Breaking the Flea Life Cycle^1,2

Click the circles to learn about each stage of the life cycle

If you've had a flea infestation in your home, you'll never want to have one again. To stop repeat infestations, you need to break the flea life cycle once and for all, for a successful attempt at getting rid of fleas.

It's a sobering thought that, for every flea on your dog or cat, there are probably at least nine more in your home. Adult fleas lay eggs which hatch into larvae and get everywhere—in carpets, between floorboards, in upholstery and in your pet's bedding.

So you might think you've accomplished getting rid of fleas, only to find a new generation emerging days to weeks after you've started treating your pet. This can be triggered by a change in temperature, for instance when you turn the central heating up.

To avoid such a nasty surprise, veterinary professional organizations recommend using an oral or spot-on flea product monthly all year to break the flea life cycle. This not only kills adult fleas and immature fleas in your pet's immediate surroundings, but also makes sure that any newly hatched adult fleas that jump onto your pet won't last long. There are a number of such products available, and choosing the correct one for you and your pet is a decision that is best made through a discussion with your veterinarian.

Treat every pet in your household at the same time to make sure you tackle this problem effectively. This includes small mammals such as pet rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, etc. Talk to your veterinarian about the best products to use for flea control for all animals in your household.

Checklist—Target Flea Hideouts!

• Help your pet break the flea life cycle with a flea treatment.
• Clean the house thoroughly on the same day.
• Wash all your pet's bedding at a high temperature.
• Vacuum your carpets and furniture to remove eggs, larvae and pupae and discard the vacuum cleaner bag.

By targeting all the hideouts at once, you help break the life cycle and keep your pet and home flea-free.