Put on knee-high (or at least calf-high) white socks and walk around your home for an afternoon, keeping close to carpeting and putting your feet up on furniture. Then, check the socks for fleas. If they've taken up residence in your home, odds are that a few will be visible on your socks.
Do the Sock Test. Put on a pair of white cotton socks and pull them up to your calves, then walk around your new home. Make sure to spend time on any carpets that have been installed. If there are adult fleas present, they'll likely jump up and hitch a ride.
After tending to the fleas on your pet, it's time to get rid of the infestation in your home. In most cases, it takes three to four months to completely get rid of a flea infestation since it takes fleas this long to go through their life stages, according to the American Kennel Club.
While some could last 2 – 3 weeks, they could also live for up to 12 months on the host it finds, so it is unlikely they will go away on their own.
1) Treat your pets with a quality flea treatment. This will stop them being a host for the adult fleas to feed on and grow. It will also stop fleas from being transported around the property. 2) Wash bedding, toys and clothing in warm soapy water.
If you're wondering if dogs can get fleas in the winter, the answer is yes. Flea populations might slow down a bit, especially outdoors, but they don't go away completely. To be safe, you'll want to keep those flea treatments going even in the cold winter months.
Steam cleaning your carpets, furniture and pet beds is a brilliant idea if you have a flea infestation. Thanks to the combination of high heat and soap, the fleas will be gone in no time.
Fleas like hiding in crevices. Their populations are more numerous in places where they can feed (like pet bedding and living rooms) and reproduce undisturbed (like lower-traffic areas or in carpeting). They also inhabit upholstery, furniture, and other common household furnishings, especially where they can stay warm.
When it has a host, an adult flea can live about 100 days. But how long can they live without a host? Those fleas typically live only one to two weeks. The entire lifespan of a flea, from egg to adulthood, can last a few weeks or even a few months.
Fleas are very prolific. Undisturbed and without a meal (blood from a host), a flea can live more than 100 days. On average, they live two to three months. Female fleas cannot lay eggs until after their first blood meal and begin to lay eggs within 36-48 hours after that meal.
Although there's no particular number that indicates an infestation, even a few fleas could signify there are many more hiding in your dog's fur and your home. With fleas, it's better to take action sooner rather than later.
Many flea control treatments only need to be applied once a month or once every few months.
Fleas Prefer Areas That are Shady, Moist, and Humid
The other problem is that a lot of wildlife carry fleas. Raccoons, opossums, deer, coyotes, skunks, stray cats, and various rodents all commonly carry fleas and can deposit eggs and larvae in your yard.
During the day, fleas avoid the sun so they are most active at sunset and least active at sunrise. At dusk, the pests would lay more eggs, respire more, and move around in the yard more. Although the fleas are not completely inactive at any time of the day, they have increased activity at dusk and night.
Flea eggs are small, oval white specks that resemble a grain of salt. You'll find flea eggs in any and all places that your cat or dog frequents—beds, bedding, crates, couches, chairs, carpeting, floor cracks or crevices, and corners. Flea eggs can survive for approximately 10 days before hatching.
Fleas are attracted to light, movement, heat, and CO2 because these elements help them find suitable hosts to feed on.
Common brands of Nitenpyram include Capstar® and Bestguard® which can be purchased through a veterinarian, online, and over the counter. The active ingredient, Nitenpyram, is an insecticide that starts killing fleas within 30 minutes and lasts for up to 48 hours.
Diatomaceous Earth
To kill the fleas, sprinkle the power over affected furniture and carpet. Let sit for 12-24 hours and then vacuum the powder, and hopefully dead fleas, up. Please note: while the powder is non-toxic, breathing it in is not recommended for humans or dogs.
Flea season can last anywhere from 6-9 months to all year round in some states. Fleas love warm temperatures, so your season can start early in spring and last until September, October, or November.
Fleas may also nest in carpets, rugs, pet beds, or upholstered furniture where they can stay warm. Fleas and bedbugs are considered nocturnal creatures, which means they are mainly active at night. However, they can bite you at any time of the day or night. Fleas are most active at dusk and least active at sunrise.
Your dog or cat can still get fleas now and throughout the winter months. Yes, it's true that cold temperatures kill fleas. If the temperature falls below 37 degrees for ten days consecutively or longer, this should be enough to kill mature fleas and their offspring.
In just 30 days, 10 female fleas can multiply to over a quarter million new fleas in different life stages. Female fleas start producing eggs within 24 to 48 hours after taking their first blood meal and can lay up to 50 eggs per day.
These pests are very hard to get rid of. Fleas have flattened bodies so they can move through the fur of their hosts easily. They also have very strong exoskeletons, making them very hard to crush. They also leap out of danger quickly and are very small, so if they do get away they are hard to find again.