Most people today have pets. And, having cats and dogs inside the house can lead to an infestation of fleas, especially if the animal goes in and out of the house on a daily basis. Of the approximately 2,500 types of fleas, humans run into only a few. The most common are the cat flea, the dog flea, and the oriental rat flea. Adult fleas eat blood so they need a warm-blooded host to survive and reproduce.

Fleas are a nuisance but they can also carry disease. Dog and cat fleas carry tapeworms that are capable of infecting humans if you accidentally eat a flea. This has happened to small children on a flea-infested floor. Flea saliva can also produce a disease called flea allergy dermatitis. Animals with this condition will lick themselves continuously ending up with hairless patches. This is found throughout the world on both cats and dogs. The best way to eliminate all these health problems is to completely remove the fleas from both you and your pet’s home.

The most common flea in Indiana is the cat flea. It infects both dogs and cats. Fleas usually come from wildlife like opossums and raccoons. About 50-60% of urban wildlife carries fleas. Flea control products are available to put on your dog or cat. You can buy these at a store or at your veterinarian’s office. These products can usually be applied on a monthly basis (read and follow the label) and prevent severe flea problems.

Once you have fleas in the house, the best thing to do is to begin sealing up your house from the wildlife that often carry fleas. Be sure not to leave pet food outside which can draw animals to your house, and also seal up your crawl space and attic. Then call your pest control professional and schedule a treatment for the inside of your house. The day of your treatment be sure to vacuum your carpets BEFORE the technician arrives. Also, wash your pet’s bedding and treat your pet for fleas (consult with a veterinarian). Once the pest control professional has treated your carpeting and other surfaces it will take three to five weeks for complete control. This happens because the carpet fibers can prevent the insecticide from reaching the flea cocoons so the fleas have to hatch to come into contact with it. Once hatched, it can take several hours before the insecticide kills the flea.

As with most pests, prevention is the key to elimination of flea problems.

This information is provided to you as a public service by Pest Detective, L.L.C.

We can be reached at 765-676-5600.