Local Flea Treatment

Spotting a flea infestation is the crucial first step in getting rid of them quickly. There are a few clear signs that fleas have invaded your home and pets' fur.

1. Constant scratching.
   The most likely sign of a flea infestation is your pet scratching itself. Flea bites are itchy. They will cause dogs and cats to bite at and scratch the bite. Fleas will bite in certain areas more than others. So watch out for excessive scratching at the neck and back of the head.
2. White sock test.
   Put on some white, high socks and walk around. Your best bet is to do this test on the carpet. Shuffle your feet a bit to rustle up the fleas. After about ten minutes, take off your socks and look for fleas. If there are fleas on your socks, you need to start flea removal immediately.
3. Flea dirt.
   Flea dirt is another name for flea feces. It looks like reddish-brown dirt. You may be able to notice it on floors or your pet's skin. If you notice unmoving specks, pick up a few with paper. Hit the specks with a drop of water. If they turn reddish-brown, they are likely flea dirt.
4. Flea bites.
   Humans can get bit by fleas too. Their bites will be small and red. Some pets and people are allergic to flea bites, so the bite area will become irritated.

Fleas are a very efficient parasite. They can be hard to get rid of once your pet brings them inside. The following steps can help you get rid of your flea problem once and for all.

1. Vacuum and carpet clean.
   Flea eggs and larvae can be anywhere. They are very likely to continue your flea infestation. The best way to break the cycle is to kill and remove all signs of fleas.
2. Wash everything you can in extremely hot water.
   Just as vacuuming and carpet cleaning helps kill flea eggs and larvae, so does washing everything in hot water. You will want to focus on your pet's bedding and toys. Then wash any fabric item that has been exposed to fleas. That could include your bedclothes, clothing, and upholstery.
3. Contact flea removal services.
   The top way to ensure all fleas are removed from your home is to contact a professional exterminator. It can be hard to find the best one in your location. That is where GoLocal Pest Control can help. We will help you find the top exterminator in your area. Visit our site today to learn more.

You likely have fleas because of one reason, your animals. Fleas can hop a surprising distance for their body size. They can easily get on your pet's fur from infected grass or dirty, or even other pets. Most often they will stay on your pet's underbelly, which makes them hard to find.

Fleas hitch a ride into your home on your pet. Once inside they may jump off and hide in furniture, floor cracks, or bedding. Fleas are a very resilient pest and can be hard to completely kill once they get in your home. Finding the infestation quickly is the best way to control the situation.

Another thing to keep in mind is that fleas are likely to be worse during the summer. They prefer to breed in warm, moist environments. Thus, hot summer days are more likely to see flea issues than cold winter days. Summer is the time to protect yourself and your pet from a flea infestation.

The first step in flea prevention is protecting your pet. Because fleas are most likely to come into your home on your pet, you want to make your animal less appealing.

You can now get flea and tick prevention from your vet or at any pet store. This gel is applied to your pet's skin on their shoulder blades. It protects your pet from fleas for up to a month. Be careful about washing your pet during this time, however. The flea and tick medication can be washed off unless the bottle specifically claims otherwise.

Since fleas are worse during the summer, you can just use the flea and tick prevention during the season. It will not harm your pet to use it all year, though.

Other ways to prevent fleas include the following.

1. Sweep and vacuum often.
   This is especially important if you've hard a flea infestation in the past. Regular vacuuming will get rid of any flea eggs or larvae.
2. Clean all bedding, including your pets, regularly.
   As with vacuuming, regularly cleaning you and your pet's bedding can help keep fleas at bay. Drying the bedding on the hottest setting is also a good idea.
3. Contact a flea removal company.
   Fleas can be hard to completely remove from a home. If you want to ensure they are gone for good, you need to hire a good exterminator. The best options for your area can be found through GoLocal Pest Control. Contact us today to learn how we can help you prevent a flea situation.

First, it is important to know how many flea species there are in the world and the United States. Only a fraction of these will bite pets or humans. However, the more knowledge you have about flea species in general, the better prepared you will be.

There are about 2,500 flea species in the world. About 325 of these are found in the United States and Canada. Of these 325, only 22 will bite humans. Most of the flea species that bite humans will also attack dogs and cats.

Twenty-two may seem like a huge number. But there are only a few flea species that are commonly found on dogs, cats, and humans. These are dog fleas, cat fleas, and human fleas. The colloquial names are very convenient. They make it clear what types of prey these parasites prefer. We will describe the appearance of each of these three species below.

As mentioned above, there are three types of fleas most commonly found biting pets and humans. These are the dog flea, cat flea, and human flea. All fleas have a similar appearance. However, we will describe each below so you will be able to recognize them the next time you encounter one on your pet.

1. Dog Flea:
   This type of flea is dark brown. It is extremely small, only 1-2mm, and flat. They typically live for 7-14 days. However, in that time a female can lay 280-560 eggs. The dog flea will feed off of a dog or cat. They will also occasionally bite humans.
2. Cat Flea:
   The cat flea will most often feed off of the domestic cat. However, they will also feed off of dogs and humans if presented the opportunity. They are 1-2mm in length and flat. They are red-brown in color. Females with eggs appear brown with cream stripes.
3. Human Flea:
   Human fleas are also called house fleas. They are between 1.5-4mm in length and flat. They are typically dark brown and do not have wings. Human flea adults have rounded heads.

You don't want any fleas near you or your pets. They can transmit a variety of diseases. These include the plague, typhus, and tularemia. To keep yourself and your pets safe, it is important to keep fleas out of your home and yard. Consult the experts recommended to you by GoLocal Pest Control. We can help you find the best flea removal services in your area. Just put your zip code into our database and you will receive a wealth of results. Contact us today to learn more.

Fleas are an extremely common pest. If you have pets that go outdoors, you are even more likely to deal with a flea problem at some point. However, fleas will also jump on humans. Even without pets, you could have a flea problem.

The number of exterminators that treat fleas may seem to be a good thing. You have a lot of options to choose from. However, you will also have to weed out the good companies from the less good companies. Make sure to ask the following questions as you interview each potential flea exterminator.

1. What is your experience handling flea infestations?
2. When did you last treat a flea infestation?
3. What was the worse flea infestation you've ever seen?
4. How will you treat my flea problem?
5. How long will it take to see results?
6. What is the chance that the fleas will return?

The answers you get to these questions will let you know how comfortable the company is treating fleas. They should also give you a good sense of the flea treatment process.

When you hire a flea exterminator, the first thing they will want to do is send a technician to assess the situation. This initial inspection is often free. The technician will determine what type of fleas are in your home and yard and the severity of the infestation. They may also look for ways the fleas got in your home.

Once the initial inspection is over, the technician will give you a quote. When you accept the quote, it is time for the treatment to begin. You will likely need to leave your home. The exterminator could use a chemical treatment or a heat treatment.

1. Heat treatment:
   This is a non-toxic way to stop your flea infestation. In this treatment, the technician will heat the areas of your home affected by fleas to around 50-degrees Celsius, which kills all fleas, eggs, and larvae.
2. Chemical treatment:
   Often the exterminator will use the chemical option. This treatment involves the use of a chemical insecticide that is applied via fogger or spray. The chemicals are applied to all your home's surfaces and left for a few weeks.

Your technician will be able to tell you which treatment their company prefers.

The best place to look for a good exterminator is in your local area. They will provide the specialized services missing from big, national companies. For a list of the best exterminators in your area, check out GoLocal Pest Control.