Apr 28, 2017 | Pest Control
Fleas and ticks are pesky little pests that suck the life out of your pets and family (literally)! These parasites can cause your dogs, cats, children, or other family members a lot of discomfort and even pose serious health risks.
Flea Prevention
Fleas can be found in almost any environment but are more active in warm, humid climates. Once your house is infested, though, fleas can thrive even after temperatures drop. And they can cause severe allergic reactions in pets, a condition called flea allergy dermatitis (FAD), which can make pets extremely uncomfortable, causing itching, inflammation, excessive scratching, and even subsequent skin infections if left untreated. Older pets are even more at risk as a flea infestation can leave them weak and make treatment and recovery more difficult.
A flea infestation usually isn’t hard to spot. Your pet will most likely be scratching or grooming themselves excessively. When checked, you may even see adult fleas on their body or in their hair. Routinely use a flea comb on your pet to check for and remove fleas.
The best way to prevent fleas is to treat your pets with flea control products consistently, usually applied directly to your pet’s skin or given orally. Some products may even help to prevent dog heartworm, which can develop from mosquito bites. Look for products that treat both adult fleas and other stages of the flea life cycle.
If you have a flea infestation in your home, getting rid of them can be difficult and time-consuming. It’s best to contact a pest control company to establish a treatment schedule for both inside and outside the home. Your pet will need to be removed from the house during flea treatments and for a specified length of time afterwards. You can also help to get rid of fleas and prevent a future infestation by vacuuming regularly and removing old pet bedding, blankets, toys, and any other items regularly used by your pet.
Tick Prevention
Ticks can be a real concern to people and pets, especially during Spring and Fall months. Their bites are painful and cause skin irritations in some cases, but they also transmit several diseases including Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, which can cause serious illness or even death. The brown dog tick, commonly found on pets, can even infest your home.
Check your pets regularly for ticks. Larger ticks can usually be seen while smaller ones may not be so obvious. If you find a tick, safely remove it using a tick removal tool or with tweezers, only applying a small amount of pressure until the tick lets go. Any other method can be painful for your pet or cause skin irritations.
Prevent ticks by treating your pet with a tick control product, commonly included in topical flea treatments. Keep pets out of wooded areas or overgrown vegetation. Cut your grass regularly, keep plants and shrubs trimmed, and clear out leaves and other yard debris.
Jun 16, 2014 | Pest Control
Northwest Exterminating offers tick bite prevention advice for the summer season
As people venture outside to enjoy the sunshine and warmer weather we want to encourage increased public awareness of ticks and their numerous health risks.
Certain species of ticks are capable of transmitting serious diseases to humans when they bite, including Lyme disease, babesiosis and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. We encourage people to take steps to protect themselves and their pets from tick bites when outdoors this summer and decrease the chances of contracting one of these tick-borne illnesses.
Below are some tips from the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), a nonprofit organization committed to the protection of public health, food and property from household pests.
Most effective ways to prevent a tick encounter, and tick bite, include:
- Landscape your yard. Keep grass cut low and remove weeds, woodpiles and debris. Ticks are found in high grass, and yards with shrubbery.
- Protect your skin. Wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts and closed-toe shoes when outdoors, especially in wooded areas or tall grasses. Choose light colored clothing that makes it easier to spot ticks and other insects.
- Use an effective bug repellant. Always apply an insect repellant containing at least 20% DEET to protect against ticks when spending time outdoors, and reapply as directed on the label.
- Regularly check for ticks. Most ticks require 24-48 hours of feeding before they can successfully transmit infections, so it’s crucial to perform a thorough tick check immediately after spending time outdoors. Be sure to check all areas of the body, including the hair.
- Don’t forget about pets. Check pets frequently for ticks, especially after the animal has been outside. Consult with a veterinarian about prevention and treatment options available to pets and wash pet bedding and toys frequently.
- Brush up on proper removal techniques. (Read our post “How to Remove a Tick“) Use fine-tipped tweezers to remove a tick, using a slow, steady pulling motion. Wash hands and the bite site thoroughly with soap and water, and flush the tick down a toilet or wrap it in tissue before disposing in a closed receptacle.
- Contact a professional pest professional. Anyone suspecting a tick bite or experiencing symptoms, including a skin rash, joint pain or fever, should seek prompt medical attention. If ticks are a problem on your property, contact a licensed pest professional to inspect and implement a treatment plan to reduce tick populations.
For more information on ticks, please visit https://www.callnorthwest.com/learning-center/identify-your-pest/ticks/.
