3 Ways to Prevent Fleas in the Home
With temperatures rising, pests are reproducing rapidly, resulting in raised risks for the home. With more than 2,000 species of fleas having been recorded, these tiny pests are the most common and abundant pest you’ll come in contact with.But what exactly is a flea? Adult fleas are laterally compressed, measure between 1-3mm, vary in color from reddish-brown to black, and have powerful hind legs for jumping and running.
They rely on their warm blooded host both for food and as a source of protection and transport. Female fleas are able to reproduce more than 400 eggs within a span of 1-4 weeks. If fleas are not taken care of soon, an infestation is sure to occur.
What exactly, though, is the correct way to treat a flea infestation? Well, there isn’t one sure way, but a multiple of factors that go towards stopping fleas. There are three easy ways you can follow in order to prevent or remove a flea infestation.
With temperatures rising, pests are reproducing rapidly, resulting in raised risks for the home. With more than 2,000 species of fleas having been recorded, these tiny pests are the most common and abundant pest you’ll come in contact with.
But what exactly is a flea? Adult fleas are laterally compressed, measure between 1-3mm, vary in color from reddish-brown to black, and have powerful hind legs for jumping and running.
They rely on their warm blooded host both for food and as a source of protection and transport. Female fleas are able to reproduce more than 400 eggs within a span of 1-4 weeks. If fleas are not taken care of soon, an infestation is sure to occur.
What exactly, though, is the correct way to treat a flea infestation? Well, there isn’t one sure way, but a multiple of factors that go towards stopping fleas. There are three easy ways you can follow in order to prevent or remove a flea infestation.
1.Remove Fleas From Your Pets
The first step to take towards removing fleas is to provide flea preventatives on the animal carrying the fleas themselves. Flea preventatives come in the forms of either a topical flea treatment, pills, flea shampoo, or flea collars.
The topical preventatives are a type of oil that kills adult fleas, larvae, and eggs and prevents fleas from infecting the host animal again for at least 30 days, proving to be the most effective against fleas.
Such popular brands of topical flea treatments are; Advantage II, Frontline Plus, K9 Advantix II, and Revolution for dogs.
Each of these topical flea treatments have their own strengths and weaknesses, so it is recommended to look into these products to see which one fits what you are looking for the best.
The second strongest flea preventative comes in a pill. The pet takes the pill orally and works in a similar way as the topical flea treatments do.
These pills are especially beneficial for pets that have skin allergies.
Comfortis and Capstar Flea Killers are two popular brands if you are considering oral flea preventatives.
Flea collars are the third strongest flea preventatives.
While flea collars have chemicals to kill fleas and eggs, the flea preventative is concentrated mainly around the neck of the pet.
This does not provide the full spectrum of preventative needed, but flea collars do last longer, as long as eight months. These collars work best as a preventative when the animal no longer has fleas.
Seresto is the most popular and effective brand to use if deciding to use flea collars.
The last and weakest flea preventative is flea shampoo.
Flea shampoos are meant to kill living fleas, eggs, and larvae, but not to prevent them.
They will remove the fleas from the animal, but consider obtaining other flea preventatives in order to fully eliminate the flea infestation.
2. Treat the Outside for Fleas
While flea preventatives on your pets is a necessity, if your outside yard is not treated, than fleas will continue to be a pest. Animals are not the only ones that bring fleas into the home, we can as well.
Fleas jump onto us as we pass through our yard, like a bus, and enter our home to look for their host, our pets. Treating your yard is something easy and simple to do.
If you’re the gardening type, consider planting natural flea repellent plants such as; Rosemary, Penny Royal, Chrysanthemums, Lavender, or Spearmint. The scents these plants produce irritates the fleas and forces them away while providing a beautiful touch to your garden.
If gardening is not your cup of tea, consider using a flea and tick yard spray.
Many of the pet safe sprays are made using odors and oils from flea preventative plants.
These sprays can be easily attached to any garden hose and be spread across the yard fast and effective.
Always look to see if the yard sprays are pet safe, especially if your pet spends a majority of the time outside or is prone to eating random objects.
Consider pet safe products such as Adams, Bio Spot, or Vet’s Best.
These three yard sprays provide the strength to remove the flea infestation with the gentleness to keep your pets safe.
3. If All Home Treatments Fail, Call a Professional Exterminator
When you have tried your best to apply treat preventatives to your pets and treat your yard but are still having no luck in removing your flea infestation, then the problem may be out of your hands.
