Fleas Fact Sheet

Most people know when there are fleas in their house from bites, or see them jumping from pets.

First, some biology about the flea. Fleas have four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The trick to treating fleas is to break the cycle. The easiest stages to break are the larva and adult. The eggs are laid on your pet’s hair but will fall off almost everywhere. The larva emerge and hide in cracks, crevices, on furniture and carpets. The adult fleas you see are only about 5% of the population the rest are in their other stages. IT IS ADVISABLE TO CALL AN EXTERMINATOR FOR FLEA INFESTATIONS. STORE BOUGHT PRODUCTS DO NOT CONTAIN ENOUGH ACTIVE INGREDIENT TO MAINTAIN RESIDUAL EFFECTIVENESS FOR LONG ENOUGH.

The first thing to do when you discover fleas is start vacuuming. Vacuum all carpets, furniture and wash hardwood and tile floors with a strong cleaning solution (Test a small hidden area like behind stove or fridge to make sure the cleaner is not going to stain or discolour your floor). By vacuuming and washing you will remove most of the larva. Next, the pet must be de-flead. We will require you do to these steps before treatment can commence. It is important to time the treatment so your pets are de-flead the same day as your house is done.

Fleas require 2 treatments at 21 days apart. Your house must be prepared before treatment begins and all animals and people will be required to vacate for 4 to 6 hours. Preparation instructions can be emailed to you.

Flea treatment costs vary between companies. From as little as $275 for a small house to over $600 for a larger house.