So here's the scoop. Fleas first.
- Fleas can live ANYWHERE! Including your mattress - yes, just like bedbugs these little critters can live where you least would like them to. Furniture is a really good infestation spot, with lots of hiding places and lots to eat! They can hide really well and are so fast you generally never see them until you start seeing your pets scratch and you itch yourself from the little buggy bites!
- Your carpet is a breeding ground, and fleas LOVE the inside of your vacuum bags because there is so much to eat and they are not bothered very often. Fleas can also live under your baseboards if you have tile, hardwood, or linoleum flooring. It doesn't take much space for these tiny inhabitants.
- If you see one flea you can rest assured there are a hundred others that you can't see! Fleas may have short life spans, but they are very prolific! And fleas can exist and be prolific even if they are not on a host mammal, so if you have them in one place in your house it does not mean that they are not everywhere - even in places you and your pets don't go.
- You cannot get rid of a flea infestation with one round of flea control - whether it is a house bomb, carpet treatment, or treating your dogs and cats with a topical pesticide. You can only eliminate whatever fleas you treat, but the others are just out there waiting for you to stop treatment. Flea control is a year-round monthly proposition if you want to do it effectively and keep your home safe from these intruders.
- Buying cheap, ineffective products is a sure fire way to keep the invaders in your home. Not all preventatives and pesticides are created equal, so you need to find out what products are working the most effectively in your area. Some products can even be harmful to your pets by damaging kidneys and other organs.
- Did you know the Bubonic Plague that killed so many people in the 14th century (and killed 25 MILLION people) was spread by rats that carried fleas from victim to victim? It was spread by the FLEAS that were ON the rats. Hence, the more fleas carrying on about their cycles, the more chance for the spread of serious disease.
- Best bet is to call your veterinarian and see what they recommend for your area. The best veterinarians will have a well-trained staff that can assist you with the ins and outs of flea control. If not it is best to find a veterinarian who cares enough to train their employees!
- Did you know that ticks can climb trees and fall on you? If you protect your feet and legs you are only fighting half the battle. Ticks can be riding on leaves until you get there and swipe against them, then transfer themselves to you and your clothing. Not all ticks have to climb up to ride!
- Unlike fleas, ticks have to have a host to continue their cycle of aggravation. That is why the most ticks are found where the highest population of mammals is. They stick (bite), engorge, reproduce, and fall off while traveling all sorts of roads and paths right along with their host. Dogs and cats can be hosts, but you have to remember that generally you and your pets are not the only inhabitants of your special piece of Earth. Squirrels, rabbits, deer, stray (and neighbors') cats and dogs can all carry ticks to the destination of your yard. The ticks fall off and find a new host on you or your pets, and the cycle continues and repeats - again and again and again...
- Ticks carry diseases like Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Lyme Disease. The best bet is to not take chances with yourself or your pets. The diseases they carry can be very debilitating, if not fatal if left untreated. The more populated we get on this earth the more likely of the spread of disease by these critters due to the lack of mammal habitat.
- Treat all animals (inside or out) , treat your yard and surrounding areas, treat EVERYWHERE in your house, all with quality products that will be effective in your battle
- Maintain a monthly preventative on ALL your animals, whether inside or out - to prevent reinfestation - and make sure to use a GUARANTEED, high quality product that will not harm your pets - and CONTINUE year-round! (Fleas do not "die out" in the wintertime - remember they can live inside your house, or in your attic, crawlspace, or foundation - just as cozy and warm as you are!)
- Vacuum often (and get rid of the bag if you have had any fleas in the past), treat your furniture - don't forget the mattresses - with safe and recommended products, and treat your porches, garages, and steps leading into your house.
