Flea Season

PLEASE READ THIS…..at Trinity Pest Management, our goal is to provide you the highest level of satisfaction in every service we provide. We strongly urge you to consult your veterinarian on products available to you for use on your pets. It is imperative that all animals be treated in accordance with label directions to help us eliminate your flea infestation. We do not treat animals and cannot guarantee our service if they are not treated in conjunction with our service. There are many effective products on the market to choose from.

ITS FLEA SEASON IN NORTH TEXAS !!

Dogs and cats are at risk of getting fleas in north Texas on a year round basis, but we are fast approaching the most important time to stop, or prevent, a serious problem.. In our area, flea infestations usually get started in the summertime, after pets come in contact with infested pets or after they walk in areas where infested animals have spent time like parks, or even at the vet‘s office. In the U.S., the most common flea species carried by both cats and dogs is the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis. Compared with other flea species, the cat flea has a very wide host range. Wild animals carrying cat fleas include raccoons, opossum, skunks and foxes. How many of us have turned on the backyard light only to find a opossum in the yard?

Sometimes petless families have to deal with fleas after a visit to the pet store or after the kids have played with a neighborhood dog or cat. A flea infestation may result, after a flea infested wild animal, like a raccoon takes up residence in a chimney or crawlspace.
Fleas are small, dark brown insects whose bodies are hardened and compressed from side to side. Fleas do not fly, but have strong hind legs which they use to jump from host to host.

Flea bites are extremely irritating to pets and to humans. Large infestations or extreme sensitivity may result in intense itching and weight loss. Fleas have been known to transmit diseases, too. Fleas on cats and dogs are the intermediate host for tapeworms, which infests dogs, cats and sometimes, humans.
Because fleas do not spend their entire life on their host animal, they are nearly always associated with animals that regularly return to the same nesting sites.
Over the last 10 years, the number of flea infestations decreased, due to the use of effective animal care products that kill adult fleas on the animal. But, extension entomologists and pest control professionals have seen an increased number of flea infestations in the last few years. Experts do not understand the reasons for this increase. Some people believe cat fleas may be developing resistance to the pet-care products, but this has not been verified.

Flea Life Cycle….
In order to understand all the control steps involved in a flea infestation, it is important to understand the flea life cycle. Adult female and male fleas need a blood meal before mating.

1. The first action is to treat the animal to kill adult fleas. The newest animal treatments are often prescribed by veterinarians, but some effective older products can now be obtained at pet supply stores. Some products may be purchased on-line. Even if purchased on-line or at a pet supply store, we encourage pet owners to visit with their veterinarian when using animal care products. Again, please consult your veterinarian for the proper product for your pet.

2. The second part of managing fleas is to control the larval stage in the pet’s environment by disrupting the flea life cycle and preventing the recurrence of adult fleas.
This step begins by laundering and steam cleaning/vacuuming:
Wash pet bedding in hot water to kill flea larvae. If animals sleep with family members, all bedding must be washed.
Steam clean or vacuum carpets thoroughly everywhere the infested pet is allowed to roam. Thorough vacuuming is essential!
After laundering and vacuuming, it may be necessary to treat with an insect growth regulator (IGR) where pets spend time. Focus on locations where pets:
go in and out of the house
sleep and rest
jump off beds, sofas and chairs
spend time with family members
When pets spend time outdoors, it may be necessary to treat outdoor areas, especially shady locations. Effective products which effectively control flea larvae with little to no negative impact on human or pet health include insect growth regulators.

What About Foggers?
In a word….no.
A fogger (or bomb) can be thought of as total-release-aerosol. The insecticide is released into a mist which dissipates in the room. Unfortunately, foggers do not penetrate well in carpets where larval fleas are hiding. In general, they provide poor flea control. Seems like every year, we hear of someone misusing aerosols and the either have an explosion or fire.

A Second treatment may very well be necessary.

Sometimes, mother nature gets the last laugh with fleas and, for one reason or another, fleas come back with a vengeance. Most times, this is strictly due to all of the above steps not being adhered to like bathing and treating the animals, or not vacuuming thoroughly or not using the outdoor sprays at recommended strengths.