Nothing makes your pets happier than letting them outside to play. While you may think your fenced-in backyard is safe for your pet, there are hidden dangers that you cannot see with the naked eye. I’m talking, of course, about fleas. Fleas are tiny bloodsucking insects that live outside where they wait for warm-blooded animals to walk by. Usually, that animal is our pets who unknowingly brings these pests into our home.

Signs of A Flea Infestation

Once in your home, fleas can cause your cat or dog a lot of pain and discomfort. They can also jump off their hosts and disperse throughout the rest of your home where they breed and multiply. A female flea produces around 2,000 eggs in her lifetime which can quickly escalate into an infestation. That’s why it is vital to know the signs of a flea infestation so you can take action before the situation gets out of control.

Scratching

All pets scratch from time to time, but if you notice them doing it more often, then you should check them for fleas.

Hair Loss

Sudden hair loss could be a sign your dog or cat is scratching and biting too much. This is a sign they are being bothered by fleas.

Welts

Fleas don’t just bite pets. They can also bite humans when there’s an infestation in the home. Red welts can appear on your feet and ankles where fleas bite. Check your pets skin for welts or rashes.

Pale Gums

If you think your pet is suffering from a flea infestation, then check their gums. Pale gums are a sign of low red blood cells which is caused by too many fleas feeding on them. If your pet has pale gums, get them to a vet quickly.

Flea Dirt

Flea dirt is flea feces that can be found on pets or around your home. It often has a reddish, brown or black hue due to digested blood.

Flea Eggs In Carpet

When fleas enter your home on your pets, they can jump off and hide in carpet or furniture. You can check for eggs by putting on gloves and running your hand through the carpet fibers. If any white eggs are stuck to the glove then you have a serious flea infestation.

Dangers of Fleas

Fleas may be small and seem harmless, but the reality is they are potentially dangerous pests that pose a threat to your pets and family. The biggest danger these small insects pose is the diseases and parasites they carry which can cause:

Bubonic plague
Murine typhus
Tularemia
Tungiasis
Allergies
Tape Worms

How to Control Fleas

Fleas can be real pain once they get inside your home and start to multiply. It might seem like an uphill battle but with determination and persistent cleaning, you can control the flea population and eventually eliminate it.

Keep Pets Away From Problem Areas: Fleas like to hide in tall grass and shady areas of your yard. This includes under trees, bushes, porches, and decks. These are also places that pets like to spend their time. To prevent fleas from accessing your pets and entering your home, block off high-risk areas with a fence or barricade.

Remove Fleas From Pets: Use a flea comb to comb the fleas out of your pet at least once a day. You will notice live and dead fleas in the comb, and they will try to escape if you aren’t careful. Be sure to have a glass of hot soapy water on hand to dunk the comb and kill live fleas.

Vacuum Often: The best way to battle fleas is to sweep and vacuum your house as much as possible. Daily vacuuming will greatly reduce the amount of fleas in your home.

Spray Insecticides: There are many brands of flea spray out there and they all work pretty good. Apply flea spray to your carpet and furniture to kill off any fleas that didn’t get sucked up in the vacuum.

Hire a Professional Exterminator

Fighting fleas can be exhausting and time consuming. If you want to get rid of fleas fast, then you should call a professional flea exterminator. Sandwich Isle Pest Solutions has been providing exceptional pest control services to Honolulu customers for over 50 years. Don’t let fleas overtake your residential or commercial property. Reach out to Sandwich Isle Pest Solutions control today for an appointment. Call us at 808-456-7716 or leave us a message on our site.