https://www.cdc.gov/fleas/index.html

Will Fleas Go Away On Their Own?

If you’ve got furry friends at home that you love, then it’s more than likely that at some point you would have had to deal with an infection of fleas. Fleas are parasites that love to cling to the fur and skin of your pets.

Their presence in your home not only causes your pets to itch and scratch, but because they are also able to jump long distances and spread around your home quickly, you may have found yourself being bitten as well! This is annoying, and it can cause skin infections.

Will fleas go away on their own? Unfortunately, if you have a pet in your home, your flea infestation will probably not go away on its own if you don’t do anything about it. But if there are no pets, you may be in luck.

We’ll go over it all below.


Will Fleas Go Away On Their Own?

It’s an unfortunate fact that fleas reproduce quite quickly. And because they will lay their eggs in your pet’s bedding and carpets in your home, if your infestation is not dealt with immediately, then it can cause havoc in your home that can last for a while.

In addition, fleas will also find places to hide in your front and back yards.

So, you may still be asking yourself: will fleas go away on their own?

Well, during the warmer months of the year, infestations could be prolonged. And while you may only notice them for a couple of weeks, once they lay their eggs, if they’re not eliminated immediately, then they can live on your pet for up to 12 months.

During the warmer months of the year, infestations could be prolonged. And while you may only notice them for a couple of weeks, once they lay their eggs, if they’re not eliminated immediately, then they can live on your pet for up to 12 months.

Therefore, you will need to treat a flea infestation as soon as possible if you notice them on your pet or are suffering from being bitten by them yourself (the bites are one of the biggest signs you have a flea infestation and not, say a fruit fly infestation).

All of this means that it is very unlikely that fleas will go away on their own if you have pets at home.

Of course, if you don’t have pets, then the fleas will eventually die off.

That’s because fleas need furry (or feathery) hosts in which to keep reproducing. But regardless, you would still probably want to do something about it, and not wait for them to go away on their own.

That’s because fleas are still capable of biting humans in the absence of furry animals, although they won’t be able to reproduce and escalate a current infestation.

However, any larvae or pupae that may be hiding can lie dormant for a while until they detect a furry host.

So, even though any adult fleas will only last for a week or so without a host, any dormant pupae can last for up to five months in their hiding spots if the temperature in your home is warm enough for them.

This means, again, that you’ll want to take action to get rid of them before the eggs hatch in the first place.


How Do I Get Rid Of Fleas?

If your pet has a flea infestation that isn’t treated properly, then it will eventually cause serious health issues for your pet.

It can sometimes even be fatal. And we know that’s the last thing you want for your furry loved one.

Besides being able to spread other infections like tapeworm, smaller pets can suffer from something known as flea bite anemia, which happens as a result of their red blood cell count dropping after being feasted on all the time.

So, now that you know how important it is to get your pet treated if they are suffering from a flea infection, what can you do to get rid of them?

Well, luckily, there are several treatments available that have been made especially for pets, which can be used to both eliminate the fleas and help to prevent further infestations. We’ll discuss the options you have for these soon.

But first, it is a wise decision to call in a professional specialist and have them visit your home to provide some preventative pest control.

But first, it is a wise decision to call in a professional specialist and have them visit your home to provide some preventative pest control.

Your pest control specialist will perform an inspection of your entire home and identify where the potential problems are. This will even include your front and/or back yards. This preventative measure will put a stop to further infestations of fleas, which means they also won’t be able to lay any eggs.

You can also do yourself a favor by steam cleaning your carpets, and washing all of your own bedding in a hot wash above 140 degrees Fahrenheit, as well as any cushions, other soft furnishings, or anything else that can be washed that your pet likes to be near.

Steaming and washing at this temperature can kill fleas at all stages of their life cycle, including the eggs. And if you have a tumble dryer, this will be better than drying these items outdoors.

The hot air will also work to kill off any fleas or eggs that have survived the washing process, which it has to be said is unlikely.

Steaming and washing at this temperature is able to kill fleas at all stages of their life cycle, including the eggs. And if you have a tumble dryer, this will be better than drying these items outdoors.

It will also be a good idea to have any curtains dry cleaned, as well as vacuum all of your upholstered furniture. In fact, you should make vacuuming a new daily habit, especially in the places where your pet likes hanging out most.

Vacuuming can extract all fleas, including their eggs, from your carpets and floors. Just make sure that you empty the bag outside in a covered garbage can, so that you don’t accidentally re-infest your home!

Doing this every day for at least two to three weeks will reduce the chance of a flea infestation reoccurring, and it will give your pets the best chance of living free from the annoyance and irritation of constant itching and scratching.

So, now it’s time to help your furry friends…


How Do I Rid My Pet Of Fleas?

You’ll be pleased to hear that there are many different treatments available that you can try to get rid of fleas using your pet as a host. These different treatments include medications, brushing and medicated soaps and shampoos, which work to remove adult fleas and their eggs.

