I remember when I was a kid, I was sitting on the carpet in the den. I felt a sting of sorts on my ankle, I gave my sock a rub and continued what I was doing. A couple of minutes later, I felt it again! I pulled my sock down to see what was going on and there it was, A FLEA! As soon as I tried to touch it, it jumped away. I would love to say that that was the only encounter I had with fleas, but it wasn’t. Unfortunately, we didn’t know anything about fleas so by the time we really noticed them, they were all over. They were in the house and in the yard, what a nightmare!
Why Do I Have Fleas and Ticks?
The most common reason we get fleas and ticks is because our pet picked them up from somewhere, maybe the park or a field or another animal. There are also less common reasons that we get fleas and/or ticks such as, a wild animal has been nesting in or hanging out in our yard. Being in the pest control industry we have treated many homes for fleas and ticks due to an animal that has crawled under the home and died. The fleas and ticks will leave the dead animal and come up into the house and out to the yard. Also, rats and mice can carry fleas, so if you are dealing with a rodent infestation, it can be possible to get fleas.
What Do Fleas and Ticks Look Like?
how to get rid of fleas and ticks
The key to getting rid of fleas and ticks is two-fold:
- Treat your pet
- Treat your surroundings
Treat your pet – If your pet has fleas or ticks it is important to make sure you thoroughly treat them. Make sure you read the label of your flea and tick shampoo! You will want to pay close attention to where it states how often to reapply to avoid a reinfestation on your pet. If you choose to take your pet to get a flea and tick dip from the groomer or vet, make sure to ask if you need to go back for a follow up treatment.
Treat your surroundings – I’m sure you have heard this…”Cleanliness is next to Godliness”. Well, in terms of fleas and tick, cleanliness is crucial! Make sure you:
- Thoroughly wash and dry all pet bedding
- Vacuum like a mad person! Vacuuming not only picks up fleas and ticks, but the vibrations stimulate the nymphs out of the eggs. Vacuum multiple times, cleaning out the canister after each time.
- Treat your home and lawn with an insecticide labeled for fleas and ticks.
For more information about treating for fleas and ticks you can watch our video!
