Flea treatment in Eindhoven: making sure it is fleas
Fleas are tiny, dark brown and jump away before you get a proper look. Often the bites are the first thing you notice. These signs point to fleas in the house:
- red, itchy bites in small groups on ankles and lower legs
- a dog or cat scratching or licking more than usual
- black specks in the coat or bedding that turn red on damp kitchen paper
- jumping dots on a pale sock as you walk across the carpet
Those black specks are flea droppings containing digested blood. If you find them, there is almost certainly a flea population in the house.
Why fleas are so persistent
An adult flea lives on the animal, but its eggs drop off: into the basket, onto the carpet, between the sofa cushions. They hatch into larvae that crawl into seams and cracks, where they pupate. Inside that cocoon a flea can wait a long time until it senses movement and warmth nearby. So most of the problem is not on your pet, but in your home.
Fleas usually arrive with a dog or cat. If you mainly get bites at night on your arms and shoulders and there is no pet in the house, it is also worth reading about bed bug treatment.
How we treat a home for fleas
During the inspection we look at where your animals sleep and lie, and how large the affected area is. We search for flea droppings and larvae and check whether there is a source other than your pet. Then we treat floors, rugs, sofas, seams and the areas under beds and along skirting boards with a professional product that also works on the larvae.
It works best if the vet treats your pets at around the same time. That way animal and home are tackled together and the number of treatments stays as low as possible. A flea problem is a good example of how our pest control in Eindhoven works: find the source, treat precisely, follow up.
What you do during and after treatment
You may still see fleas for a while after the treatment. These are fleas emerging later from their cocoons, which then still come into contact with the product. Keep vacuuming every day, because the vibrations make the last pupae hatch, and empty the contents into a sealed bag outside each time. Avoid mopping the floors at first, so the product can do its job.
What we advise against: using flea bombs or shop-bought sprays alongside our treatment, or ever putting a dog flea product on a cat, as some of them are poisonous to cats. Always talk to the vet about treating the animal itself.
Preventing fleas from returning
Keep your dog's or cat's flea protection up to date all year round, in consultation with your vet, and run a flea comb through the coat now and then. Wash the pet bed regularly and give favourite sleeping spots an extra thorough vacuum.
Bringing a new pet home, or looking after a friend's dog for the weekend? Check the coat before the animal settles on the sofa. And after a holiday, when the house has been empty and quiet, a thorough vacuum on your return helps catch any fleas that hatch once you are back.
