How to Tell If You Have a Flea Infestation
If not treated right away, flea infestations can explode and become incredibly difficult to get rid of. Learn to recognize these signs of fleas
Oh no, it’s a Flea!!
Many of us know the dreaded feeling you get when you discover a flea on your pet. Fleas are easy for owners to recognize but are not easy to eliminate once you have them in your home. If not treated quickly, flea infestations can explode and become incredibly difficult to get rid of. Learn to recognize the signs of fleas on your animals so you catch the problem and address them before it gets out of control.Signs That Your Dog or Cat Has Fleas
- Scratching more frequently than usual
- Seems restless
- Losing hair
- More uncomfortable than usual
What to do if You Suspect Fleas
Inspect your petThe first thing you’ll want to do is look for fleas on your pet. On dogs, look near the end of the tail and groin area. On cats, look on the head or neck. You can also use a flea comb and comb the hair in those areas. Flea combs have tines placed close together so the flea will get caught on the tines and be combed off the body (you will see them in the comb).
Look for fleas inside your house
Common places to look for fleas are on carpets or area rugs (especially where your pet likes to hang out), upholstered furniture, and inside your pet’s crate or bed. It can be helpful to have a pest infestation specialist come out to inspect these areas. Fleas like to hide and a trained eye will be more likely to find them.
Check your backyard
Backyards are a common breeding ground for fleas. If you have seen a flea on your pet or in your house, odds are it came from your yard. An easy way to test for fleas is to put on tall white socks and walk through a target area, constantly checking your socks for fleas. Common places to look include:
- Areas where your pets rest or play
- Under/on porches and decks
- Under/around bushes and trees
- Areas where leaves gather/pile up
- Any moist and shady areas
How to Get Rid of Fleas
If you discover fleas, prompt and thorough treatment is the key. You need to remember that you are not only treating for fleas, but also to get rid of all eggs, larvae, and pupae. If not treated promptly the fleas will be back before you know it.Steps to get rid of fleas include:
- Take your pet to the veterinarian to be treated for fleas
- Clean your house thoroughly
- Wash your linens and pet beds
Catching a flea outbreak and treating it effectively the first time saves the homeowner a lot of time, money, and stress. Give us a call today and let our experts take care of the problem for you!
Hear from a few people we have worked with...
“Bill and I started using TriCounty Pest Control for our home soon after we moved from Minnesota to Tupelo in 2001, and we have been extremely happy with the service we have received from Kevin Pannell. He has made extra trips to our home several times to deal with a particularly stubborn pest. We found out we had a nest of ants in our attic that happily stayed there, out of our notice, until we had our kitchen remodeled. Then they had a new pathway via the electrical cord for our stove. He re...” ~ Bill & Carol Ledbetter
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