Source: NPMA
May 27, 2014 | Pest Control
Simple ways pet owners can keep their animals safe from fleas and ticks
The spring season is a time when all members of the family, including pets, wander outdoors to enjoy the sunshine and blossoming flowers. Unfortunately, it’s also prime pest season, which means pets are at risk of encountering hungry fleas and ticks that are in search of active hosts. Northwest Exterminating encourages pet owners to take precautions against these dangerous pests during the warmer months.
Fleas are more than just an itchy annoyance. Their saliva can cause anemia, dermatitis and can transfer tapeworms in dogs and cats. Ticks can spread bacteria to pets and cause tick paralysis, which occurs when a female tick attaches near a pet’s spinal cord. This condition can lead to muscle weakness, loss of coordination and in some cases, death from respiratory failure as chest muscles become paralyzed.
In addition to the health threats posed by fleas and ticks, both pests are small in size and extremely mobile, making them difficult to detect and get rid of once inside the home. It’s extremely important for pet owners to be cautious of these pests and contact a licensed pest professional if they suspect an infestation.
The National Pest Management Association, a nonprofit organization committed to the protection of public health, food and property from household pests, offers these tips to keep pets pest-free:
- Check pets’ coats thoroughly for ticks and fleas on a regular basis, especially after spending time outdoors. Be aware of excessive scratching and licking.
- Avoid walking dogs in tall grass, where there is a greater chance of encountering ticks.
- Bathe pets after walks or playtime with other animals.
- Wash pet bedding, collars and plush toys frequently.
- Wash bed linens and vacuum carpets, floors and furniture regularly.
- Empty vacuum bags in an outside receptacle.
- Speak to a veterinarian about flea and tick prevention treatments.
Source: NPMA
Apr 11, 2014 | Uncategorized
Checking for Ticks
The weather is warming up which means it’s prime time for outside activities. Among the fun that can be had in the great outdoors there are also some concerns. One being TICKS. Ticks are found in high vegetation areas, usually in tall grass. They await a host (human, dog, deer, etc) that they can latch on to and consume a blood meal. Checking for ticks is important if you’ve recently spent time outside.
Ticks have 4 life stages, egg, larva, nymph, and adult. To go from one life stage to another they have to get blood from a host. Most ticks need 3-4 hosts to complete their life cycle.
Once a tick is fully engorged, weighing 200-600 times what it did before the meal, they drop off the host, digest, molt, and then find another host to feed off of.
Ticks bites can cause irritation to the skin of people and pets. In some instances they can cause allergic reaction, transfer Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. If you, your kids, or your pets have spent time outdoors it is important that you thoroughly check for ticks on the body, especially the hair.
For more information on ticks:
https://www.callnorthwest.com/learning-center/identify-your-pest/ticks/
https://www.callnorthwest.com/tag/ticks/
Dr. Goo's Corner: Ticks
Tick Prevention from the EPA
Aug 14, 2013 | Uncategorized
It’s important to protect yourself and your pets from ticks this season! Keep reading for more information on the little suckers!
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
- Size varies depending on the species and type.
- More closely related to spiders than insects.
- Can have either a soft or a hard body.
- Usually brought into homes by animals.
- Feed on animals and humans for their blood meal.
HABITS
- Live in low lying areas such as grass, shrubs, and bushes while waiting for a passing host to attach themselves on to.
- Female ticks have about 3,000 eggs in the spring time.
- Ticks feed on humans, mice, squirrels, raccoons, skunks, dogs, and birds.
SPECIES
- American dog tick
- Blacklegged/deer/bear tick
- Brown dog tick
- Lone Star Tick
- Rocky Mountain Wood Tick
THREATS
- Ticks attach themselves to animals or humans to obtain their blood meal by biting the victim.
- Can cause irritation around the site of the bite, allergic reaction, or cause the mouth parts to get stuck in the skin when the tick is removed.
- Known to transfer Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis.
PREVENTION
- When in wooded areas or tall grass, wear long pants, long sleeves, and closed toed shoes.
- Use a bug repellant that contains DEET.
- Keep grass and other vegetation on your property properly cut and maintained.
- Inspect yourself for ticks after being outdoors.
- Inspect your pets for ticks after being outdoors.
- If you find a tick, use tweezers to remove the tick with a slow, gentle, upward pressure.
OTHER PESTS TO LOOK OUT FOR
Call Northwest Exterminating for information on how to protect your home and loved ones from ticks.
