Fleas are small annoying insects which feed on the blood of animals. Pets tend to pick up fleas very easily and not only do these little bugs annoy your pet, but they can also make it very ill. Fleas can cause severe itching, and can cause skin allergies and anemia. They can also jump on you and their bites get very inflamed and itchy. You should always take care to keep your pet clean of fleas especially in summer.

Fleas are tiny and multiply at an alarming rate, so there are not just adult fleas, but also eggs, larvae and pupae! And, they are not only all over your pet but also all over your house, in your yard, carpets, cabinet and in your bed! Basically when your pet has fleas, all areas it goes through there are probably some fleas there too. As soon as you find fleas on your pet, you should clean. Here are five ways to get rid of fleas.

1. Quarantine: The first step is to quarantine your pet.
2. Bathe your pet: Bathing your pet with shampoo and combing the fur with a flea comb will help you kill most of the fleas. Do this regularly to keep your pet flea free. Be sure to check with your vet about the shampoo you use as some flea preventive shampoos might contain very high levels of pesticide which could be dangerous for your pet.
3. Kill the fleas: Fleas die in soapy water, so collect all the washable things your pet has been in contact with and wash in soapy water. That will effectively kill the eggs, larvae, pupae as well as the adult fleas. Areas where the number of fleas are higher, keep a table lamp and a bowl of soapy water below it. The fleas jump at the light at night and fall in the water and die.
4. Vacuum: Fleas jump off pets and like to hide in dark corners, so vacuum your house thoroughly. All the furniture, closets, and carpets should be vacuumed immediately and the vacuum bag disposed off outside to prevent the fleas from escaping. You could seal the residue in a bag, or putting a flea collar in the vacuum bag also might help to get rid of fleas.
5. Clean your house regularly by vacuuming: If any eggs remain, they will surely infect your pet again, so make sure none of them remain inside the house. Wash your pet’s bedding and toys once a week in soapy water, and ensure your pet does not come in contact with other animals.

After following these five easy steps to get rid of fleas, you must remember to vacuum the house with great care for the next three to four weeks. Fleas spend very little time on the pet. They jump onto the pet for a meal and then jump off and stay in areas near it. That means that eggs, larvae and some adult fleas are all over the house where your pet has been. The main problem which a person could face while trying to keep the house clean is that eggs and pupae remain dormant and can hatch a few weeks later. So, make sure you keep vacuuming on a regular basis, as only that will interrupt the life cycle and help you eliminate the infestation

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