There’s probably nothing more irritating to both canines and humans than dog fleas! Just the sight of one of them sends everyone in a household itching like crazy since one flea really means there are hundreds more biting you, your spouse, your children, your other pets, and your dog. Here are some ways you can get rid of the pesky little buggers and return to a normal, scratch-free life!

1. Get rid of the problem at the source. You will have more success at ridding your home of fleas if you attack the source from where they’re coming from. And that would be your dog’s coat. Adequate grooming with a flea comb and medical treatment should do the job just fine.
2. Vacuum your home every week. Don’t just vacuum in the areas that your dog visits, vacuum the entire house. Vacuum the floors, the furniture, and the rugs. This is the only way you’ll get rid of dog fleas that travel throughout the house via kids, other pets, or even you. And don’t forget to seal up the vacuum cleaner’s bag and throw it away **outside** when you’re done.
3. Throw your dog’s bedding and fabric toys into the washer every week as well. If the bedding is too big to fit into a washer, throw it away outside, and purchase covered bedding so that you can remove the cover for a weekly washing. Be careful when removing the bedding’s cover. You don’t want to remove it in a manner that will send existing fleas soaring throughout a room (only to jump all over the house). Roll up the cover first and then unroll it before placing it into the washer.
4. Keep the house clutter free. All the “junk” around the house gives fleas the real estate they crave to jump to and hide in. Without having access to cover, they’ll be easier to spot and remove.
5. Restrict your dog’s access. If you restrict where your dog can go within the home, you’ll reduce the severity of an existing flea problem. It’s easier for example, to get rid of a flea problem in the den than it is to get rid of a flea problem all over the house!
6. Use flea control products in heavily infested areas. Don’t be shy about using flea control products when you feel overwhelmed. Ask your vet to recommend sprays or powders that are safe enough to use throughout the home. Food grade diatomaceous earth is an effective, natural product that can be used on the floor, on furniture, and inside crevices. It can be used outside the home as well.
7. In the yard, rake up anything that could provide shelter for fleas: leaves, dead grass, and grass clippings. Remove children’s toys and sprinkle food grade diatomaceous earth in shaded areas. Since fleas avoid sunlight, you’ll kill the bulk of them in anywhere that the sun doesn’t shine, so attack shaded areas as well.