If you’re an individual with or without pets, you’re probably well aware of the impact fleas can have on a home. Fleas are especially bad throughout Northern Michigan this fall. It’s important for individuals to know the proper steps it takes to rid your home of these pests.
Here are a few things you should know if you believe your home and pets may be infested:
Fleas are a reddish-brown pest that infest our homes and most commonly attack our pets. They require a host in order to survive, and if no pets are present they will resort to biting rodents and humans. Fleas feast on blood, and can survive without food for two months to a year. It is extremely common to find bites on the ankles, but can appear on any part of the body. Their bites appear as an itchy red spot on the body. If you think your pets may have fleas, you can do a quick test at home by combing their fur and tapping the comb on a damp, white paper towel. If you notice a reddish-brown substance on the paper towel, this is flea dirt.
In order to treat, it’s important to know that all pets must be checked and treated by a vet, and a professional pest control company must treat the home as well. Pets must have a professional treatment by the vet in order to be sure they are rid of them. Customers are often under the impression they can treat for fleas with store-bought products on their own. However, it’s likely they will spend upwards of $80-100 on these products with little to no results. There is no way to guarantee treatment without seeking out a professional. Besides treating pets for fleas at the vet, it’s just as important that the home be treated to rid the entire structure. Homeowners are asked to do a bit of prep work before the professional treatment. Our products contain a growth regulator and will continue to work as the fleas hatch out. This is important because they have a 14-21 day hatching cycle.