Vet first, vacuum second, treatment third. In that order, because the order is what most people get wrong.
Treat the pet through your vet, vacuum thoroughly and repeatedly, then have the rooms treated. 95% of the population is in the carpet, not on the animal.
Treatment is £180 first room, £60 each additional, up to £420 for five. Doing it without the vet is the commonest reason it fails.
| Stage | Where | Share of the population |
|---|---|---|
| Adults | On the pet and in the carpet | ~5% |
| Eggs | Fall off the pet into the carpet | ~50% |
| Larvae | Deep in the carpet pile, avoiding light | ~35% |
| Pupae | In the carpet, protected and resistant | ~10% |
This table is the entire argument for why the pet alone is not enough, and why the carpet alone is not enough either.
That last point deserves its own line. Permethrin-based dog treatments can be dangerous to cats, and it is a genuinely common accident in multi-pet households.
Vacuuming also has a specific benefit: the vibration encourages pupae to hatch, which brings them out where they can be dealt with.
See our full flea treatment service, published room prices and what has to happen with the pet.
View Flea Control Stanmore →Residual treatment to the carpet, edges and under-furniture areas, staying active as pupae hatch over the following weeks. Count every room the pet uses, including hall and stairs.
Seeing fleas a fortnight after treatment is not the treatment failing. It is the pupae doing exactly what pupae do, into a treatment that is waiting for them.
Relevant on a property near green space, and worth knowing before you conclude the pet's treatment failed.
Two to three weeks, driven by the pupal stage rather than the treatment.
No. They bite people but live on animals and in carpets.
Yes — a previous occupant's pet, a visiting cat, or wildlife in the garden.
Wasps in the garden where the dog goes? £90 fixed cost in Stanmore, guaranteed for 30 days.
Treat every pet through your vet, vacuum thoroughly and repeatedly, wash pet bedding at 60°C, then have the rooms treated.
In the carpet. Only about 5% of the population is on the animal — the rest is eggs, larvae and pupae in the floor.
The pupal stage is protected and hatches over two to three weeks in response to vibration and warmth, into a treatment that is still active.
No. Some, including permethrin-based products, are seriously toxic to cats. Ask your vet.
Yes. Foxes carry fleas and are common around Stanmore's parkland — a fox denning under a shed or decking leaves them behind when it moves on.
It cleans the carpet but does not clear the pupae.
No. They bite people but live on animals and in carpets.
Two to three weeks, driven by the pupal stage rather than the treatment itself.
Vet first, then us. And check under the decking for fox activity while you are at it.
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