Lets Talk Ticks and FleasIt’s an awful situation …. not only does your dog or cat have fleas or ticks, but now you notice this vermin has traveled on your trojan horse of a pet in to your home. Been there, done that! It’s exhausting, frustrating, and I’m gonna tell the truth here… embarrassing. You may feel as though in order to accommodate these tiny blood suckers, your home would have to be filthy. I’m here to tell you that is not true. It’s just that once you notice fleas in your home, you have to act quickly to prevent a nuisance from becoming an infestation. Getting an infestation under control takes time (weeks and sometimes months), energy, money, and diligence. The best course of action is prevention. These tips will help to keep these blood suckers out of your home and off of your pets and family.
Defend your yard.
Keep that grass mowed. Fleas and ticks love to set up shop in easy to hide in, overgrown areas. Keeping things trimmed up will also keep critters like raccoons, opossums and feral cats from seeking shelter in your yard. These creatures will carry fleas and ticks right into your space, where they can multiply in no time at all. There are many effective flea and tick treatments for your yard, be sure to read all the fine print before deciding what you will use.
Many years ago, we experienced a yard infestation. I was constantly washing my dog and cleaning my house, but I didn’t realize that fleas had infested an area of our yard! The fleas would come right back in to the house, hitching a ride on our dog, and on our clothes. I would think we were in the clear and then the whole vicious cycle would start all over again. Brutal!
Defend your pets.
Use some type of flea and tick prevention on your pets. There are SO MANY options on the market. There are also LOTS of opinions on what to use or not use… that’s a blog for another day! I recommend you do your research and talk to your vet to choose what is best for your pet and family.
Take the time to inspect your pets before they enter the house. Ears, armpits , toes, and the underside of dogs and cats are great hiding spots for fleas and ticks. If your pup is the type that can be shaved down in the summer, doing that will help to make spot checking easier. Remember to wash all of your pet’s bedding and toys in hot water regularly. Hot water will kill flea eggs and larvae.
Have a cleaning routine
Having fleas and ticks in your house doesn’t mean your home is dirty. It’s just that once there are in it is difficult to get rid of them. Fleas, in all stages of life, live very comfortably in carpets, so vacuum regularly. If you spot any fleas, vacuum daily!
Now when I say vacuum, I don’t mean a quick once over. Get under the furniture and couch cushions. Pay extra attention to where your dog or cat sleeps or hangs out. Remember to change out the vacuum bag often. If you notice fleas, change the bag every time you vacuum. If you have a non disposable vacuum bag, toss some pieces of a flea collar in it, to kill any fleas that are sucked up. Remember to vacuum your car too!
Honestly, this whole blog has made me itchy! I have been researching all kinds of flea and tick preventatives for the past week or two. I know I have my favorite product. Is there something you are using for your pet that you love? Anything you have tried that you feel was not worth it? I would be happy to hear from you about your findings! Shoot me a text or an email to let me know what you are using and if you are satisfied with it. I can collect the feedback and let you know next month what seems the most popular in our area!
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