Spring has officially arrived and soon we will start to see signs of green and budding flowers.
Another not so welcome sign of spring are fleas coming out of their winter hiding spots looking for a quick meal at your dog's expense.
You need to begin your anti flea preparations now in order to avoid a difficult to control infestation that could soon come.
Like many things, it's a whole lot easier to prevent an infestation than to end one.
A flea's life cycle makes it difficult to eradicate them.
The three stages of a flea's life are ova, larvae and adult.
Pesticides often only work against fleas in one stage or another and not all three.
That's why you will often be successful in getting rid of fleas, only to have them return in a week or two after a new batch has hatched.
Random attacks won't defeat these hardy pests.
Winning this war requires a full battle campaign.
Once spring arrives, your first step should be to treat your yard.
Next comes the inside of your house, and finally your dog.
Outdoor treatments work best in dry conditions so try to plan this attack when the forecast calls for warm, dry weather for a few days.
The old stand in Bayer Sevin dust is a good product for use in yards.
This product won't hurt pets or humans and kills most of the most common pests, including of course fleas.
Keep in mind that it will also kill other insects such as bees, butterflies and other "nice" insects that you may not want to eradicate.
If this is a concern, you might want to consider another choice.
Sevin Dust can also be used to treat carpets and pet bedding as long as it is thoroughly vacuumed after a day or two of treatment.
Another outdoor product available is VetKem Siphotrol Spray.
This product comes in a concentrated form and is dispersed through an attachment to your garden hose.
Some people find that applying liquid pesticide is easier than using the dust.
Believe it or not, even Dawn dish soap can be used to kill fleas.
Mixed with water and sprayed on the yard, it will get rid of fleas without the use of poisons.
Washing your dog with Dawn will also work, but can strip your dog's fur of natural oils, leaving it dry and causing itching.
Flea treatments need to be repeated at least once a month during the summer for maximum flea control.
If you get started early and don't let the little blood suckers get a good foothold, you can greatly alleviate your flea problems.
Killing them before they begin the egg cycle is the best way to win this war.
Once they begin to multiply, the various stages make it much more difficult to rid your yard and house of them.