Which products are the fastest for killing fleas on my pet?

The quickest way to kill a flea is to apply an insecticide product directly to it. Vet-Kem® shampoos and on-animal sprays work fast because they are applied directly to the entire coat. They quickly penetrate to the skin, where most fleas are found. It usually takes only a few minutes for a flea to die once it comes in direct contact with the insecticide. Products that are applied to one spot on the coat, like topicals and collars, will generally take about 12-24 hours to spread completely. While relief may not be seen immediately, these products provide long term, whole body protection.

Will using two products on my pet kill fleas faster?

Using two insecticide products on your pet, at the same time, will not kill fleas twice as fast. Each product is designed to contain just the right dosage of active ingredient to kill the fleas that come in contact with your pet. If you are continually seeing fleas, this usually means that there are infestations in your home, yard, or other areas that your pets frequent. Rather than doubling up on the insecticide, we recommend controlling the infestation by killing flea eggs and larvae with an insect growth regulator. All of our home treatment products, and many of our on-animal products, contain S-methoprene to prevent flea eggs and larvae from developing into adults. Controlling the infestation, while killing the existing adults, will provide your pets with quicker relief and long lasting protection.

Will your products still work if my pet gets wet in the rain or after shampooing?

Getting wet in the rain during a short walk should not interfere with the effectiveness of any Vet-Kem® product. The effectiveness of some products such as sprays and sponge-ons (dips) could be reduced if a pet is bathed with a detergent soap or harsh shampoo. We recommend using a flea & tick collar if your pet is frequently bathed. Collars continually release a new supply of ingredients for several months, replenishing the coat even if your pet gets wet or is bathed.

How often should I bathe my pet for flea control?

When fleas are first seen, bathing with a flea and tick shampoo is recommended for immediate relief. Repeat every 7 to 10 days, if necessary, for adult flea relief. Shampooing will quickly kill adult fleas, while cleansing the coat and removing flea dirt (flea feces). Once the lather is rinsed, it will not continue to kill any new adult fleas that jump on your pet. However, Vet-Kem® Ovitrol® Plus Flea & Tick Shampoo will prevent flea eggs from hatching for 28 days after shampooing. For longer-term protection against adult fleas, we recommend following up with another product, like a collar or on-animal spray. These products will provide continuing control of any adult fleas that your pet may pick up.

Is it always necessary to treat my house when I see fleas?

If you catch the problem early, treating just your pet may be enough. However, it only takes about a day for a female flea to mate and lay eggs. She will typically lay 40 to 50 eggs a day. These eggs fall off your pet and develop in your home and outdoors wherever your pets may go. Within a few weeks, you'll see more fleas than ever, unless you take steps to control the infestation. Vet-Kem® home treatment products kill adult fleas, flea eggs, and flea larvae to break the flea's life cycle, and to help prevent future infestations for up to 7 months.

How long does it take to solve a flea problem?

While adult fleas you see can be killed fairly quickly, newly developing fleas in the pet's environment often delay complete control. If you already have an existing flea infestation both on your pet and in your home, it may take about 2 - 3 weeks after the initial application before complete flea eradication is realized. A second treatment of your home in about 2 weeks may be needed to kill the new adult fleas as they emerge from their protective pupal cocoons.

Why do I sometimes continue to see fleas even after I've treated both my pet and my home?

Fleas developing inside protective pupal cocoons will usually survive the initial home treatment. These new adults emerge from their cocoons in search of a host, like your pet. These fleas will be killed, once they've been exposed to the active ingredients in the products you've used in your home and on your pet. Re-treatment of your home within about 2 weeks should knock out the final generation of adult fleas that have matured and emerged from these pupae or cocoons. Vet-Kem® home treatment products will kill existing adult fleas, as well as flea eggs and flea larvae, to prevent the development of new generations of fleas.

Why should I wait 2 weeks before re-treating my home if I'm seeing fleas now?

Even though it can be frustrating to see fleas, retreating your home immediately will not solve the problem faster. The best strategy is to wait a full 2 weeks before retreating. Complete control of fleas is often delayed because fleas in the cocoon or pupal stage are difficult to kill, due to their protective shell. It usually takes about 10 days to 2 weeks for pupal fleas to mature and emerge from the cocoon shell. When you retreat in 2 weeks time, you'll be able to quickly kill the remaining population and bring your infestation under complete control.

How do I prevent fleas from infesting my home if my pet brings them in from outside?

It's easy for pets to pick up an occasional flea during outings. The adult fleas can be killed with insecticide products as needed, but on-going flea egg and flea larvae control can keep your home environment flea-free. Vet-Kem® makes a variety of products with S-methoprene to prevent flea eggs from developing into adults. Fleas lay their eggs directly on the pet, so on-animal products that kill flea eggs can prevent infestation right at the source. Vet-Kem® home treatment products continue to protect against new infestations for 7 months by killing any new flea eggs that may have been deposited in your home.

Do I need to treat my whole house, even where my pet is not allowed?

It's a good idea to treat all the carpeting and upholstery in your home, at least one time, as a precaution. Flea eggs, the size of sand grains, are very rarely seen but are easily spread by your pet. A female flea may lay as many as 40-50 eggs per day on your pet. Your pet can deposit a multitude of flea eggs in any area of your home just by being there for a brief moment. In addition, the larvae that hatch out can migrate for several feet into areas your pet may never have actually been.

What areas should I treat in my home?

Carpeting, upholstered furniture, pet bedding, and favorite pet resting areas should be targeted. Flea eggs are laid on the pet and will drop off wherever the pet goes. We don't usually see the flea eggs, or the pre-adult fleas that later develop deep within the carpeting or in the crevices of the furniture. The larvae that hatch from the eggs will migrate further and seek out dark, hidden places. That's why it's important to treat areas like underneath furniture and in closets, even if your pet has not been in that exact spot. Vet-Kem® home treatment products are designed to penetrate to the base of carpeting and into crevices when applied to these areas.

Do non-carpeted areas like wood or tile floors need to be treated?

Treating wood floors, tile, linoleum and other smooth floorings/surfaces should not be necessary. Flea eggs and flea larvae rarely survive out in open, well-trafficked areas. Carpet and upholstery are the ideal environments for fleas to develop in the home. We do recommend that you clean, mop, and vacuum all floors to remove any eggs that might have been deposited there by your pet. Special attention should be paid to flooring underneath all furniture and other large objects, baseboards, closets, storage areas, garages, etc. Hidden, undisturbed areas could be a harbor for fleas and should be thoroughly cleaned to remove any pre-adult fleas that may be developing.

What about my beds and mattresses?

If your pets get on or near your bed, this area can be a hot spot for flea infestation. This problem can easily be taken care of by machine washing or professionally cleaning all of your bedding, including sheets, pillowcases, blankets, bedspreads, etc. We do not recommend treating your mattress or box spring. Fleas will not infest the interior of the mattress or box spring by burrowing inside. If you are concerned that fleas may have gotten onto an exposed mattress, vacuuming the mattress would be a good idea. Be sure to treat the areas underneath and behind your bed, since it's easy for flea eggs to fall from the bedding into surrounding areas. Often the fleas you think are in the bed are really coming from underneath and behind it.

Can I vacuum after I treat my home?

For best results, thorough vacuuming should be done right before any home treatment. The heat and vibration of a vacuum with a beater bar will stimulate fleas developing in cocoons to emerge onto the carpet surface so they can be quickly killed when you treat the carpeting. Vacuuming after treatment should not be a problem, as long as you allow the product to first dry completely. If you are still seeing fleas after home treatment, we recommend frequent vacuuming, followed by a repeat treatment in about 2 weeks.