Fleas are still a persistent problem, in spite of the great advances in on-animal treatment with pet products like Advance® and Front-Line® flea and tick treatments for dogs and cats. These products have greatly reduced the need for treatment inside homes, if the pet is properly treated.

Fleas can be found on wild animals and feral cats in large numbers. Keeping wildlife from living under decks or crawl spaces will greatly reduce the flea population around your home. When fleas become a problem, flea control treatment should be applied on areas frequented by pets and other animals. The insect growth regulator Precor® can be used indoors if pets are infested, and is not toxic to vertebrates, acting to prevent the development of flea larvae into the adult flea.

Ticks are not as common, but can be difficult to control due to their huge reproductive potential and ability to hide in small cracks and crevices. A single female tick can produce 40,000 eggs. Pets allowed to run free in wild brushy areas are most likely to become infested. To control ticks, a thorough crack and crevice treatment is required around infested pet quarters, such as a patio where the pet sleeps. On-animal flea treatments may be valuable in controlling ticks on your pet dog or cat. Engorged ticks should be swabbed with alcohol and removed carefully with small tweezers gripping the head and pulling steadily until the mouthparts release. Do not break off the head or use a match to burn the tick, as this can result in infection.

Fleas and ticks can act as vectors of disease, including Lyme Disease, plague, tapeworms, and rocky mountain spotted fever.

Request Flea Control Service

To request flea control or pest control service, please fill-out the form on our service request page and we will contact you ASAP to discuss your pest problem and schedule service. Or you can call us (toll free) at 1-(888)-KILLROY (545-5769), or (408) 378-0441 from the San Jose area.

* Photos courtesy of UNIVAR USA