In these instances, it would be most beneficial to look into a professional to aid in your problems. Professional exterminators can treat your yard and are proven to remove the infestation.
If you’re in the Southern California, give us a call at Accurate Termite Control.
Our office numbers are:
- San Diego: (844) GOT.ANTS
- Orange County: (949) TERMITE
- Los Angeles: (310) TERMITE
Flea infestations should not be taken lightly, especially during summer. Fleas not only cause itchiness and irritation to you and your pets, but fleas have been known to carry life-threatening illnesses as well.
While none have been reported as of late, it is always better to be safe. The earlier the flea infestations are taken care of, the less you will have to deal with the pests.
But if you are in the midst of an infestation, try one of the home remedies before contacting a professional. Be alert to any symptoms of fleas this coming summer.
1.Remove Fleas From Your Pets
The first step to take towards removing fleas is to provide flea preventatives on the animal carrying the fleas themselves. Flea preventatives come in the forms of either a topical flea treatment, pills, flea shampoo, or flea collars.
The topical preventatives are a type of oil that kills adult fleas, larvae, and eggs and prevents fleas from infecting the host animal again for at least 30 days, proving to be the most effective against fleas.
Such popular brands of topical flea treatments are; Advantage II, Frontline Plus, K9 Advantix II, and Revolution for dogs.
Each of these topical flea treatments have their own strengths and weaknesses, so it is recommended to look into these products to see which one fits what you are looking for the best.
The second strongest flea preventative comes in a pill. The pet takes the pill orally and works in a similar way as the topical flea treatments do.
These pills are especially beneficial for pets that have skin allergies.
Comfortis and Capstar Flea Killers are two popular brands if you are considering oral flea preventatives.
Flea collars are the third strongest flea preventatives.
While flea collars have chemicals to kill fleas and eggs, the flea preventative is concentrated mainly around the neck of the pet.
This does not provide the full spectrum of preventative needed, but flea collars do last longer, as long as eight months. These collars work best as a preventative when the animal no longer has fleas.
Seresto is the most popular and effective brand to use if deciding to use flea collars.
The last and weakest flea preventative is flea shampoo.
Flea shampoos are meant to kill living fleas, eggs, and larvae, but not to prevent them.
They will remove the fleas from the animal, but consider obtaining other flea preventatives in order to fully eliminate the flea infestation.
2. Treat the Outside for Fleas
While flea preventatives on your pets is a necessity, if your outside yard is not treated, than fleas will continue to be a pest. Animals are not the only ones that bring fleas into the home, we can as well.
Fleas jump onto us as we pass through our yard, like a bus, and enter our home to look for their host, our pets. Treating your yard is something easy and simple to do.
If you’re the gardening type, consider planting natural flea repellent plants such as; Rosemary, Penny Royal, Chrysanthemums, Lavender, or Spearmint. The scents these plants produce irritates the fleas and forces them away while providing a beautiful touch to your garden.
If gardening is not your cup of tea, consider using a flea and tick yard spray.
Many of the pet safe sprays are made using odors and oils from flea preventative plants.
These sprays can be easily attached to any garden hose and be spread across the yard fast and effective.
Always look to see if the yard sprays are pet safe, especially if your pet spends a majority of the time outside or is prone to eating random objects.
Consider pet safe products such as Adams, Bio Spot, or Vet’s Best.
These three yard sprays provide the strength to remove the flea infestation with the gentleness to keep your pets safe.
3. If All Home Treatments Fail, Call a Professional Exterminator
When you have tried your best to apply treat preventatives to your pets and treat your yard but are still having no luck in removing your flea infestation, then the problem may be out of your hands.
In these instances, it would be most beneficial to look into a professional to aid in your problems. Professional exterminators can treat your yard and are proven to remove the infestation.
If you’re in the Southern California, give us a call at Accurate Termite Control.
Our office numbers are:
- San Diego: (844) GOT.ANTS
- Orange County: (949) TERMITE
- Los Angeles: (310) TERMITE
Flea infestations should not be taken lightly, especially during summer. Fleas not only cause itchiness and irritation to you and your pets, but fleas have been known to carry life-threatening illnesses as well.
While none have been reported as of late, it is always better to be safe. The earlier the flea infestations are taken care of, the less you will have to deal with the pests.
But if you are in the midst of an infestation, try one of the home remedies before contacting a professional. Be alert to any symptoms of fleas this coming summer.
We continue to be Southern California’s preferred termite and pest control service, provider.
