywhere bugs might be hiding. Choose the product(s) you use with care, taking into account the presence of children,
fish tanks, birds, and persons with asthma, and read labels thoroughly.
OUTDOOR CONTROL
For outdoor control, regularly use a yard spray for your backyard, garden, and outdoor
kennel areas. |
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and under furniture
edges. For every flea that you see on your pet, there are likely to be hundreds of eggs and larvae in your home and yard. Ticks can hide just about any
place and are difficult to eradicate. Think about the "3 Ps" when you want an easy and effective flea and tick control program.
PURGE
If your dog already has a flea and tick infestation, your first step is to eliminate the parasites from your pet. Choose a
flea and tick spray to keep
adult fleas and ticks off your pets and to keep the insects from reproducing. Or, bathe the parasites off of your dogs with a flea and
tick
shampoo made for dogs that kills fleas and ticks. A good flea and tick
shampoo will also leave your pet’s skin supple and his coat shiny.
PREVENT
Once you get rid of these pests in your home, keep them off your pet. You may want to apply a
once-a-month topical to your dog like
Frontline® Plus or
K9 Advantix® II. The best topical products kill any adult fleas and ticks your pet
might encounter plus eliminate juvenile forms of the flea and flea eggs. If you prefer, use a flea and tick collar instead of a topical. Flea collars can
be convenient for some since they typically last longer than topicals.
PROTECT
Your home is a desirable flea habitat because the fleas are shielded from the outside elements. They will stay inside all year round if
you do not continually protect your home. This involves mechanically removing all stages of the fleas, killing any remaining adults, and preventing
immature forms from developing. The only way to win the battle against fleas and ticks is to use this multi-focal approach. Be systematic and thorough and
you will find that you and your pet can enjoy life without these pests.
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