Fleas are a huge nuisance and present health risk to humans and pets alike. In this blog, we want to discuss the risks factors of having a flea infestation and some of the most common mistakes homeowners make that allow fleas to gain access to their home.
Fleas are known to cause allergic reactions, and transmit diseases, and cause health problems such as allergic dermatitis, secondary infections, and tapeworm. Dermatitis is a localized allergic reaction that causes itching and a secondary infection if the skin is broken. Tapeworm is an infection that is spread through flea feces and is a more serious issue; symptoms of tapeworm include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and intestinal inflammation. These parasitic pests can also cause allergic reactions in both pets and humans and transmit diseases like murine typhus and even the plague!
Fleas can live up to two weeks without a host to feed on, but in ideal situations some fleas can live up to one year. .Many people believe that by getting rid of pets in their home, they will get instant relief from fleas, but this is not the case. Without your pets to feed on, the fleas will either go dormant or feed on you and your family members more readily; either way, you will still have to deal with the flea infestation! Another common misconception about fleas is that these parasitic pests only invade homes with pets, but this is not true either! Fleas can jump into your home through an open door or hitch a ride in on invading rodents such as mice, rats, or squirrels.
The most common way for fleas to enter your home, however, is on your pets; your pets pick up fleas while outdoors and carry them indoors on their fur when they come back indoors. To prevent your pets from carrying fleas into your home, treat your cats and dogs with the appropriate, veterinarian-approved flea medication for effective protection against these parasitic pests.
It is also a good idea to wash all animal bedding on a regular basis, preferably with hot water, and dry it on a high-heat setting, clean pet areas frequently, and vacuum carpets and furniture regularly, removing the vacuum bags used and throwing them out. To eliminate any flea harborage on your property, mow your lawn or a regular basis in order to keep your grass cut short and seal off any crawl spaces under your home or deck where fleas may be lurking. It is also a good idea to take measures to deter wildlife from your yard, as they often carry fleas.
Fleas are notorious for being extremely difficult to treat; oftentimes, people use flea bomb after flea bomb with little to no success! For the most effective treatment for fleas and guaranteed exclusion, you will need to enlist the help of a professional responsive pest control provider.
Viking Pest Control offers excellent service in the following county areas in New Jersey: Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Passaic, Morris, and Union. We are known for our certified professionalism and customer-satisfaction guarantee and take pride in our ability to help our customers with all of their pest problems! At Viking Pest, we offer a customized flea control program to meet the needs of each individual home in order to completely eradicate all fleas at all stages of development and give you the peace of mind knowing that your flea problem has been solved! Contact us at 800-618-2847 for all of your flea and pest control needs, or request a fast, free flea control quote online today!