**LEGAL NOTICE** I am not a veterinarian. The suggestions that follow are my personal opinion which are those of a layperson. If your pet is ill, please seek the prompt attention of a competent licensed veterinarian in good standing. The website user assumes all liability for following the suggestions listed below.

Fleas and carpet dangers---fleas can cause anemia!  The more carpet, the more places for fleas to hide at all life stages.  Many risky chemicals are marketed for placement into carpet.  Pets will inhale concentrations of these chemicals because their noses are much closer to the floor than yours.  Diatomaceous earth might be risky to a pet’s lungs if inhaled!  It’s probably true that table salt and baking powder will dehydrate fleas in carpet; however, the entire dwelling must be treated or it’s no use; additionally vacuuming will deplete these desiccants (drying agents).  It’s probably true that the most effective flea fighter is a once a month pill; however, there might be risks to the pet’s nervous system.  Investigate this for yourself on Google.  You can try using a room dehumidifier as various studies show these to break the flea life cycle; if effective, the pet is not exposed to any chemical risks!  Plug in sonic devices are useless!  If you can deploy water as steam on carpets, it will destroy fleas and bedbugs.  All agree fleas and ticks are undesirable but no consensus exists as to best combative methods; beware those with financial interests in play!  However, in most cases, it seems reasonable that flea anemia is riskier than possible side effects in pets.  I know of a case in which a dog biting for fleas developed an impaction of fur in its lower lip/jaw.  This incited an infection which if untreated by antibiotics, would actually have been fatal!  The less you rely on veterinary advice or protocols/recommendations, the more you’ll have to fight fleas in ways that may entail less risk to pets, but can become quite tedious chores.  The best dwellings for pets have no carpets.  Essential oils may have risks to pets, read thoroughly before considering.  So called flea drops placed on back behind head aren’t necessarily pet safe, according to common feedback.  Flea and tick collars may also be problematic.  Carpet may be “bonded” to the floor by chemical agents that can cause cancer if exposure is sufficient.  A dog in a thunderstorm dug carpet off the floor and must have inhaled particles, as he developed a throat tumor in the following weeks that caused his death!  Linoleum tile floors may be considered.  Throw rugs can easily be run in hot dryer which will kill fleas in any life stage.  Pet shampoos with neem oil are pet safe and very lethal to fleas; however, plain soap and water work as well.