How do I get rid of fleas in my home?

Q: Our dog has brought fleas into the house. How do I get rid of them?

A: You need to apply insecticide products that kill fleas to break the life-cycle. Spray the dog with a flea-killing product. Then, apply a flea-killing carpet spray to its sleeping quarters as well as all the areas where the dog has contact, including carpets, draperies and furniture upholstery. For heavy infestations, some manufacturers offer room-fogging products, but be prepared to vacate the house for a couple of hours while they work—along with your dog. Due to the flea life-cycle, some fleas may survive the initial treatment. This is because some of the fleas may have been in cocoon stage during application of the flea killer, and there is no flea treatment that can penetrate that protective cocoon. Keep an eye on any renewed flea activity during the first couple of weeks after treatment, and treat those areas immediately to avoid re-infestation.