The quickest thing to do is to give your pet a wash with a specialty shampoo. with Precor Adams Plus Flea & Tick Shampoo is shampoo that’s been formulated for sensitive skin and is enriched with aloe, lanolin, coconut extract, and oatmeal, which will also condition your pet’s skin while removing fleas.

This shampoo has a pleasant scent and will kill fleas on contact, along with lice and ticks, and it will leave your pet’s coat soft and manageable. Its active ingredient, Precor, is an Insect Growth Regulator, which will work to control flea infestations for up to 28 days.

Adams Plus Flea & Tick Shampoo with Precor can be used on all cats, dogs and puppies, as well as kittens that are 12 weeks and older. And although this shampoo will work well to get rid of any adult fleas in your pet’s coat by drowning them, you shouldn’t rely on just this product to do the job.

Wondercide’s Flea, Tick and Mosquito Spray for Dogs, Cats, and Home is a multifunctional spray that can be used on your pets, as well as your carpets, wooden floorings, furniture, upholstery, baseboards, pet beddings, and even outdoor areas.

Besides killing fleas, this wonder spray will also kill ticks and repel mosquitoes, due to its refreshing natural lemongrass scent. It contains essential oils and kills adult fleas on contact, while it also works to eliminate the entire life cycle of eggs, larvae and pupae.

Seresto’s Flea and Tick Collar for Cats and Seresto’s Flea and Tick Collar for Dogs will both kill fleas and ticks on contact, as well as provide eight months of continuous protection for your furry friend after their shampoo.

These flea prevention collars can be worn alongside any other identification collars your pet may wear, and they can help you to avoid the hassle of messy treatments — like if your cat hates being washed, for example.

The Seresto dog collar also works to protect against lice.


Become A Detective

Prevention is always key, so if you’ve successfully got rid of a flea infection, the last thing you want to do is for your pet and home to become infested yet again.

This means that you’ll have to check your pets on a regular basis, especially your cats, who tend to be better at grooming themselves.

So, groom your pets regularly by brushing their fur and checking for signs of flea activity. This could include flea dirt, which are droppings that look like specks of black pepper in your pet’s coat near their skin.

In addition, if you find any tapeworms on their skin, then there’s a good chance that there is a flea problem lurking.


Non-Toxic Flea Treatments

Sometimes your pet may not take well to any of the treatments mentioned above. So, if it’s just your pet that is suffering from fleas and you have been taking care to keep the rest of your home clean, then it is possible to use essential oils to treat your pet’s fur.

Although many essential oils aren’t suitable for using with pets, lavender oil is considered safe to use on dogs.

Fleas hate the scent of lavender, so this essential oil works well to repel adult fleas.

Besides having a calming effect on your dog, lavender essential oil will also stop any hidden flea eggs from hatching, while it will also work to calm any of your pet’s skin that has been irritated, and prevent any skin infections from developing.

Rosemary essential oil also does a great job at repelling fleas on dogs, because again, they hate the smell. This essential oil also does a good job of helping any bites your pet might have to heal better and faster.

As far as cats are concerned, neem essential oil is a safe bet, and it can also be used to get rid of fleas on dogs. Fleas hate the scent, and so do ticks, which is an added bonus.

You can use these essential oils diluted in a carrier oil and massage the mixed oil into the fur of your pet. Alternatively, you can add some drops to your pet’s shampoo to help repel fleas, as well as a few drops to their bed or collar.

Diatomaceous earth is another solution that can be used to treat both adult cats and dogs for flea infestations. This non-toxic food grade silica powder is lethal to most insects, but is considered safe to use on other animals. Just make sure that it is food grade.

The powder works well to both kill and destroy internal and external parasites, and can prevent infestations of fleas and ticks. It can be rubbed into your pet’s coat, but be careful, as you want to make sure that you keep it away from their eyes, nose, and mouth, because the powder’s abrasive edges will cause harm to these areas.


If All Else Fails

If you’ve tried all of the above options and your pet or home still has a flea problem, then it’s time to take more drastic action. Profession pest specialists will be the more expensive option. However, with a severe infestation, it may be the only thing left for you to do.

Profession pest specialists will be the more expensive option. However, with a severe infestation, it may be the only thing left for you to do.

Before the exterminator arrives, you will need to steam and clean all of your bedding and upholstery as mentioned above, as well as vacuum and ensure that your pets have already been treated.

Exterminators also generally ask you to leave your home for up to five hours while they’re treating it, because of the poisonous effect of the chemicals. When you return, you’ll also have to make sure that you open the windows to ventilate it.

You should also get the exterminators to treat your yard areas with chemicals, so that any adult fleas or eggs hiding out there can be taken care of.


Strategic Action

Fleas are no fun, especially for your pets. Besides the itching and scratching that they’ll endure during an infestation, these annoying little beasts can also cause your ankles and lower legs to come under attack.

So, will fleas go away on their own? Well, yes it is possible, although you definitely don’t want to try this at home if you have furry or feathery friends living with you. You won’t want them to suffer from an infestation if you can prevent it.

By following our recommendation above though, you can rest assured that your home will remain flea free for now and into the future.