The great outdoors is filled with a lot of amazing things – fresh air, room to roam, beautiful scenery…and fleas and ticks. It just takes one flea jumping on your pet during an afternoon frolic through the woods to cause a very serious problem on your property. A flea or tick infestation can be more than just an inconvenience – it can wreak havoc on your pets, your home and yard, and your family. Here are some tips on how to get rid of a flea or tick infestation:
- Cut it off at the source.
Find out how the infestation began – there’s no use trying to treat the problem if more fleas or ticks are continually brought into the house and yard. If your pet is roaming around a certain patch of grass and comes back with a tick, make sure to keep them away from that area. If your dog comes home from a play date and you notice him scratching like crazy, it’s best to stay away from those puppy pals until their flea problem is treated as well. Your vet can prescribe medication for your pet to prevent a recurrence of both fleas and ticks in the future, so be sure to check with them for more options.
- Clean, clean, clean!
Fleas and their eggs can fall right off a pet and onto your carpet, furniture, bed, or anything else the pet comes in contact with. If you have an infestation, it’s time to start deep cleaning – sweep and mop floors, vacuum carpets, and have carpets professionally cleaned. Be sure to keep up with a regular cleaning routine, as vacuuming on a consistent basis can help prevent fleas from making an encore appearance in your home. Furniture should also be vacuumed out and deep cleaned, and the rest of the house must be cleaned from top to bottom. Wash clothes and linens in warm or hot water whenever possible, and leave the dryer heat setting as high as you can without damaging the items. Following these cleaning procedures will help get rid of both fleas and ticks, but there are also different treatments (non-hazardous) that can be spread throughout the house and yard depending on which pest you’re having trouble with.
- Keep a well-maintained yard.
Fleas and ticks love tall grass and lush vegetation. Keep your grass trimmed to an appropriate length and cut back bushes and tree limbs regularly. Make sure your pet is playing in a flea- and tick-free yard as much as possible to avoid the little critters hitching a ride into your home.
If you’re a DIY kind of person, this type of deep cleaning and treatment might be right up your alley. However, if the infestation can’t be contained or controlled, it’s time to call a professional. If you’re in the San Joaquin Valley, San Joaquin Pest Control has trained professionals ready to eliminate your flea and tick problem once and for all. Don’t suffer unnecessarily, and don’t leave your pet suffering either - give San Joaquin Pest Control a call today to discuss treatment options for your flea or tick infestation.
