That time of year is always here. Warm weather, sunshine…and fleas. While other parts of the country get some reprieve from flea season in the way of cold and snow, here in Florida we face a year round battle with the uninvited guests our furry friends bring into the house.
Health Risks Associated With Fleas
Not only are fleas a nuisance, they’re capable of causing some health issues. These can include:
- Infection – Flea bites are itchy, for both animals and people. The scratching can lead to infection.
- Disease – While cases in the United States are rare, fleas can carry and transmit the Bubonic plague. They can also transmit Bartonella and Rickettsia.
- Allergic reaction – Flea bites are a cause for some animals of an allergic reaction, known as flea allergy dermatitis.
- Other parasites – It is possible for fleas to spread tapeworms to animals and people.
Fortunately, flea infestations for most won’t result in illness. However, the flea bites are painful, itchy, and irritating. They even stand in the way of normal day-to-day life. It’s hard to have company over or go anywhere without concern that the problem will spread.
How To Treat For Fleas
Fleas are not impossible to get rid of, but it is a challenge and requires determination. Here a few things you can do to combat your flea problem:
- Bathe your pets – Give your pets a bath and wash them with a shampoo specially formulated to kill fleas.
- Treat your pets – Flea treatments are available at the store or through your veterinarian, administered orally or topically.
- Vacuum – This step is crucial in eliminating the live fleas in your home. You will likely have to move furniture and repeat this process every couple of days for a few weeks before you see improvement. Due to the life cycle of fleas, new ones will hatch and more vacuuming will be necessary.
- Wash bedding – If your flea infestation is mild, you can wash your pets bedding. For more serious infestations, it’s best to dispose of it. Wash your own bedding as well.
Unfortunately, these methods are not always enough. At some point, chemical treatments might become necessary. Because pesticides carry risks to both pets and people, it’s best to reach out for help.
When flea treatments for your pets aren’t doing the job and you’ve vacuumed and laundered to no avail, it’s probably time to contact the professionals at Consolidated Pest Control. Reliable and professional, we can help you get rid of fleas.
