How to Get Rid of Fleas on Your Pets

The best way to get rid of fleas on your dogs and cats. From flea combs to monthly medications, you'll find suggestions on how to keep your pets flea-free.

Spring and summer are the seasons when the bugs and the critters try to take over your lawn and house. The June bugs arrive, attracted by the porch lights. Bees flit among the new blooms, and wasps buzz by your head as your enjoy the outdoors. And when you least expect it, the dogs begin scratching, which means fleas!

Now, if you’ve had pets, you know what I’m talking about. Fleas are those tiny hopping bugs that not only suck the blood out of your pet, but invade your house if you’re not careful! If you see any signs of fleas on your pet, it’s time to stop the invasion before it’s too late!

Best Ways To Get Rid of the Buggers:

1. Use a monthly preventative.

There are liquids like K9 Advantix, Frontline and PetArmor that can be applied to the neck of your cat or dog. Simply part the fur on it’s neck and the base of the tail, and squeeze the liquid onto the skin. The fleas will die within 12 hours, and the product continues working for 30 days.

I prefer to use Comfortis for my dogs. This is a beef-flavored, chewable tablet that works much the same as the liquids. Simply give it to your pet along with food, and the fleas begin dying within 30 minutes. It will kill and prevent further infestation for up to a month.

Note: Comfortis requires a prescription from a Vet, but can be purchased at a discount on 1800petmeds.com.

2. Avon’s Skin So Soft Bath Oil

If you you’d like a less expensive way to repel fleas on your pet, you might consider Avon’s Skin So Soft. Although this is a bath oil for humans, it has been proven to repel fleas on both animals and people!

Simply mix the bath oil with an equal parts of water, then spray it on the fur. Be certain to spray at the base of the tail, under the legs, and around the ears, as fleas tend to congregate in these areas.

Avon Skin So Soft Original, 24 oz (Pack of 2)

View on Amazon

You can purchase Skin So Soft from Avon, in addition to Amazon.

Tip: Want to keep fleas off yourself? Spray or rub Skin So Soft on your skin before going outside, and it will help repel them!

3. Flea Combs

Flea combs are a great way to get rid of existing fleas without using any chemicals. The fine teeth on these combs are really close together, so the fleas are removed as you run the comb through your pet’s fur. I keep a cup of soapy water on hand, and dunk the comb into it, killing the fleas as they are removed.

4. Flea Collars

There are a number of different brands of flea collars. I don’t know that the expensive ones work any better than the cheaper ones. I used to use these a lot on my pets, and while the flea population was reduced, it didn’t seem to repel them all.

If this is the only recourse you have to fighting fleas on your pet, I say “go for it”! The fewer the fleas, the happier your pet!

5. Treat Your House & Yard

It doesn’t do much good to get rid of the fleas on your pets, if there are more of the little buggers hanging out around the house! To keep the population from spreading, it’s best to wash your pet’s bedding in hot water at least once a week. Other things to do include:

Vacuum your carpets & floor, and empty the contents outside
Steam clean your carpets immediately after sweeping, to kill any remaining larvae.
Spray pyrethrin around your house’s foundation, and on your lawn. It is a plant-based insecticide which is safe to use around children and pets.

My best advice to you is to not let the flea population get out of control! Treat your dog and cats BEFORE they become a problem, and you’ll have a much more enjoyable spring and summer!

Do you have any tips or suggestions for getting rid of fleas? Please share them in the comments!

Updated: 07/04/2019, CountrySunshine

Thank you! Would you like to post a comment now?

What do you use to get rid of fleas?

Only logged-in users are allowed to comment. Login

katiem2 on 03/26/2017

WOW I had a round with fleas this past summer and since we have experienced a mild winter about to head into spring I am concerned about having another bad year with fleas. I swear the flea treatment I have been getting from my vet, and use without fail, simply did not work for what ever reason this last year. Thank you for the help getting rid of fleas. I refuse to use the new pill my vet suggest, in fact it is all they carry now, commercialism... I won't be forced to shove chemical poison down my pets throats.

dustytoes on 02/14/2017

I was just researching flea control for my cats. Living in Florida means that fleas are a problem year round. I dislike putting chemicals on my animals, but some of them are being made better and safer by caring companies these days.
I still find that sprinkling Borax all over the carpets works best to kill fleas and other bugs in the house. I'm not sure yet what to do about the ones on my cats. I can't keep up with the flea comb, although that does pull them off.

Top Reasons Why You Should Have a Pet Dog

Why should you own a dog? Friend, protector, and playmate - there are a numbe...

Rusty Blackbird - How to Save This Vulnerable Species

Ecology and conservation issues associated with the Rusty Blackbird, Euphagus...

Disclosure: This page generates income for authors based on affiliate relationships with our partners, including Amazon, Google and others.