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All summer long fleas have not been much of a problem for many pet owners.  Now with the recent rain we have been seeing an explosion of fleas.  There are hundreds of products out there that say they will kill fleas.  Which ones do you use?  To beat the flea you need to understand the flea's life cycle. 
 
Fleas get into your home via a four-legged or two-legged bus, meaning you or your pet.  Once in your house they usually look for a suitable host, your pet.  Once on your pet it is time to eat.  Female fleas will then lay a number of eggs on your pet, unfortunately these eggs do not usually stay on your pet they fall off into the carpet.  Once these eggs go into the carpet they attach to the fibers of the carpet making it all but impossible to sweep the eggs up with a vacuum.  Vibrations form walking on the carpet cause the eggs to hatch and a worm-like larvae emerges.  These larvae are extremely sensitive to light so they look for dark or shaded areas, such as under furniture, to continue their development.  Over time the larvae forms a cocoon to develop into an adult flea.  While the flea is in this cocoon their is no flea killing product that can effect it.  Therefore to deal with fleas in your home you must use a product that kills them before or after the cocoon. 
 
The mistake most people make is that they don't feel that they have a flea problem until the fleas are jumping on them.  Once you see fleas jumping on you or a family member in the house experts say you are seeing only 1% of the total population that is there.
 
The best may to beat fleas is to prepare for them.  Check your pet for fleas.  Roll them over and look at their belly.  If you see black flecks that look like pepper this is the dirt left behind by fleas.  If you see this you need to treat your pet. 
 
Flea powders, shampoos, sprays and collars are all old hat now.  The best products on the market to combat fleas are available right from your veterinarian.  There are topical products such as Advantage, Frontline and Revolution that you apply to your pet's skin once a month to kill any fleas that jump on your pet.  There are also oral preventatives such as Program or Sentinel that sterilize the eggs that a flea will lay, therefore control a population explosion.  All of these products usually last for a month and are very safe for your pet.
 
Don't think that just because your cat does not go outside that he or she cannot get fleas.  Fleas will come in on you or your dog and jump directly to your cat.  Therefore both dogs and cats need to be protected.
 
Protect your pets from fleas early before they become a problem.  Having your house exterminated or even doing it yourself become much more expensive than simply getting the proper preventative for your pets.