In the event that you spot pesky fleas on your pet, we have ways to combat the problem. But because they will be transported into your home by hitching a ride on your dog, often before you notice anything is wrong, flea prevention is always the way to go. Treating a pet for fleas is one thing, but eradicating them from your home can be time-consuming, expensive, and frustrating.
And since we’ve enjoyed some much-needed rain lately, fleas might become more of a problem for some of you. That’s because humid weather creates the perfect environment for fleas to thrive and reproduce. So, if you haven’t yet, take the time to follow these steps to reduce the incidence of fleas in your yard.
- Keep your lawn trimmed to the recommended length for grass type (and your HOA rules). Insects prefer to hide out in longer grass.
- Clean up piles of debris, and clean out your garden, shed, and crawl spaces to reduce hiding spots for insects.
- Discourage wildlife from hanging out in your yard by keeping trash sealed away.
- Don’t overwater your lawn! Standing pools of water create more humidity, the perfect environment for fleas and other pests like mosquitoes.
- Prune back overgrown shrubs and trees to allow more light and air through the branches. This will reduce humidity and darkness, both preferred conditions for fleas.
- Apply a barrier of flea treatment around your home or treat the entire yard if you think it’s warranted. Use an insecticide specifically formulated for fleas and mark your calendar so that you know when to reapply it (usually every 90 days).
Even if you do the above-mentioned preventatives, your dog and cat should be administered a monthly preventative. Flea infestations can be the cause of allergies, skin infections, anemia, and tapeworms.
And remember, we’re here to help if you do notice a flea problem. Bring your cat or dog to us for treatment, and we’ll help you keep him or her free of those itchy pests.