Why do fleas keep coming back?

Common mistakes that mean fleas keep coming back

The Itch Vet Team chat to hundreds of pet parents every week, offering qualified advice on flea, tick and worm treatments. We've put all the common mistakes pet parents make when dealing with a flea infestation, into one list so you can make sure you avoid all of these!

Click on each mistake for more info.

• Not all flea treatments are equal

  Not all flea treatments are equal, cheaper flea treatments often only kill adult fleas and don't target flea eggs which means they aren't strong enough treatment to get rid of fleas completely. Use a vet-strength flea treatment, like Itch Dog Flea Treatment or Itch Cat Flea Treatment which kills adult fleas and stops the development of flea eggs to get to the root of your flea problem, to keep them from coming back!

• Treating your pet, but not treating and cleaning your home

  Your pet’s favourite sleeping spot deserves as much attention as their fur when checking and treating for fleas. 95% of fleas aren’t on your pet, they are hidden in the areas where your pet rests, including furniture and gaps around flooring.

  How to kill fleas in your home:

  Use a flea home spray which contains an insect growth regulator so it can interrupt the development of immature fleas and eggs to put a stop to your infestation. Make sure to not spray household flea spray around your pet as it’s toxic and ventilate your home after use. 
  

  How to clean your home to get rid of fleas:

  • Vacuum thoroughly and frequently during an infestation, concentrating on carpets, rugs, upholstery, skirting boards and underneath furniture. 

  • Empty the vacuum promptly in an outside bin. 

  • Wash pet bedding regularly at 60°C and tumble dry afterwards. 

  • Steam clean any furnishings and fabrics that you can’t wash.

  • Remember less obvious resting places because fleas can live in your car, a pet carrier or a blanket on the spare bed.

• Treatment timing letting you down

  If you miss a dose of flea treatment, you’re giving the fleas a chance to feed and reproduce. That’s why when you have fleas in your home, it’s easiest to be on a regular flea subscription for cats and dogs - Safe and effective flea treatment, delivered exactly when you need it. No gaps. No infestations.

• Flea treatment is not right for your pet

  It’s important to make sure the flea treatment you are using suits your pet’s species, age and current weight. Growing puppies and kittens can outgrow a previous weight category really quickly, so they have to be weighed frequently and de-fleaed accordingly.

• Not using flea treatment correctly

  Spot on flea treatment:

  With spot-on treatment, all of the flea killing solution has to be applied directly to the skin and be left to dry for 48 hours. Here’s How To Correctly Apply Flea Treatment To A Cat And Dogs. It’s important to treat all of the pets in your household at the same time so fleas cannot survive by jumping from a treated pet, to an untreated pet. 

  Oral flea tablets:

  Make sure the flea treatment is accurate for your pet’s weight all and ensure all of the dose is swallowed so the treatment can be absorbed and 100% effective at killing fleas in your pet’s fur. 

  
  Flea shampoos and flea combs: 

  Flea shampoos and combing can remove some fleas present at the time, but they don’t provide the ongoing protection needed to control every newly emerging flea. A bath alone is therefore unlikely to end an established household infestation.

  Do not use more flea treatment than suggested, shorten the interval between flea treatments or combine flea products without advice from your vet. More treatment is not automatically more effective, and unsuitable combinations of flea treatment can put your pet at risk.

• Other pets are keeping the infestation going

  Treating one itchy dog and not your cat can allow fleas to keep reproducing. Pets with fleas do not all scratch noticeably, so appearing comfortable does not mean an animal is clear. Include every cat and dog in the household in a flea treatment control plan. Each animal needs an appropriate product, for example never use a dog flea treatment on a cat because permethrin is toxic to cats, which is a common active ingredient used in flea treatment for dogs.

• Your pet is meeting new fleas

  Pets can encounter fleas in places visited by other animals, including gardens, shared resting areas and homes with untreated pets. So if your pet is not on preventative flea medicine, they are likely to get fleas again and bring them back into your home. Fleas can enter your home through infested pets visiting your house, carrying fleas indoors on your clothing, and an existing infestation can remain hidden in soft furnishings.

• You have stopped treatment too soon

  It is tempting to relax once the scratching settles and the comb comes back clear. However, hidden fleas can outlast the first visible improvement. An established infestation can take several weeks to several months to bring under control. The time depends on the infestation, conditions in the home and how consistently the control plan is followed.
  
  Continue the recommended treatment schedule and cleaning routine while the remaining fleas emerge. Heated homes can support flea development during winter, so colder weather does not guarantee the problem has disappeared.

• Scratching does not always mean fleas

  An itchy pet is not proof of a fresh flea infestation. Flea allergy, irritated skin and other skin conditions can also cause scratching, and your pet may need treatment for the discomfort itself.
  

  How to tell if your pet has fleas:

  1. Use a flea comb and brush to the root of your pet’s fur. 

  2. Wipe the debris on the comb onto a damp tissue.

  3. If it’s flea dirt it will leave a reddish-brown stain because it’s digested blood from fleas.

  4. This means you still have fleas and need to continue cleaning, and keep up with ongoing flea treatment!

FAQs about why fleas keep coming back

• How to get rid of fleas when you've tried everything?

  If you feel like you've exhausted all options to get rid of fleas and it's been over a few months since you spotted the first flea, consider an immediate flea treatment like Capstar flea tablets which kill fleas instantly on your pet in under an hour. This won't clear your entire infestation but it'll give your pet some relief. For your home, consider a pest exterminator if flea home sprays are not reducing the amount of fleas and eggs reproducing in your house.

• How long does it realistically take to completely get rid of fleas?

  For smaller scale infestations, usually fleas can be eradicated in 3 to 6 weeks. However, severe infestations can last between 3 to 6 months, especially if the pet treatment or home treatment isn't strong enough to kill flea eggs.

  With a thorough approach and regular flea treatment schedule, you can get rid of fleas in about a month!

• Can fleas survive a washing machine?

  Yes, fleas and flea eggs will survive in a washing machine if it's not on a high heat. In order to kill fleas in a washing machine, you need to wash the items on 60ºC or hotter. For ultimate killing, follow up with a hot tumble dry!