Fleas - How to Keep Them From Ruining Your Summer

Have you ever noticed that fleas just keep coming back? How can you really get rid of them? It helps to understand them so you can attack them at the weak points in their life cycle, but it's also more effective to use natural methods than simply spreading chemicals around all the time.

Here are 7 things you need to know about fleas and how to fight them.

1. Fleas can be present all year long, not just in the summer. In warmer climates, adult fleas are able to be active all year long. In colder areas, adults may freeze to death, but the eggs are virtually impervious, just waiting for better conditions. They can lie dormant for up to a year.

2. Fleas live for 100 days, and must eat up to 20 times their own weight during this time, or they will die.

3. A flea sucks the blood of its host to survive, but can spend a lot of time hiding in carpets, furniture, and the yard as they wait for a new host to jump on. If humans could jump the equivalent of a flea's ability, we would be able to leap from one end of a football field to the other.

4. Killing even one flea prevents thousands of new fleas, as one adult may produce many thousands of eggs in its lifespan. Since adult fleas can be drowned, it's helpful to shampoo a pet that is affected, but using a flea shampoo is probably not necessary. Just leave the lather on for a while, perhaps 10 minutes, before rinsing it off. The eggs, as noted, are extremely difficult to destroy, but loose ones will be washed away during a bath.

5. It's important to treat the environment along with the animal to eliminate fleas. The only way to get rid of them is to attack their presence in all places... on the pet, on the floor, in the yard, etc. Remember that anything applied to a pet can be licked off, especially by cats. If you do have to resort to traditional, toxic chemicals once in a while, at least be careful not to use dog products on cats, as cats are more sensitive to some poisons.

6. Natural remedies may take longer but are more effective... and safe. Flea collars aren't very useful. In fact, the more chemicals you use, the more you are likely to exacerbate, or increase the problem. The fleas become tolerant to the chemicals, and the animals' immune systems become weaker from constant exposure to them.

7. Healthy animals do not get fleas. If your pet has a problem with fleas, it's time to evaluate their health. As with all life forms, the strong attack or overwhelm the weak. This is true with parasites, germs, predator and prey, plus any condition where poor health plays a role. For example, some people can be in a room full of others with colds and even the flu, and they will never "catch" it. Only people with lowered immunity will come down with the malady of the day.

Thus, a flea infestation may be a sign that your pet has a health problem. To prevent this from becoming serious (and expensive), the wise approach is to be sure your pet is getting a quality, balanced and nutritious diet, along with sufficient exercise to help them remain strong. Since stress can weaken immunity, too, it's also important to help your pet feel secure and loved. Next, regular wellness exams with your vet are a good idea, but rather than follow a routine vaccination schedule, it's better to avoid them as much as possible, getting only those most necessary, such as rabies, and the first year shots. Too many chemicals in the body usually leads to diminished, not better, health. Try to work with a vet who understands this.

Flea prevention is best handled in the home with cleanliness... frequent vacuuming, washing a pets' bedding weekly, and not allowing the accumulation of anything, such as stacks of magazines or boxes in any room. Don't let the kids throw their dirty laundry on the floor in the closet, for example. It's a great place for flea eggs to mature, sometimes undisturbed!

It's also helpful to utilize certain natural products externally, rather than chemical treatments. Diatomaceous earth works well if sprinkled like powder along the edges of a room and underneath furniture, as well as along the foundation of the house outside. Boraxo works also. If you have ants, don't be too quick to kill them, as they eat flea larvae and can help you in your fight against fleas.

Dr. Peters has extensive experience with animal care and established a rescue shelter in 2002. Visit http://www.hipaws.com for more information and to download a free report on dogs.