How to Get Rid of Fleas

As a pet owner, you've likely faced the frustration of fleas or the worry of them invading your pets. These tiny, blood-sucking parasites can live on your pet for up to 30 days, causing discomfort and potential health risks. Fleas can also invade your home, making life for both you and your furry companions a lot more challenging.

At Nutri-Green, we often hear, “How do I get rid of fleas?” or “How can I protect my pets from fleas?” Fleas thrive in Tulsa's warm weather and high humidity, making the summer months especially risky. But with the right knowledge and proactive measures, you can prevent an infestation and protect your home and pets.

The Flea Life Cycle: What You Should Know

Understanding the flea life cycle helps you tackle the problem at the source. Here are some key facts:

• Fleas are tiny—usually no more than 1/8 of an inch long.
• They can jump up to 7 inches vertically and 12 inches horizontally.
• Fleas feed on blood, consuming up to 15 times their body weight per day.
• A single flea can lay 30-50 eggs a day, resulting in up to 1,085 eggs in her lifetime.
• Flea larvae feed on "flea dust" (adult flea feces) and mature into adults within 1-2 weeks.
• The entire life cycle—from egg to adult—takes about 18-30 days under typical conditions.

Fleas are more than just annoying—they can transmit diseases like cat-scratch fever, murine typhus, and even bubonic plague. They can also cause severe skin irritation and other health problems in pets.

Flea Prevention: How to Keep Them Out

Prevention is always the best defense. Here's how you can reduce the chances of a flea infestation:

• Topical treatments: Use vet-approved flea treatments on your pets every 30 days.
• Flea collars: A great complement to topical treatments. Not sure if your vet would approve? Always check before trying something new.
• Home perimeter: Treat the outside of your home to keep fleas from entering.
• Clean bedding: Wash pet beds and blankets in hot water regularly.
• Vacuum often: Regular vacuuming removes fleas, eggs, and larvae from carpets and furniture.
• Lawn care: Keep your yard well-maintained by trimming grass and trees throughout the summer.

For professional flea control and prevention, call Nutri-Green at 918-322-5757.

How to Eliminate Fleas

If fleas have already made their way into your home, don’t worry—there are effective ways to eliminate them:

• Vacuum daily to remove fleas, larvae, and eggs from carpets and furniture.
• Wash bedding and fabrics in hot water to kill fleas and eggs.
• Flea combs and anti-flea shampoos help remove fleas directly from your pets.
• Flea sprays and bombs are effective for treating indoor areas. Just follow the label instructions carefully.
• Vet-recommended flea medication should be administered to pets to prevent future infestations.
• Professional yard treatment can help eliminate fleas outside your home.

Call the Flea Control Experts 

When you contact Nutri-Green Lawn Care for help with fleas, we’ll start with a free inspection to identify the areas outside your home where these pests are most likely to hide—like along tree lines, in dense shrubbery, tall grasses, and shaded areas near your home.

Once we’ve identified the hot spots, our team will apply a targeted outdoor treatment to your lawn and surrounding landscape to dramatically reduce flea and tick activity, too!

To keep populations down during peak season, your Nutri-Green specialist will return every 30–45 days from April through October, providing consistent, reliable protection for your yard—and peace of mind for your pets and family.

This blog was originally published on May 21, 2020; it has been updated to reflect the most up-to-date information about NutriGreen's flea control in Tulsa.