Flea treatment in Den Bosch: recognising an infestation
Fleas are tiny, dark brown insects that can jump a long way. In most homes it is the cat flea, which also bites dogs and people. You rarely see one for long, as they vanish into fur or carpet in an instant.
- bites in clusters around the ankles, calves and backs of the knees
- a dog or cat scratching, licking or developing bald patches
- black specks in fur or bedding that turn reddish brown on damp white paper: flea dirt
- tiny jumping dots on white socks as you walk across the carpet
If you come back from holiday, or move into a home that stood empty for a while, and get bitten straight away, fleas have probably just hatched from their pupae.
Why fleas are so persistent
An adult flea lives on your pet, but its eggs drop off: into the basket, onto the sofa, into the carpet and between the floorboards. They hatch into larvae that crawl into seams and dark corners. The larvae then pupate in a cocoon that withstands a great deal, and they can wait inside it for a long time. Warmth, vibration and movement in the house are the signal to emerge.
That is why spraying once, or treating only the pet, is rarely enough. The fleas you can see are only a small part of what is in the house. Effective flea treatment hits every stage, both in the home and on the animal.
Our approach: home and pet at the same time
First we confirm that it really is fleas and not, say, bed bugs or bird mites. Then we look at where your dog or cat sleeps, lies and plays, because that is where most new fleas develop. We treat those areas thoroughly: floors, carpets, seams, skirting boards, the sofa and the basket.
Have your pet treated by the vet over the same period; without that step, the fleas simply come back in on the animal. If needed, we schedule a second treatment for fleas that hatch later. No pet but still fleas? Then we look further, for example for a bird's nest under the roof tiles. Unsure what kind of bites you have? See also our page on bed bug treatment.
After treatment: how to see it through
The weeks after treatment largely determine the result. Run the vacuum cleaner through the house every day: under beds and sofas, along skirting boards and in the crate or car boot where your dog lies. Empty the bag or bin outside straight away, so vacuumed-up eggs do not find their way back in.
Don't mop the treated floors for the first few days, or you will remove the product. Wash your pet's blankets hot and keep up the treatment from the vet. Still getting bitten after that? Get in touch with our pest control in Den Bosch.
