If you own a dog or a cat then the bad news is that sooner or later you will be forced to confront the issue of flea control. The good news, however, is that with just a bit of prevention you dramatically reduce the chance that your pet (or home) will become infested. If you already have a flea problem then this article will help you eliminate it and prevent future infestations.

Flea prevention starts in your yard. Fleas hate well groomed, sun drenched yards. Rake up any leaf litter or yard debris you might have and either compost it far away from where your pet hangs out or better yet haul it away. When you've cleaned up your yard as best you can, visit your local farm & garden store and purchase some beneficial nematodes. Tell the person at the store that you are trying to control fleas and they'll make sure you get the right species. This is far safer than using insecticides and their effectiveness will surprise you.

Inside your house, your best weapons against fleas are your vacuum cleaner and borax. Use the borax as you would a powdered carpet freshener except work it in with a broom and let it sit for a few hours before you vacuum it up. Be sure to remove any other pets from the area first (fish, birds, etc.) and be sure to take the vacuum bag out to the trash right away. This treatment is extremely effective and it should last for about a year. (Borax manufacturers do not advocate this use for their product so proceed at your own risk.)

Finally, you must address the issue of the fleas on your pet. It is important that your pet is clean and well groomed so if necessary, take him to the groomer and get him cleaned up. Otherwise, give him a bath (flea shampoo is optional) and once he is dry, apply a topical spot treatment such as Frontline or Advantage. This will last for one to three months and it will quickly kill any fleas (or ticks) that are unlucky enough to end up on your pet. For best results buy this treatment from your vet because it will be stronger than what you can buy at a pet shop or discount store.

This three pronged attack has been proven to be extremely effective at preventing and eliminating flea problems but you must act quickly and decisively. If you skip treating your yard, home, or pet you may be left with a flea problem that will never quite go away.