Pest Control In Houston

What are Fleas?

Fleas are very tiny insects that survive off of blood meals from animals but can be known to feed off human blood as well. This means that they can also transmit germs as well as cause itchiness or skin irritation.

Normally your pet gets fleas from spending time outdoors in the warmer seasons. Fleas will jump on your pets from the grass and hide in their hair so that they can stay close to their meal. Once fleas have a host to live on, they can live and spread year round. The first step in the battle against fleas is to start at the source. Have your yard treated for fleas so that they can reinfest your pet as soon as you get them treated. Flea collars and pet treatments work really well to keep fleas off your animals and kill adult fleas but eliminating them from your yard goes a long way to keeping them out of your home and off of your pets. Fleas are a common pest in the Houston area due to its humid climate. Fleas do very well in the humidity and prefer shaded areas as they cannot survive in direct sunlight for too long. Keeping your yard as dry as possible and free of excess decris and foliage will go a long way in helping your yard to be less attractive for fleas. Keeping the lawn short and avoiding over watering your plants will help as well.

Keeping your pets from other flea infested animals will help as well. Eliminating harborage of wild animals in your yard and avoiding areas where there are potentially flea infested animals that your pet can come into contact with always helps but in most cases is not realistic. Best case scenario, if your pet gets fleas, treat your pet, treat your yard and eliminate the source as well as the spread. Give us a call today and we can start the process of ensuring your home and yard are free from fleas.

Fleas are very common in the United States and are even more common in Houston due to the humidity. This is not a good thing for us as pet owners. There are about 300 species of fleas in the US and spread in cats, dogs, rats, squirrels and all sorts of other animals. Fleas are very small but can be found on your pets if you are searching through their fur. Using a white towel or paper in your home you can sometimes tell if you have fleas in your home. Fleas will infect your pets and feed off of their blood but can also feed on people as well causing bites and skin irritation to occur. One of the sure signs that you may have a problem with fleas is your pets constant scratching. A visual inspection of your pets skin and fur can identify if they have fleas.

The majority of fleas are spread by a few kinds of animals, like birds, cats, dogs and rabbits. You can also fall prey to an infestation if your home plays host to other pests. Rats and mice are established flea carriers, and they may pose a greater risk because of their known ability to go undetected in homes.

Ticks

Ticks are a lot more dangerous than a flea and are quite a bit larger. Ticks vary in size from about 1/8 inch to 1/2 inch. They also range in colors, normally brown to reddish brown or black. Different than most blood feeding pests, when ticks are fully engorged with their blood meal they turn a greyish blue color. Ticks are known to feed on the blood of animals and can also be known to bite humans and have been known to transmit Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.

Ticks will embed themselves into the skin. When removing a tick from yourself or a pet, use fine tip tweezers and get as close to the skin surface as possible and pull upward with steady pressure. You want to avoid breaking any part of the tick off in the skin so do not twist or turn the tick while pulling. Once the tick is removed, thoroughly clean the bite area with a rubbing alcohol or soap and water and dispose of the tick in a sealed bag or flushing it down the toilet. DO NOT crush it between your fingers.

Steps You Can Take To Prevent Fleas
In The Greater Houston Area

With the nuisance and health risk fleas bring, preventing them is essential if you want to save yourself a lot of headaches. Here are some tips you should try:

• Trim grass and trees in your yard so that it doesn’t look too appealing to fleas and ticks by leaving them nowhere to hide - this will also discourage wild animals from entering your yard.
• Don’t leave pet food bowls outside, which can also attract wildlife.
• Take your pet to the vet and give it flea and tick prevention medication or powder.
• Give your pet a haircut if their fur grows too long.
• Vacuum your home regularly and change vacuum bags with every cleaning.

• Eliminate any existing wildlife infestations around your home that could track fleas inside with them.
• Seal up holes in your home that could allow fleas, or the animals carrying them, inside.
• Wash your blankets and bedding often, using hot water settings.
• Bathe your pet often, using anti-flea shampoo.
• Use carpet spray to deter fleas from spreading into your carpets.
• Wash pet bedding regularly.
• Comb your pet with a flea comb.