Can Dog Fleas Live on Soft Furnishings?

WouterOctober 4, 2022October 4, 2022

If you have a pet, it is likely that your home contains soft furnishings. This is because fleas are attracted to warm surfaces, such as soft furniture, and can live in these surfaces. The best way to prevent fleas from living on your soft furnishings is to wash them frequently.

While you may be concerned about the smell or odour of dog fleas, a good prevention method is to wash your dog’s bedding and soft furnishings regularly. Ideally, you should wash them frequently until the fleas have disappeared. Always wash these items in hot water.

Fleas lay their eggs in the fur of animals. The eggs hatch after one to ten days and are spread when the animal moves. The larvae feed on blood and flea dirt. They go through a pupa stage that can last up to a year. Afterwards, the flea emerges as an adult flea and begins feeding and breeding.

Fleas can also live on your clothing. They are not strong enough to bite through clothing, but they can attach to the clothing and travel around the home. They can also jump onto your pets when they become mature. This can lead to a very serious infestation, so make sure to dress in protective clothing when outdoors.

Female fleas lay eggs in the fur of their hosts. On average, they lay around 20 eggs at a time, but can lay up to 40 in a single day. They lay 500 to 2,000 eggs in their lifetime. If the conditions are right, flea eggs hatch in about two weeks or less.