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Controlling Fleas in Your Home

Fleas can be a major problem for dogs and their owners. Even if they never leave the house, dogs can be exposed to these blood-sucking parasites. Preventing flea infestations is the best protection against them. Trifexis® (spinosad + milbemycin oxime) for dogs starts killing fleas within 30 minutes, before they can lay eggs. And Trifexis lasts a whole month — it can’t be rubbed, washed or shaken off.

Why are fleas so hard to control?

vet checking for fleasOnce in your home, a female flea can produce 40–50 eggs per day1, so even a few fleas can quickly turn into a major infestation. Flea larvae turn into pupae, which are generally more impervious to flea control products applied to the animal or its environment. Adult fleas erupt out of their pupal stage, or cocoon, and quickly find a host, such as your dog. Because these cocoons can be found almost anywhere, including your own living room, it seems to pet owners that fleas appear out of nowhere. (Learn more about the flea lifecycle.)

This is why it's important to treat fleas as quickly as possible and to make sure your dog is protected, even before she encounters fleas.

What you can do to control flea infestations

Even with flea protection for your dog, you still want to be sure your household is rid of fleas that were hidden in egg, larva or pupa stages when you treated your dog. The most effective means of controlling severe environmental flea infestations is the use of a pest management specialist (exterminator).

If you discover fleas in your home:

  • Consult your veterinarian. Your veterinarian is your best source of information about flea control for your dog. Depending on your individual situation, your veterinarian might make specific recommendations.
  • Eliminate fleas on your dog. Trifexis kills fleas quickly, providing fast relief.
  • Eliminate fleas in your home. While treating your dog is an important step, you should also kill fleas in your home to reduce family member exposure to fleas and prevent any unprotected pets that visit your home from becoming infested. See suggestions for killing fleas in your home, in the sidebar on the left.
  • Prevent future infestations. Once-monthly Trifexis for dogs kills fleas before they can lay eggs. A key to preventing infestations is making sure other pets in the household are protected too. See our product for controlling fleas on your cat.

See our Frequently Asked Questions page for discussion points you might find useful to cover with your veterinarian.

Or visit our About Trifexis page for more information about the many benefits of Trifexis for dogs.

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Killing Fleas in Your Home

  • Steam clean (not shampoo) carpets and upholstery to kill pre-adult flea stages.
  • Vacuum frequently.
  • Use premise sprays, foggers, bombs or aerosols.
  • Launder bedding, blankets, pillows and throws weekly.
  • Treat all pets in the household with an approved flea product.

Killing Fleas in Your Home

  • Steam clean (not shampoo) carpets and upholstery to kill pre-adult flea stages.
  • Vacuum frequently.
  • Use premise sprays, foggers, bombs or aerosols.
  • Launder bedding, blankets, pillows and throws weekly.
  • Treat all pets in the household with an approved flea product.
DVM and Staff Site

Important Safety Information

Serious adverse reactions have been reported following concomitant extra-label use of ivermectin with spinosad alone, one of the components of Trifexis chewable tablets.

Treatment with fewer than three monthly doses after the last exposure to mosquitoes may not provide complete heartworm prevention. Prior to administration of Trifexis, dogs should be tested for existing heartworm infection. Use with caution in breeding females. The safe use of Trifexis in breeding males has not been evaluated. Use with caution in dogs with pre-existing epilepsy.

The most common adverse reactions reported were vomiting, depression/lethargy, itching, decreased appetite, and diarrhea. To ensure heartworm prevention, observe your dog for one hour after administration. If vomiting occurs within an hour of administration, redose with another full dose. Puppies less than 14 weeks of age may experience a higher rate of vomiting.

View full product label for complete safety information.

References

1. Dryden, M.W. Host association, on-host longevity and egg production of Ctenocephalides felis, Vet Parasitol 1989; 34: 117–122.

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