Fleas are small, wingless jumping insects that feed on the blood of mammals and birds. Fleas are external parasites that can transmit disease through their bites. Their mouthparts are designed to the pierce the skin and suck blood. A Five Star Termite & Pest Control offers helpful tips to deal with fleas in your home.
How Can You Tell You have Fleas?
Fleas are very small in size. In a one inch span you could have about eight adult lined up end to end. Their size makes them extremely difficult to detect and therefore very difficult to eradicate. They can jump with great ease from the ground, onto your pet and then into your home. Female fleas can take in around 15 times their body weight in blood every day. “Flea dirt” that is excreted from the flea is incompletely digested blood that will be food for developing larvae. It is also the way you and veterinarians can determine an infestation.
Fleas on Pets
Fleas can be a nightmare for your pet, causing excessive scratching, chewing, biting and restlessness not to mention they can cause serious health threats if your pet isn’t in the best physical health and/or aging. If an infestation is severe enough it can lead to anemia, fleas that are eaten by your pet can pass along a tapeworm infection, many skin conditions in pets is caused by fleas. When a flea infestation is discovered in your home it can result in homeowners being bitten, you are then at risk of hath issues. You can develop an allergic reaction manifested as small, raised bumps that are red or purple color. Your reaction will depend on your allergy to the bite. Children can also contract a tapeworm infestation if around pets that infected. Rodent fleas can be found on cats and dogs and can be caries of bubonic plague leaving the animal host to bit humans. Two kinds of typhus that can be contracted from flea bites are flea typhus and murine typhus.
How Do I Get Rid of Fleas in My House Fast?
You may think you have eradicate your home of fleas only to see them reappear. This is caused by eggs hatching that were lying dormant. The pupal stage of a flea can be dormant for months. They are also very resistant to insecticides. The length of time you spend treating for fleas needs to be as long as all these stages are eliminated. Some ways to treat you home are to be vigilant in vacuuming. When you are dome vacuuming make sure to put the vacuum bag inside a plastic bag, tie it off, and discard immediately. Vacuuming can eliminate as many as 50% of flea eggs. Your pet’s bedding needs to be washed in hot water each week with an insect regulator or an adulticide. You can even use both for extra control. You can use surface spray to get to areas like the baseboards and under furniture. Foggers are useful in larger, indoor areas. Any areas that your pet may have come inti contact with fleas need to be cleaned. These include your car, garage, pet carriers and basements. Your yard will need to be treated as well as fleas are always looking for a meal in moist, warm and shady environments.
Flea Inspections, Exclusion, Control, Removal, Management & More in Canyon Lake, Spring Branch, Bulverde, Timberwood Park, Leon Valley, Alamo Heights, New Braunfels, Selma, Live Oak, Converse, Universal City, Cibolo, Seguin, New Berlin, St Hedwig, Adkins, La Vernia, Elmendorf, Losoya, Von Ormy, Macdona & San Antonio, Texas
Treatment for fleas is different than tick treatment. If you’re worried about fleas in or around your home, call a professional. Contact A Five Star Termite & Pest Control to come up with a plan.
