Fleas and Ticks

A pet can bring delight, love and frolic into your life. It also may bring in some other things that are less welcome. Fleas and ticks, those small pests that feed on our pets, can create big annoyance for pet owners. A bad flea infestation can quickly cover both your pet and your house. The longer you wait to fight back, the bigger the problem grows. Don't wait! Call Eco-Safe ® today! (214) 358-5201

Fleas  ::  Ticks

Fleas are small, hard-bodied wingless insects with a flattened body and legs adapted for jumping on to a host. Humans are often attacked when other food sources aren't available. Their bite leaves a red, itchy spot on the skin. Their saliva is irritating to the host, causing dermatitis and hair loss in allergic animals.

A bad flea infestation can quickly cover both your household pet and your house. The longer the pet's owner waits to fight back, the bigger the problem grows. A single female flea will continue laying eggs, at the rate of a few each day, until she has deposited several hundred. These eggs will hatch in something between two days and three weeks, depending upon temperature and humidity.

Control begins with treatment to all infested areas with a residual pesticide that includes a growth regulator inside the home and a complete lawn treatment outside. Generally, lawn treatments done early enough in the season are enough as long as control continues on the inside of the home. The pet should be treated regularly either with powders, sprays or a treatment recommended by your vet. While "dips" are effective for overall treatment at once, maintaining a constant control on the pet is best.

Pick up all items off the floor. Remove items from under beds and furniture and the bottom of closets. Wash or replace pet bedding. Vacuum thoroughly throughout the house. Wood, tile and linoleum floors should be thoroughly swept and mopped. Concrete floors in a garage or basement, where pets may stay, need to be cleaned.

Remove all pets including birds. Fish tanks should be covered with a damp towel and the air pump turned off and covered. Treat pets. Remain out of the house for at least three hours. Outdoors, wash or remove any pet bedding and make all shade areas, crawl spaces, etc., available for treatment.

An indoor infestation is more likely to be the brown dog tick. Except in tropical climates, this tick needs indoor warmth and shelter to live out its life cycle. The female lays its eggs in crevices, behind baseboards, under the edge of carpets or in similar hiding places.

	American Dog Tick - This tick is one of the most prevalent tick pests in the Eastern United States. Adults are about 1/4" long, and the shield has variable white markings. The larvae and nymphs prefer to feed on mice. Adults prefers dogs and other large animals.
	Brown Dog Tick - This is one of the most common pests of dogs. Adults are 3/16" long and are uniformly reddish-brown. All stages prefer to feed on dogs. This tick is prevalent in houses and kennels.
	Gulf Coast Tick - They are very prevalent in the Southeastern United States. The sexes are very different in appearance. The immature stages feed on ground-dwelling birds. Adults attach primarily to the ears of large animals such as deer and cattle.
	Lone Star Tick - This tick is one of the most common ticks on humans and it has prevented the development of some areas. The female has a silvery spot on the dorsal shield. Its long mouthparts allow deep penetration of the skin, often causing pus sores.
	Black Legged Tick - Also known as a Deer Tick, they are widespread in the Southeastern United States, and often are found along trails, paths and roadways. Adult ticks are dark reddish-brown with dark-brown to black legs. Deer ticks are the primary (and possibly the only) known transmitters of true Lyme disease in the United States.