The best flea treatment varies from species to species, and even animal to animal.  Something that is very effective for one may not work at all for another.  For this reason it is a good idea to get the opinion of a professional pest controller, or vet, in choosing the best treatment options for your pet.

Here a few considerations you might like to take into account.  One is whether you want to use a chemical or non-chemical option.  The use of chemicals usually comprises the best flea treatment when your pet has a particularly bad infestation and you want to get rid of it quickly.  It is not a good idea to over use chemical-based products, however, as there is a risk that they will harm your pet, possibly even more so than the fleas themselves.  On the other hand, non-chemical or natural means of treating a flea infestation are much safer, although some could still provoke an allergic reaction, but they tend not to be so fast-acting.  Which approach you choose to take is really up to you, but for more information, see the sections on “comparing flea treatments,” “holistic flea treatment,” and “natural flea treatment.”

Other factors to consider include the type of animal you have, for example is it a cat or a dog?  If your dog has the problem, then the best flea treatment might be a bath, maybe with some flea shampoo.  On the other hand, cats tend to detest water, making that a less appealing option for them.  Also, you should consider the age of your pet; if it is only a puppy or a kitten, then a bath in the sink is the only really safe option as they are too young and delicate for you to risk using chemical products on them.  See the sections on “kitten flea treatment,” and “puppy flea treatment,” for more information.

Whichever flea treatment you decide on for your pet, however, it will always have to be performed in concert with a thorough cleaning of the living environment.  This means vacuuming carpets, washing or throwing away the pet’s bedding, and ridding the garden of fleas as well.  If you do not do this, then even the best flea treatment in the world will not be effective because as soon as the fleas have been eradicated from your pet’s body, more will reattach because they grow in the environment, not on the host animal itself.

Having fleas will be an extremely uncomfortable, and potentially dangerous, experience for your pet.  It is important to remove the infestation as soon as possible, but with the smallest risk possible of harming your pet further with the cure.  To do this you should educate yourself and then consult with a professional animal carer, and then you will be able to decide on the best flea treatment for your pet.