Fleas are often found in carpets, furniture, crawlspaces, and your yard. They can also hijack their way into your home on shoes or on your loveable furbabies. Your pets can even pick up fleas from other animals around your yard, such as mice or squirrels. What makes these pesky parasites so bad is that they have a short gestation period and are fully mature from between eight to 36 days. Adult flea females begin laying eggs 48 hours from their first feeding, which means that a flea infestation can spiral out of control…fast.
When it comes to signs of a flea infestation, your pets are likely your first sign of a problem. You may notice your pet scratching excessively, find adult fleas on them, notice flea dirt on their skin, or spot flea eggs in their coat. Other signs of a flea infestation might be bites on your ankles, spotting the eggs in your carpets, or seeing adult fleas around the home. When you find that you have a flea problem you might be tempted to run to the store and stock up on all the bug bombs you can fit into your cart.
Or you might search the internet for home remedies and DIY sprays. The bug bombs, sprays, and home remedies might help to a degree but rarely do they fully eliminate the infestation. This is where the professionals can help. The trained pros at Bug Zapper Pest Control can help you win the battle against biting fleas with our flea control services.
Before we get started, there are a few things you can do as we work together to oust the fleas from your home:. Ticks are in virtually all parts of the United States, including some urban areas, and many parts of the world. Some types of ticks can remain alive in the colder months, especially when temperatures are above freezing.
For example, the Blacklegged tick, which carries Lyme disease, begin its period of prime feeding near the time of the first frost. Since deer are the main host of the Blacklegged tick and are active in fall and early winter months, this type of tick survives on the warm body of its host — until it drops off and attaches itself to your dog.
When temperatures rise, flea eggs are safe to hatch outside, and ticks can thrive in woods and tall grasses. This is also the time of year that you and your dog are more likely to spend hiking and walking and enjoying nature. The best defense against fleas and ticks is to keep your dog on a year-round flea and tick preventive medication as recommended by your veterinarian. Jerry Klein, AKC chief veterinary officer. For example, young puppies or older dogs with weaker immune systems may require special doses or treatments, or if you live in a tropical area, the environmental applications required may be more frequent.
Compare Breeds Compare up to 5 different breeds side by side. Dog Name Finder Browse our extensive library of dog names for inspiration. Find out the best and worst foods for your dog and which to avoid. Additional Resources AKC. Infested animals have reddened skin and may lose hair. The hind quarters of dogs and the head and neck of cats are most commonly targeted. The life cycle of the flea is composed of the egg, larval, pupal and adult stages.
Cycle length ranges from several weeks to several months and is largely dependent upon environmental conditions. The following are some guidelines for dog and cat owners to follow when choosing and applying a flea control product:.
Never use insecticides on very young animals, pregnant or nursing pets, debilitated or elderly animals without consulting your veterinarian. With such pets, you may want to consider avoiding the use of insecticides directly on your pet.
Instead, you could comb the fleas off the pet with a flea comb then submerge the captured fleas in a small container of soapy water. This would also be a good alternative for those pets who love being groomed but who violently refuse baths or the application of a spray. Before using any product on your pet, read the label instructions completely. If you do not completely understand the instructions, you should contact the manufacturer or your veterinarian for clarification. Observe the species and age requirements listed on the label.
Cats react very differently than dogs to some insecticides. Some dog products can be deadly to cats, even in tiny amounts. Use caution when using products that contain organophosphates in your house or on your cat.
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