Fleas are tiny nuisance pests that are tough to get rid of once you have them. These blood-sucking parasites can irritate your dog and infest your Nashville home—oftentimes even before you realize they have set up shop. Many dogs have allergic reactions to fleas, causing scratching, flaky and red skin, scabs and hair loss.

On top of that, fleas can cause tapeworm and anemia. While fleas would rather hitch a ride on animal hosts, they will bite people when they can’t find animals. Then, they transmit disease-causing germs by feeding on their hosts or via fecal contamination. Do you have fleas in your home and on your dog? Here are some things to keep in mind. Because fleas are so stubborn, professional flea extermination in Nashville and Clarksville is often the only answer.

1. Understand the Life Cycle of a Flea
   When you understand the enemy, you can better protect yourself from them. There are four stages of the flea life cycle:
   1. Egg
   2. Larva
   3. Pupa
   4. Adult

   The adults feed on animals, digesting blood and laying their eggs. Did you know that just one female flea can lay 2,000 eggs? Those eggs will hatch in one to 10 days, spreading throughout your home with every scratch and shake of your dog.

   Once they hatch into larvae, they can move around on the host, feeding on blood and flea dirt. In the pupa stage, they make cocoons, where they hide out for many days (sometimes up to a year) in your carpets, sofas, and beds until they can attach to a warm-bodied host. Then they hatch into adults and infest animal hosts.

   Why is it important to know about all these stages? There are many flea treatments for dogs out there, but the one you need will have to address different parts of the flea’s life cycle. Always read the label of flea elimination products you choose.

2. Prevention and Treatment
   Obviously, preventing fleas from getting into your home in the first place is best. This is where flea and tick preventatives come in, as they kill those tiny pests that make contact with your dog so that your pet doesn’t bring them inside. From topical liquids to flea collars, there are many options to choose from. There are also flea shampoos you can use as well as flea pills that kill fleas on your pet within hours. Talk to your veterinarian first.
3. Flea Removal
   Killing the fleas that live on your dog is only one side of the equation. You still have to contend with the fleas inside your home. This step will require a lot of patience from all family members. In some cases, it can take several months to get rid of a flea infestation as the fleas work through their life stages.

   Here’s how you can eradicate fleas in your home:

   • Wash soft dog toys and bedding in soapy, hot water for as many times as it takes.
   • In hot water, wash your bedding, bath mats, and throw rugs, as well as any blankets or cushions your dog likes to sleep on.
   • Vacuum the carpets, hardwood floors, tile and linoleum floors, curtains, and upholstered furniture. Toss the vacuum bag immediately outside. Keep vacuuming on a regular basis.
   • Use an environmental flea control spray or fogger.
   • Apply a pellet or non-toxic flea treatment in your yard.
   • Vacuum the upholstery in your car if your dog has ridden in it recently.
   • Continue treating your dog with monthly preventatives.
4. Call a Flea Exterminator in Nashville
   If none of the above remedies work, call an exterminator in Nashville to get rid of the infestation quickly and effectively. Professional treatments are often the only way to get rid of a flea infestation.

Flea Control by PureGuard Pest Solutions in Nashville TN

Does your dog have fleas? PureGuard in Nashville and Clarksville will come to the rescue! Please contact us today at 615-502-2855 for a free quote and home inspection for the presence of fleas.