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Fleas
-- 19 Ways to Foil Them
A Rodale Press contribution
See that itsy
flea on your itchy pet? Well, you ain't seen nothing yet. Within
the next month, that flea (with a little help from her girlfriends)
could fill your house with up to 250,000 descendants.
What's more,
for every flea you see on your pet, you can bet there are up to
100 more, in one form or another, that are not on your pet --
they're in the yard, on the floors and in the linen, says Michael
Dryden, D.V.M., Ph.D., associate professor of veterinary parasitology
at the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine
in Manhattan, Kansas. "It can be quite daunting."
The little
pests can be incredibly difficult to get rid of. In fact, you
may never be able to eradicate them 100 percent from your house
or yard. But you can still prevent your pet from going buggy from
fleas. "You have to realize it's a never-ending battle, but
if you're diligent, you can win," says Philip Kass, D.V.M.,
Ph.D., associate professor of epidemiology at the University of
California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine. Here's what
you need to do.
For
Dogs and Cats
Begin with
a bath. If your pet is willing to climb into the bathtub,
washing his coat with a gentle, non-medicated pet shampoo will
send many fleas right down the drain, says Pete Schaubhut, D.V.M.,
a veterinarian in private practice in New York City. If he's still
scratching after his first bath, try again, this time using a
flea shampoo.
When washing
cats -- assuming yours is one of those rare felines that will
actually let you do it -- use only shampoos designed especially
for them. A product that's safe for dogs could be dangerous when
used on cats, warns Dr. Kass. Check the label first. (For tips
on bathing cats, see "How to Give Your Cat a Bath".)
Or keep
him high and dry. As an alternative to bathing, try using
a "dry" shampoo, one that foams without water. "It's
better if your pet will tolerate a real shampoo, but this is certainly
better than not bathing him at all," says Dr. Kass.
Again, when
treating cats, be sure to check the label to make sure the shampoo
is feline-friendly.
Use herbs
to perturb. Mixing a few drops of pennyroyal or eucalyptus
oil into your pet's usual shampoo will help repel fleas, says
Richard H. Pitcairn, D.V.M., Ph.D., a veterinarian in private
practice in Eugene, Oregon, and author of Dr. Pitcairn's Complete
Guide to Natural Health For Dogs and Cats. Undiluted pennyroyal
oil can be toxic, though, so it should never be used full-strength.
Give him
a good grooming. Pulling a flea comb through your pet's coat
once a day will help keep the critters away, says Dr. Kass. Between
strokes, dip the comb in a bowl of soapy water to drown any fleas
that may be hanging on.
Give your
pet bad taste. "Blecch!" is what you want fleas
to think when they bite into your pet. One way to taint their
taste buds is to mix a little garlic and brewer's yeast into your
pet's breakfast. Many pets like the taste, so you won't have to
disguise it. "It may very well make the animal unappetizing,"
says Dr. Schaubhut.
Choose
collars carefully. Traditional flea collars impregnated with
insecticides can't always handle heavy infestations. In addition,
they can be irritating to your pet's skin, says Dr. Dryden. A
better bet might be to buy a collar that contains a synthetic
flea-controlling hormone like methoprene. "They're virtually
nontoxic to mammals, and they sterilize flea eggs before they
can roll off and continue the life cycle," Dr. Dryden says.
In the warm
months when fleas thrive, you may be tempted to buy an electronic,
ultrasonic flea collar with all the bells and whistles. "Don't
waste your money," advises Dr. Dryden. Not only are the collars
not effective, they emit sounds that may be within the hearing
range of cats and dogs and could be annoying.
Use sprays
to keep them at bay. Treating your pet's coat with flea spray
will quickly wipe out any visitors that may be dining in. There's
a variety of products to choose from. Those containing the insecticides
D-limonene or pyrethrins (made from chrysanthemums) are effective
and less toxic than some other sprays, says Dr. Kass. You can
also buy sprays containing methoprene.
When spraying
your pet, be sure to keep insecticide out of his eyes, ears, nose
and mouth. You can do this by spritzing a square of gauze and
using it to apply the insecticide to his face. Since many cats
will run from the hissing sound of spray bottles, you may have
to treat them entirely with moistened gauze.
When buying
any insecticide, make sure the label specifies that it's safe
for your pet, warns Dr. Kass. Sprays that are safe for dogs can
be extremely dangerous for cats.
Powder
him from head to toes. Flea powders aren't usually as effective
as sprays, but they still can play an important role in flea control.
Powder your pet from his neck to his feet, and don't forget the
tail. Then work the powder down close to the skin with a comb
or brush.
When powdering
his face, put tiny amounts of powder on your fingertips and gently
work it in, avoiding the area around the eyes and nose, says Dr.
Kass.
Go for
a dip. More potent than sprays or powders, flea dip -- an
insecticide solution in which you immerse your pet -- can provide
long-lasting protection. "In bad infestations they may be
necessary, but use them with caution," warns Dr. Kass. "And
read the labels carefully. Dips that are okay for dogs can be
deadly for cats."
Bring out
the artillery. When fleas are showing up in record numbers,
you may need to treat the entire house with a house fogger, says
Dr. Dryden. He recommends using products containing methoprene
or fenoxycarb, another flea-controlling hormone. Insecticides
containing pyrethrins are also safe and effective, says Dr. Kass.
