Getting Rid of Pesky Fleas
Filed under: Pest Control
You walk into a carpeted room… and instantly feel a stinging sensation. Peering down at your legs, you discover several small, blood-sucking insects doing their dirty work. They hop on as soon as their walking blood bag enters the room, and no matter what you do, you can’t seem to get rid of them. Fleas have invaded your home! What now?
First of all, you probably know that the source of your flea infestation is a cat, dog, or other pet. Fido goes outside, picks up a few hitch hikers, and returns to your home. Now the little invaders have ridden their Trojan horse right past all of your defenses, and they’re ready to set up house by laying eggs in your carpet and furniture.
Obviously, the first step to treating your flea problem is to visit your veterinarian. He or she can guide you toward a product that is safe for your pet, but will also kill or repel fleas. Treating your yard, and removing ideal flea habitats, can also reduce the number available to hitch a ride on Fluffy in the first place.
Occasionally, those who are not even pet owners can experience a flea problem. This most often happens when a mouse or other mammal is living in your walls or under floorboards. When they die, their parasites go in search of a new host. Sometimes they turn to the human inhabitants of the home.
You can stop the source of the invasion in its tracks, but what next? You still have thousands of tiny invaders in your home, and they’re multiplying rapidly.
However your problem developed, getting rid of fleas in the home can be tricky. Often, over-the-counter products only appear to work for a short period of time, but then the fleas come right back. Flea eggs can be hidden in tiny crevices and lie undiscovered for about two days, at which point they hatch. So, if your flea treatments only kill adult fleas, you will constantly contend with the next generation of pests.
Properly attacking a flea infestation will require a multi-step approach from several angles. We must identify and eliminate the source of the problem, then deal with eggs, larvae, and adult fleas. Products used should address all life stages of the flea, and you should also take steps to remove as many eggs as possible. Thorough vacuuming, washing pet bedding, and other household chores can help. But to really eliminate a widespread infestation, please give us a call. We have the right products for the job, and we can apply them in a manner that is safe for both you and your pets. If needed, we can also provide follow-up care to prevent the problem from recurring.
