General Pest Frequently Asked Questions

Safeguarding your home from flea infestations, particularly when you have pets, requires a comprehensive strategy that includes consistent pet care and meticulous environmental management. Regularly groom and treat your pets with veterinarian-approved flea prevention products to prevent them from becoming hosts to these pests. Frequent washing of pet bedding, blankets, and toys can help eliminate any eggs or larvae. Regularly vacuum your home, focusing on areas where your pets spend time, to remove adult fleas and their eggs. Wash your pet's sleeping areas in hot water and keep your home's humidity levels under control as fleas thrive in humid conditions. By combining these measures, you can significantly reduce the risk of flea infestations in your home.

Fleas present multiple health risks to people and pets. Fleas transmit several diseases affecting humans, including bubonic plague, murine typhus, tularemia, Cat Scratch Disease, and tungiasis. Young children are at risk of ingesting fleas when they play in areas used by pets and can suffer from tapeworms. Pets suffer greatly from flea-borne diseases and reactions to their bites. The most common problem is itchy skin caused by allergic dermatitis reactions to flea saliva. When dogs and cats scratch bites, further swelling, irritation, and painful infections can result. Fleas also transmit Bartonella, a potentially dangerous feline disease. Pets who bite and lick at fleas ingest them, which in turn causes tapeworms in their digestive tract.

Fleas are versatile parasites that can infest many animals, including dogs, cats, rabbits, rodents, and even birds. However, they are most commonly associated with domestic pets like dogs and cats. Different species of fleas prefer specific animals as hosts, but the cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis) is responsible for the majority of flea infestations in homes and on pets.

While fleas do bite humans, they do not typically live on them. Human skin does not provide the right conditions for fleas to thrive, as they prefer the fur and feathers of their animal hosts for better grip and protection. However, in the absence of their preferred hosts, fleas can and will bite humans, which can lead to irritation and allergies.

The lifespan of a flea depends on several factors, including their environment and access to a host. On average, a flea can live between a few weeks to several months. Fleas can survive for about two to three months without a host, but females must have a blood meal to reproduce.

Fleas are not just a nuisance; they can pose health risks to both animals and humans. They can transmit diseases like murine typhus, and they are intermediate hosts for tapeworms, which can infect both pets and humans. Additionally, flea bites can lead to severe allergic reactions in both animals and humans known as flea allergy dermatitis.

Effective flea control involves treating both the affected animals and their environment. Pets should be treated with flea prevention products that might include topical treatments, oral medications, or flea collars. Environmental treatment involves thorough cleaning of bedding, vacuuming carpets and furniture, and professional pest control to eliminate fleas at all life stages.