Ways to identify and get rid of fleas

If you have a pet at home that you find constantly biting or scratching themselves and it seems to be in discomfort, it may be because of fleas or a skin infection. Before taking them to the vet you can check for the problem if the reason is a flea infestation or not. In case of an infestation, it is prudent to call a professional flea removal service to deal with the existing issue.

Thankfully, human fleas’ infestations are very rare in the country with the use of insecticides and vacuum cleaners. Pets contract fleas from other animals like dogs and cats that might be having an infestation and these invade the property.

Some of the tell-tale signs to confirm is there is a flea infestation in your pet are as follows:

Examine the coat of fur on the pet. If you see any reddish-brown creatures crawling around 2mm in length in all likelihood they are fleas.

Look in specific areas like below the neck, the area where the collar is and the head of a cat. In dogs, check the neck and hindquarters as these are the most common spots where they are active in them.

Check the skin of the pet thoroughly for minute black droppings, that resemble black pepper and are the faeces or flea dirt. One of the easiest ways to detect this is by using a flea comb over a white paper sheet. This makes it much easier to detect the specks of dirt.

Other places to check for flea droppings are on their bedding, rugs or carpets.

Checking for flea eggs:

At times pet owners assume that their homes are free of fleas when it is not the case. The reason is spotting flea eggs is quite tough. While they lay their eggs on the pet’s body these do not remain attached there. They tend to fall off and can get into rugs, in cracks between floorboards, the carpet or bedding. These eggs are minuscule (around 0.5mm) white in colour and oval in shape. Because of their extremely tiny size, they are next to impossible to spot on materials or rough surfaces.

Getting rid of fleas:

Just the very thought of having fleas in the vicinity can be a disconcerting experience. However, having a flea infestation at home is no fault of yours. Fleas are flightless as they have no wings but jump from one surface to another.

Pets at home can catch fleas from other pets or outdoors and carry them home. Furthermore, the pupae may remain dormant and unseen within cracks of the floorboards. After you discover the presence of these pests it is necessary to get rid of them at the earliest before they overrun the property.

Because of their extremely tiny size, they are mostly invisible especially when the larvae are in the process of becoming full-grown fleas. Once an infestation happens it can be more challenging to remove, because they multiply rapidly. Once they have firmly infested any property complete extermination can be quite difficult. For this using a flea removal service in your area is the best option.

After they infect a host, the female flea produces more than 25 eggs daily, that slide off the host animal along with flea dirt. Subject to the prevailing temperature conditions it takes as little as two weeks to develop into mature fleas, which cause flea infestation. When the climate is colder the pupae can take as long as 140 days to mature which makes it all the more difficult to determine if the extermination of the flea infestation has been a success.

If the fleas return frequently or you need total extermination of the pests from your property, get in touch with our pest removal experts. Our technicians are NPTA-UK (National Pest Technicians Association) certified and accredited and have the expertise and experience to get rid of fleas permanently. As they are very well informed about various species of fleas, they will share the most effective solutions to deal with your particular flea infestation issue.

Aim Environmental’s Flea Control service offers a multi-pronged approach to deal with the infestation subject to its severity. Among the different processes, we also use a method of Insect Growth Regulator (IGR) and killer concentrate sprayed on carpets and crevices to prevent the proliferation of fleas and to kill the adults and their larvae.

However, despite our Flea Control process’ effectiveness, you must have your pets treated for any flea infestation they might have on their body. Unless this is done the risk of fleas reinfesting your property are very high.

Once the Flea control treatment is carried out, we offer an option for regular maintenance to monitor the property regularly, to detect if there is any recurrence of fleas in the area.

Useful tips to rid any home of fleas

There are certain DIY steps you can take to remove fleas from your premises, business or home. If you rent your property it’s worth confirming who is responsible for pest control when renting. For DIY treatments This would be more effective if you notice the problem in the early stages. Here are some ways to keep your property free of fleas:

The first step is to thoroughly vacuum the area that includes cracks and crevices in the floorboards, furnishings and carpets and anything upholstered. This helps to remove the adult fleas as well any larvae and eggs. The larvae feed on flea faeces along with organic matter. This accumulates in rugs, upholstery and carpets. Destroying the food source is critical to disrupt the proliferation of fleas.

After vacuuming, empty the dust attachment carefully away from the property as there will be live fleas.

Wash the beds on which the pets sleep every week (minimum 50°c) and groom them regularly. For this employ a flea comb and focus on their back, neck and hindquarters.

If you notice them scratching their fur consult your vet for the best treatments for them.

While there are a plethora of DIY steps including flea spray, these provide temporary relief and do not deal with the root of the issue. Some of the reasons why DIY are not the best solutions are:

Treating the root cause: Unless and until the root cause is treated, it will only provide temporary relief and the infestation will not be cured.

An increase in infestation: If you do not solve the issue from the root, the larvae might spread to other areas of the property and lead to a rise of infestation.

Not very effective: Certain products are not guaranteed to exterminate flea infestation issues because the chemical concentration in them is diluted.

Safety risk: There also are safety issues with the aerosol fumes that may be inhaled and can prove to be hazardous to health.

In case, you notice a large-scale flea infestation in your home or business, call Aim Environmental on 01902 475175 to enquire about a flea removal service at the earliest to handle the problem professionally.