Fleas — they’re small, pesky, and hard to get off your pet. However, they can be a much  bigger problem than latching onto your furry friend. Fleas can affect your pets by causing itching, irritation and infection. Once fleas make their mark on your animals they are bound to infest your home by getting into furniture, clothes and even on your skin. Here are some steps to take whenever you notice fleas around your home.

Sanitize Your Home

Keeping a clean home is important to prevent the infestation of fleas. Cleaning areas where fleas breed, such as bedding, rugs and pet bedding, will help to stop fleas from finding places to make their homes. Vacuum and sweep thoroughly to get rid of fleas that make a home in your carpets and rugs. Make sure to get the edges between walls and floors, where they often hide. Sanitizing is more than just tidying up; it’s taking the extra time to really clean your home so that you don’t have to worry about fleas and other insects. 

Call a Pest Control Company

Like you would for any infestation, call a local pest control company. Fleas have similar infestation tactics as other pests; because they have a complex life cycle, it’s important to have a professional treat your home. Fleas can often resist DIY treatments, causing the problem to escalate. Getting professional treatment will save you the time, money and stress it would cause for you to try and treat a flea problem on your own. 

Treat Your Pets 

Our pets are our best friends, so we need to take the extra precautions to keep them flea-free. Use preventative flea and tick treatments to treat every pet in the home, even ones that aren’t showing signs of fleas. Bathe pets with soap and water, then comb them with a flea comb. Pay close attention to the face, neck and area in front of the tail because those are areas that fleas like to latch onto. 

Maintain Your Home and Pets

Clean your home regularly, especially after going outside with your pets. Stopping the infestation starts outside, so making sure your pets are clean before they get back in the house is crucial to preventing a flea infestation. Get your pets on a regular flea treatment plan that treats a variety of parasites. Talk to your veterinarian about the best options that will be safe for your pets and your family. 

We know fleas are not just a pet problem, but also a pest problem. We provide Ankeny pest control services to help you protect your furry friends and your home. Give us a call at 515-279-7378 or contact us online  to learn how we can help.