Fleas are more than just a nuisance – these tiny parasites can make your house or yard their new home and create an absolute nightmare for you, your pets, and your loved ones. Aggressive breeding habits, incredible jumping ability, and extreme discomfort they cause are only the beginning. Fleas can have some serious health risks for your furry friends as well as your children and family members.
At Steel City Pest, we know fleas all too well and are determined to help you get rid of them quickly and efficiently. Because these critters love warm, humid places as much as Alabama, flea populations can rise and become out of control overnight if you do not take timely actions.
In this comprehensive article, we will discuss what makes fleas such a problem and how to identify them. We will also show you how to get rid of these pests with reliable pest control and prevention methods.
What are Fleas?
Fleas are small, wingless, and four-legged insects with flat bodies and long legs. These features give fleas amazing jumping ability for such a small insect. Fleas are small in size; most of them are 1/8 of an inch at the maximum. However, they can jump up to 7 inches vertically and 13 inches horizontally. This is also a huge advantage of fleas when it comes to spreading quickly all over the house.
They are parasites which feed on warm-blooded animals’ blood, and their favorite blood meal sources are usually cats, dogs, and humans. Flea bites are very irritating, and itching is an obvious sign of flea bites. Apart from the discomfort, flea-borne typhus, tapeworm infection, and rare plague cases can occur.
Signs of Flea Infestation
In order to get rid of fleas on your property, it is essential to identify a flea infestation first. Otherwise, the population can increase fast. The signs that are most commonly used to identify fleas are:
- Pets are excessively scratching themselves around tail, belly, neck, and other parts of the body.
- Fleas can be visible on the carpets, pet’s fur, or other furniture. They are small brown insects.
- Flea dirt which consists of small black specs (flea’s dried blood) can be visible on the bedding or the pet’s coat.
- Red itchy bites on the human skin that are usually grouped in one spot, ankles or lower legs, for example.
- Pale gums in the pets may indicate flea anemia.
If you notice at least one of the signs, you must react immediately. It is because even one flea can turn into hundreds in just a couple of weeks if the problem is not treated.
Why are Fleas So Hard to Get Rid Of?
A flea population is not easy to control and eliminate for several reasons. First of all, fleas can produce four stages of life: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. This means that in order to get rid of these pests, you need to kill them in all four stages and keep on doing it.
Eggs are usually laid on the host animals and fall on the carpets, bedding, and cracks on the floor. Then, the larvae hide in fabrics and deep in the cracks and crevices where they find enough organic debris to feed on. Pupae can be laid in wait for weeks or even months, which is a problem as well. Last but not least, the adult fleas feed aggressively and reproduce each other really quickly.
As you can see, the only way to eliminate this infestation is by following the correct process and not only killing the fleas but also their eggs and larvae.
How to Get Rid of Fleas
An effective way to eliminate fleas is to follow the most appropriate pest control steps for both your pets and your property. Here are some of them:
1. Treatment of Pets
Pets are the main target for fleas, so they need to be treated first.
- Prescription flea preventatives should be used, which are approved by a veterinarian. They can be topical treatments, oral medications, or flea collars.
- Pets need to be bathed with special flea shampoo to kill the existing fleas and calm their skin.
- Pets should be combed with a flea comb daily. This is an effective way of physically removing fleas and eggs from their coat.
2. Cleaning the Property
Fleas can breed indoors if the property is not cleaned in time.
- Vacuum carpets, rugs, and furniture on a daily basis, focusing on the pet’s resting areas. Vacuum bags should be immediately thrown away.
- Wash bedding, blankets, rugs in hot water to kill flea eggs and larvae.
- Steam clean carpets and upholstery as it is an effective way to target the hidden infestation.
- Spray or sprinkle flea sprays or powders with insect growth regulators that prevent fleas from developing.
3. Fleas in the Yard
The shaded, damp areas are also the best places for fleas to hide outside.
- Mow the lawn and get rid of any other leaves or unnecessary debris.
- Spray outdoor flea treatment in shaded areas, on porches, decks, and dog runs.
- Spray the areas around bushes or fences where pets usually spend much time.
4. Professional Pest Control Companies
The only additional thing that DIY process can do is to call the professionals. When choosing Steel City Pest, you will get:
- Inspection of the home and the yard;
- Application of eco-friendly flea treatment;
- Follow-up visits to ensure fleas are completely gone from your home;
- Recommendations of the best ways to prevent fleas from returning;
Health Risks Associated with Fleas
Fleas can not only be a nuisance for you and your pets but also have various health risks:
- Flea allergy dermatitis (FAD) – severe allergic reaction to flea saliva in pets.
- Anemia in pets that is usually a result of heavy flea infestation and significant blood loss.
- Tapeworms which can be spread to pets when they swallow infected fleas during the grooming process.
- Rare cases of diseases, such as bubonic plague and murine typhus, which fleas can transmit from rodents.
The only way to protect your family and pets is to provide early intervention and continuous prevention.
Preventing Fleas from Coming Back
The first step to preventing fleas from coming back to your house or yard is to take away fleas from it. The next steps are:
- Use flea preventatives on pets all year round. They should be prescribed by a veterinarian.
- Vacuum and clean the carpets and furniture on a regular basis to remove eggs and larvae.
- Inspect your pets after they have spent some time outdoors, especially in wooded or grassy areas.
- Schedule regular pest control services for your home and yard.
Why Steel City Pest for Flea Control?
When it comes to fleas, Steel City Pest knows them very well and has successfully helped to get rid of them in all stages of their lifecycle. We customize every treatment plan for each customer individually in a way that it will fit their home, pets, and level of flea infestation. Some of the qualities that make us the best in this business are:
- Local knowledge in Birmingham and other communities in Alabama;
- Family- and pet-safe flea treatment;
- Cost-efficient, long-lasting flea removal solutions;
- Friendly, reliable service that puts your comfort first and last.
We are not only here to eliminate fleas on your property but also to make sure that they will never come back again.
Conclusion
Fleas may be small and easy to miss, but the problems they cause are real and unpleasant. Constant itching, sleepless nights, health risks – fleas can make your home and your family’s life more difficult. The good news is that with the right combination of pet care, regular cleaning, and reliable flea control, you can keep your home flea-free.
Do not let an infestation spiral out of control – take action immediately. Contact Steel City Pest today to schedule a home inspection or flea treatment and let us help you restore your comfort and your pets’ health.
