Flea treatment in Breda: finding the source
Fleas are tiny dark insects that can jump a long way. The species we see most in homes is the cat flea, which is just as happy living on dogs. You can spot an infestation by:
- itchy bites, often in clusters around the ankles and lower legs
- a pet that scratches or licks a lot
- black grains in the coat or basket that turn reddish-brown on damp kitchen paper
- fleas jumping up from a rug or sofa
Those black grains are flea dirt: dried blood. A quick test with damp paper therefore gives you a first answer.
Why fleas are so persistent
The adult fleas you see are only a small part of the problem. Females lay their eggs on the animal, but the eggs drop off into the basket, between floorboards and deep into the carpet. There they develop into larvae and then pupae. A pupa can wait for weeks until it senses vibration or warmth nearby, and only then hatches.
That explains why people are sometimes suddenly bitten on returning from holiday or moving into a home that has stood empty. It also explains why a one-off treatment of the cat alone is not enough.
How we treat your home
At the inspection we look at where your pets sleep and lie, what floors and rugs you have and how far the fleas have spread. We then treat the home with a professional product that also acts on the larvae, paying extra attention to baskets, edges, gaps in wooden floors and spots under furniture. Have your pet treated by the vet in the same period.
Plenty of bites but no pets? Then we look at other causes, such as a bird's nest under the roof tiles or a previous occupant with animals. If the bites appear mainly at night in bed, we also check for bed bugs; more on that under bed bug treatment.
Before and after: your part
What you do yourself makes a big difference to the result. Just before the treatment, vacuum all floors, rugs, sofas and the edges along the skirting thoroughly, and empty the vacuum cleaner straight into a sealed bag in the outside bin. Wash your pet's baskets, cushions and blankets on a hot cycle.
Afterwards, keep vacuuming every day for several weeks. The vibration tempts the last pupae to hatch, and the new fleas then come into contact with the product. Do not mop treated floors for the first while, and do not assume it has failed if you still see a few fleas. Want to know how we handle other pests? Read about our pest control in Breda.
Preventing fleas on dogs and cats
Prevention is all about your pet. A flea product from your vet, used on schedule, keeps most problems at bay, including in the months when fleas are not on your mind.
- Comb your dog or cat regularly with a flea comb, especially in summer and autumn.
- Wash your pet's blanket or basket often.
- Vacuum the spots where your pet likes to lie more frequently.
- Moving into a home where pets lived before? Have the floors cleaned thoroughly first.
With these habits, flea treatment of your home is far more likely to stay a one-off job.
