There is nothing worse than a flea infestation! Once they get inside the house and start biting it seems to become a never-ending battle trying to get rid of them! If you have pets, they will start scratching all day long, causing their skin to become raw and irritated. You will start to see them jumping around your home, and not only around dog bed areas but on furniture and even on your bed! That’s when they will start biting your legs and ankles and make you start itching all day long too. Talk about a nightmare!
When not infesting homes, fleas live outdoors where they travel from place to place on wild animals. Once transported, they will hide and wait in the dirt, grass, and wooded areas where people and pets will pick them up. These tiny pests will climb onto your pet or your clothing and be brought right into your home. They will then jump off into other areas of your home where they will lay their eggs. Indoors, flea eggs can usually be found on their host, mainly cats and dogs but can also be found on carpets and bedding and in cracks and crevices of wood.
You may have difficulty finding fleas in your home as they are pretty small, only growing up to ⅙ an inch in length. These pests are reddish-brown in color, and have long, powerful legs that allow them up to 8 inches vertically in one jump! When indoors, fleas can reproduce all year long on their host; when outdoors, they can only reproduce during warm, humid weather in order for them to be able to develop.
Fleas are parasites, so they need to feed on the blood of warm-blooded mammals in order to survive. While feeding, however, these pests can transmit diseases to your pets, including tapeworm. If you or your pet has sensitive skin, these bites also present the risk of an allergic reaction that may cause dermatitis. In the case of a severe flea infestation, pets can become anemic due to severe blood loss.
To avoid fleas this summer, follow these helpful tips:
Treat pets with veterinarian-approved flea treatments
Wash pet bedding on a regular basis
Keep pets off beds and furniture
Vacuum carpets regularly
Do not invite wild animals to eat on your property
Carefully inspect, vacuum, and clean any used carpets and furniture you have purchased right away
If, after following these prevention tips, you still experience a flea infestation, give us a call at Quik-Kill Pest Eliminators in Bettendorf and the Quad-Cities to find out more about our residential pest control options in Bettendorf and see how we can help rid your home of fleas!