Do 'em
in with diatoms. Also known as diatomaceous earth or chinchilla
dust, these microscopic algae are safe alternatives to insecticides.
They absorb a flea's waxy coating, causing it to dry up and die,
says Tanya Drlik, pest management specialist at Bio-Integral Resource
Center, a nonprofit group that researches pesticide alternatives,
in Berkeley, California.
Sprinkle the
diatomaceous earth on carpeting and upholstered furniture. You
can also sweep it into cracks and crevices around baseboards by
using a small hand duster. Wear a dust mask and goggles so the
tiny particles don't drift into your lungs or eyes. Work them
in with a broom, then vacuum them up a few days later, Drlik says.
Diatoms, are
inactivated by water, so they can be used only indoors, she says.
Be sure to use amorphous diatomaceous earth, Drlik adds. The glassified
diatomaceous earth used for swimming pool filters isn't effective
against fleas and can be harmful if inhaled.
Suck 'em
up. "Vacuuming at least once a week is an extremely effective,
nontoxic way to keep the flea population down," says Drlik.
Concentrate
on areas where your pet spends lots of time, like around his bedding.
Be sure to vacuum cracks, crevices and baseboards, and spend plenty
of time on rugs, says Drlik.
Hit them
when they're down. To prevent voracious fleas from emerging
from your Hoover, remove the bag, seal it securely in plastic
and place it in the freezer or in direct sunlight. The extreme
temperature -- either cold or heat -- will help kill the fleas,
Drlik says.
Take away
their hiding places. "The more clutter in your home,
the more places there are for fleas to escape your attempts to
get rid of them," says Robert Hilsenroth, D.V.M., executive
director of the Morris Animal Foundation in Englewood, Colorado.
"Keep floors as clear of things like boxes, toys and books
as possible."
Lay a trap.
Wherever fleas are a problem, plug in a night light and put a
wide pan partially filled with water underneath. (A lasagna pan
will do nicely.) Since fleas are attracted to warmth, some will
leap toward the light -- and make a splashdown in the water, where
they'll drown, says Mary L. Brennan, D.V.M., a veterinarian in
private practice in Atlanta and co-author of The Natural Dog:
A Complete Guide for Caring Owners. This won't solve your problem,
but in the war against fleas, every body counts.
Limit the
rooms where your pet roams. "The fewer rooms your pet
has access to, the fewer rooms you'll have to worry about,"
says Drlik. "Shutting a few doors probably isn't going to
upset your pet too much, and it could save you lots of work."
Make it
laundry day. Washing your pet's bedding at least once a week
will help keep fleas at bay, says Dr. Pitcairn.
If your pet
sleeps on a pad or thick bed that's tough to wash, get in the
habit of protecting it with a small sheet or a large towel that
you can wash once a week. When you remove the towel, however,
be sure to roll it up carefully in order to trap fleas and their
eggs. "Otherwise they can fall off and scatter everywhere,"
says Dr. Pitcairn.
Practice
car care. If you take your pet on trips, cover the area where
he sits with a sheet that can be washed regularly, says George
G. Doering, D.V.M., a veterinarian in private practice in Walnut
Creek, California, who specializes in dermatology. "There's
nothing like a car full of fleas," he says.
It's a good
idea to vacuum the car frequently, and you may also have to bomb
it periodically with a household flea spray.
Use worms
to make 'em squirm. To control yard infestations, many experts
recommend using nematodes -- microscopic worms that prey on the
larvae and pupae of many insects, including fleas, says Dr. Dryden.
Nematodes
are available at pet and garden stores (a 300-gram canister contains
about 100 million little worms). Following the directions on the
label, just put them in a hose sprayer and blast away, taking
particular aim at damp, shaded areas where fleas thrive, says
Dr. Dryden. When the fleas disappear, so will the nematodes.
Panel
of Advisers
Mary L. Brennan, D.V.M., is a veterinarian in private practice
in Atlanta and co-author of The Natural Dog: A Complete Guide
for Caring Owners.
George G.
Doering, D.V.M., is a veterinary dermatologist in private practice
in Walnut Creek, California.
Tanya Drlik
is a pest management specialist at Bio-Integral Resource Center,
a nonprofit group that researches pesticide alternatives, in Berkeley,
California.
Michael Dryden,
D.V.M., Ph.D., is associate professor of veterinary parasitology
at the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine
in Manhattan, Kansas.
Carol Emsley
is a pet groomer at Blue Ribbon Groomer in Livonia, Michigan,
and a member of the board of directors of the American Grooming
Shop Association.
Robert Hilsenroth,
D.V.M., is executive director of the Morris Animal Foundation
in Englewood, Colorado.
Philip Kass,
D.V.M., Ph.D., is associate professor of epidemiology at the University
of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine.
Dawn Logas,
D.V.M., is assistant professor of dermatology at the University
of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine in Gainesville.
Richard H.
Pitcairn, D.V.M., Ph.D., is a veterinarian in private practice
in Eugene, Oregon, and author of Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide
to Natural Health For Dogs and Cats.
Pete Schaubhut,
D.V.M., is a veterinarian in private practice in New York City.
Copyright © 1996 by Rodale Press, Inc.
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