Flea Season: How to Find and Fight Fleas

Written by GCP
Updated August 9, 2021 | 7 Minute Read

Every year, flea season strikes when spring has sprung — and it carries on straight through the summer and deep into fall. When is the best time to check your dog or cat for fleas? The answer is always the same: right away.

If you need to know how fleas grow and spread (you might be surprised to hear that fleas undergo four different life stages — which means, you guessed it, they sport four different “looks”), we’ve got a handy how-to article for you. To read “Flea Season: How Fleas Grow and Spread,” click HERE.

Besides when to check for fleas, you need to know where and how to look. Fleas will just keep coming, every season and every year. But, we can find them — and, better yet, we can prevent them.

FIND THOSE FLEAS
(on your pet)!

Finding fleas has less to do with actually seeing the pests and more to do with simply proving that they’re there. Adult fleas want to live on your pet. Why? Well… They use your pet’s blood for food. (Don’t worry: It’s painless. What eventually causes pain is the uncontrollable itching, and unfortunate itch-related cutting, that results from flea bites.) After eating, fleas excrete digested blood, known as flea poo or flea dirt. The excretions are tiny, brownish-black pellets — and this is the evidence you’re seeking.

1️⃣ Now, you can see fleas on your pet — it’s just that you’re less likely to find fleas than flea poo. When looking, your best bet is the base of the tail (right where the tail attaches to the body). You can also find fleas in the very warmest areas of your pet’s coat: on the belly and neck, between the legs, and in the “armpits.” Inspect carefully and gently, and you might see a scampering flea, or two, or three.

2️⃣ Stand your pet on a white sheet (paper towels will also work) and give their coat a good finger scritching (make sure your nails are trimmed!). Now: Fleas very likely will not fall out of the coat — but flea dirt will. Even better: On your pet’s “hot” areas, use a fine-tooth comb (you can, and should, get a flea-specific comb from your local pet store). The best combs will scoop up poo, but even basic combs can scoop up fleas. If you get a flea, you’ll have to move fast: They’ll jump back to furry safety almost immediately.

3️⃣ Same as with finger-scritching or a flea comb: Position your cat or dog on a white sheet but, this time, have your pet lie down while you use a blow dryer.

IMPORTANT: Flea poo vs. regular dirt
If you find what looks like flea poo: Brush it onto a paper towel, wet your fingertips at the sink and let a few drops of water drip off onto the “dirt.” If it’s poo, it will turn a rusty/red-brown color. Regular dirt will remain whole-brown, with no shade/tint of red.

PREVENT THOSE FLEAS
(in your house and garden)!

Unless you feel like combing your carpet or lawn, you’ll never find fleas (or flea poo) in your home or yard. The best bet is to assume there’s a good chance that fleas are already hiding in those places (in fact, if you find fleas/flea poo on your pet, it’s guaranteed that fleas are lurking in those places).

🏡 Flea Prevention in Your House

Your best strategy is common sense: Keep a clean house! Vacuum your flooring, and deep-vacuum your carpets. (Drapes are less-likely hidey holes, but you can always give them a good pat-down and then immediately vacuum below.) Sweep under furniture and appliances. Do this frequently; if you have identified a flea problem, your best bet is twice daily for up to two weeks. If your pet has a bed or blanket, two weeks of daily laundering/drying is recommended.

🏡 Flea Prevention in Your Garden

Yard and garden flea prevention is a bit tougher, but: There are significantly fewer fleas outdoors than indoors, and, again, common sense is the way to go. Keep a tidy yard! Mow the lawn; rake the leaves; trim the shrubs. Expose the soil to sunlight.

FIGHT THOSE FLEAS
(collars and sprays)!

Flea collars and sprays both work, but there’s no done-in-one solution.

The use of flea collars must be backed up by ongoing searching/cleaning. Basically, a flea collar can offer significant, preventative relief but no flea collar can end an infestation.
Flea sprays are available for both indoors and outdoors. It’s typically recommended that you don’t exercise this option unless you’ve been clean, tidy, and thorough for a number of weeks and the fleas just keep coming back.

IMPORTANT: Keep it natural

Getting your house or yard sprayed? Buying a flea collar? Most commercial solutions are loaded with pesticides and neurotoxins. Always ask for natural options: They exist! They are a little pricier, but the bottom line is that chemical options can create other health-related problems for both your pets and your family. You’re worth it!!

FIGHT THOSE FLEAS
(home remedies and natural treats)!

Flea collars and sprays are a traditional go-to, but there are plenty of simple, all-natural, chemical-free remedies for your pet’s pest problems. And sometimes you don’t need to look any further than your own kitchen.

Apple cider vinegar: Boosting your pet’s blood acidity is a great way to deter fleas, and apple cider vinegar is your best solution. (In fact, it’s literally a solution: Add one or two tablespoons to your pet’s water bowl.) Even better news: You probably already have some apple cider vinegar in your pantry.
Anise seeds: Either ground or rendered into an essential oil, anise seeds added to your pet’s food will yield an odor that is repulsive to fleas (bonus: the smell is quite pleasant to people and pets).
Thiamine: Another potent, natural anti-flea remedy is thiamine a.k.a. Vitamin B1. When present in your pet’s digestive system, it boosts sulfur — safe for pets and pet parents, and toxic to fleas (and ticks and mosquitoes).
GCP Natural Flea Deterrent Chews: Rolled into one effective, efficient, and easy-to-eat package, Guardian’s Choice Natural Flea & Tick Deterrent Chews are a natural first line of defense. Our chews provide a variety of naturally-occurring flea, tick, and mosquito repellents, including (you guessed it) apple cider vinegar, anise, and thiamine. A steady intake of natural deterrent might prevent the need to get a flea collar or spray.

Flea Season: How to Find and Fight Fleas