RIDDING HOUSE OF FLEAS CAN BE A LONG PROCESS

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, February 2, 1993                   TAG: 9302020080
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: DEBORAH LAWSON KNIGHT-RIDDER/TRIBUNE
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium
RIDDING HOUSE OF FLEAS CAN BE A LONG PROCESS
From the Middle Ages through the 17th century, those romantic European castles were flea bags - and so were the miniature dogs some aristocrats kept on their laps or in flowing sleeves so the fleas would hop from their infested owners onto the more succulent canines.
Many American homes are almost as flea ridden as those castles of yore. Modern technology hasn't fully solved the problem of how to rid pets and homes of the pesky creatures.
Eliminating or at least controlling fleas, extremely difficult to do once they've become established, is not simply a matter of comfort for animals and humans. Scratching not only drives you, your dogs and cats crazy, it can cause serious skin lesions and infections in the animals and often is the first step toward hot spots (a running eczema) in dogs. Pets also can get infested with tapeworms from swallowing fleas.
It's useless to douse your pet with sprays and unless the environment also is treated. Pick a day when you can vacate the premises. Brush out and then treat the pets with a flea-killer or dip recommended by your veterinarian. Move all humans and animals, including birds, from the premises. Tightly cover fish tanks and plants. Then vacuum the house, top to bottom, including furniture (stand up the cushions and get down into crevices), drapes, under furniture and along baseboards.
Next, treat the rooms with pest-killer vapor-bombs. Check labels for how many you'll need for the area, and ask the vet about safety of their ingredients. Stay out of the home as long as directed by the label but a minimum of six hours, then thoroughly air the premises.
You may have to repeat the procedure at three-month intervals until the fleas are eliminated.
To keep fleas away, brush and flea-comb pets every day, and keep the house well vacuumed. Wash pet beds and removable pad covers daily. Spray or dust them with the pet's flea-killer (never household insect spray). Keep lawns and outdoor vegetation clipped back. Pet flea products can be dangerous, especially in combination, according to David C. Dorman, D.V.M., of the University of Illinois Animal Poison Information Center. Pets exposed to any insecticidal preparation, such as sprays, flea collars, powders or dips, and regular household and garden bug sprays, should not be exposed to a different one for at least two weeks.

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB