Fleas and Ticks: Protect Your Pet

When it comes to pests, protecting your pet is a must. If our furry friends are being bugged by ticks and fleas, they can’t exactly tell us that something is wrong. That’s why the most important step in pet pest defense is prevention. By stopping the insects before they get into your pet’s fur, you can save yourself a whole lot of time and trouble.

According to the ASPCA, fleas and ticks are two of the most frequent pet care concerns in America. Fleas are the most common external parasite to plague our pets, and flea removal can be particularly tricky (especially because these tiny bugs can jump up to two feet high and are prevalent in most environments). Ticks are especially hard to notice, and their bites come with a cost – they can transmit several diseases through a single chomp.

With flea and tick season ramping up, we’re helping you get prepared with these simple home pest defense tips to keep your companion safe.

• Check your pet when they come in. If your pet has been outside for an extended period of time, inspect their fur and check in less obvious spots, such as behind the ears. The quicker you remove a tick, the less likely your pet will contract a secondary illness from it. Tweezers are your best bet for removing ticks by yourself.
• Comb your dog or cat’s fur at least once a day. Look carefully around the area you’re brushing, as this is the best way to spot a possible flea or tick problem.
• Vacuuming your home regularly is another prevention step you can take. Even on bare floors, these pests can still find somewhere to inhabit – make sure that it isn’t inside your home! Tip: take trash bins and bags to a trashcan outside of the home immediately after vacuuming.
• Wash your pet’s bedding regularly in warm water and dry on high heat. This might be one of the best ways to ensure that your pet’s rest area not only smells great, but hasn’t become a home to fleas and ticks.
• Frequently bathing your pet can reduce the probability they will attract pests and, of course, makes them smell great too. Warm water also soothes skin irritations, making pets less itchy.
• Yard maintenance helps keep fleas and ticks off your property. Mowing the lawn and clearing your yard of leaves, weeds, branches, and debris is useful to prevent problems with many types of pests. Beware – often after clearing a yard, flea colonies spread all over and become active. Call a professional if debris has been in the same place for long periods of time.

For more information about our pest control service or if you need help with a pest problem, go to www.pestdefense.com or call 855-855-4873.