Fleas in fall with this problem all year round, but there seems to be a renewed population of fleas. The weather is great for their reproduction and development taking only weeks to complete the cycle from egg to adult.
The fall offers fleas various hiding places, the grasses are taller, and the bushes are overgrown, and there are piles of leaves on the ground, and we all know how dogs and children love playing in leaf piles. Dogs and cats also make easier prey for fleas during fall than any other season. The body heat of a pet contrast sharply with the lower temperature of the environment making it easier for fleas to track and latch onto their prey. Dogs and cats also grow thicker furs during this period which retains their body heat and protects them from cold. Ironically, thicker furs create another problem by making it easier for fleas to hide on them.
It is a lot harder to treat fleas in fall because they can always come back to undo your good work, so the most important and effective strategy is to be proactive. Prevention they say is better than cure, meaning that you should put more effort into preventing the problem. This reduces the chances of fleas getting on your beloved pet.
How to prevent flea infestation
- Vaccinate your pet
Vaccinating your pet reduces the development of an infestation because flea vaccines sterilize fleas that feed on your pet.
- Mow your lawn
Remember what we said about fleas hiding in grasses. Pets love playing on grass and mowing your lawn reduces the chances of fleas hiding out and attacking your pet in the favorite playground.
- Clean your home regularly
Fleas hate the light, so they tend to hide in dark places such as under carpets and in furniture. Vacuum regularly to eliminate hiding spots. Water and heat are effective against pests of this nature. You may end up curbing an infestation in its infancy. You also need to clean your dog’s bedding regularly because it will likely be the ground zero of an infestation.
- Groom your pet regularly
Grooming your pet frequently keeps her clean, allows some quality time between you two and alerts you to any issue before it becomes a major problem. You will likely notice the presence of intruders on your pet early, allowing you to fight the problem quickly.
- Talk to your vet
You don’t need to wait for a reason to take your pet to the vet. The vet can is trained and experienced on issues a regular pet lover doesn’t understand and can offer professional advice.
How to treat flea infestation
Preventing infestations is cheaper, easier and more efficient than treatment during fall, but I may not always work. Monitoring and inspecting your pet will alert to the problem, after which you must take steps for treatment. You need to treat both your pet and your home, or the treatment won’t be successful because, for every adult flea on your dog, there is about 10 times more eggs, larvae and adult fleas in your home.
You can check our articles ‘’fleas on dogs’’ and ‘’fleas on cats’’ for information on how to treat flea infestation for each animal. Please note that it is not safe to use dog flea treatment products on your cat. Read More…