Getting Through Pest Season

Warm weather brings out the best of the countryside. Beautiful tree-covered terrain, bountiful vegetable and flower gardens, blooming pastureland and tons of fleas and ticks to attack.

These pesky bugs are not only an itchy annoyance, but also a potential danger to us and our pets.

Fleas and ticks can cause a variety of skin problems from rashes to allergic skin reactions, but they also can transmit many different infectious organisms. Lyme disease, Babesiosis and tapeworms are just a few of many dangerous diseases that are transmitted by these warm weather pests to both our dog and cat companions.

To prevent them from inhabiting our pets, garden or house, we first need to understand the life cycle of fleas and ticks. Bear with this scientific part, because it will help explain how to control and prevent an infestation. The flea life cycle is well-known and much easier to control as almost all of the life of an adult flea is spent on the pet.

When they find a host, fleas feed, mate, and within one or two days, will start laying eggs that can number in the thousands over their lifetime. These slippery eggs fall off the pet and land in the carpet, outdoors, on beds or anywhere the pet lays down. These eggs can lay dormant in a cocoon state for up to six months before the weather is right for them to mature into adults, which starts the cycle all over again.

It is important to realise that if a mature flea is found on a pet, most likely it is not from another animal, but from a developed egg that was laid weeks to months ago in the environment. Therefore, treating a pet one time does not solve a flea problem; continual treatment for months is needed to break the life cycle.

Ticks, on the other hand, are tricky in their life cycle. They use two or three different animal hosts (including wildlife) on which to feed and mate, then lay their eggs out in the environment making it difficult to control their reproduction.

Fortunately, there are many ways to help prevent an infestation that can occur as spring changes to hot and humid summer. Three areas to concentrate on are your house, your pet and the environment.

Flea and tick treatments have seen the greatest improvements in the last 20 years. Gone are the days of dips, collars and sprays with toxic chemicals. Topical spot-on treatments are the latest and greatest advancement in flea and tick control.

There are many options available; some products are over-the-counter and some are prescription. Read labels closely, especially on over-the-counter products, because some use the same toxic ingredients such as pyrethrins or permethrins used 20 years ago and are not safe for young animals (and even potentially fatal to cats). A call to your vet can help with any questions or concerns. For good or bad, the old adage "you get what you pay for" certainly applies here.

Even with the modern flea and tick medications available today, treating the house and the environment also may be necessary for a severe infestation. You can do this yourself with bombs or aerosol foggers, or professionally from a local pest control company. Know all precautions to protect yourself and your pet.

Today, many people are using natural pest control for earth-friendly reasons or because they or their pets are chemically sensitive. Some shampoos, sprays and medications contain mild botanical ingredients such as citronella, eucalyptus and garlic to repel these pests. These are rarely effective in an infested area, but are nonetheless safe for pets.

There are, however, some steps that are safe, inexpensive and natural to help keep fleas and ticks at bay. Daily vacuuming of the carpet and furniture where your pet sleeps and washing the bedding and area rugs at least twice weekly will help control the pests in your house.

Also, daily "tick checks" and the use of a flea comb everyday will not only help reduce the number of fleas and ticks on your pet, but is great "family time" to bond with your four-legged family member.

Article provided by SDA Pest Control