Fleas have been blamed for spreading diseases like the bubonic plague throughout history. They may be little and lay difficult-to-see eggs, but don’t underestimate their power to cause major problems in your house or business.
So, how do they pull it off? Because fleas thrive and breed in pet fur, they irritate your pets. Females can produce up to 50 eggs every day, which can disseminate anywhere your pet travels, resulting in a rapid outbreak. Flea bites can cause infections, swelling and itchy skin, allergies, and illness in both people and dogs. There’s no need to be concerned since B2B Pest Control is available to assist.
This information is aimed to help you learn more about fleas, why they are such a nuisance, as well as preventative and removal measures if you’re having problems with flea management in Sydney.
What exactly are fleas?
Because they rely on a host to survive, fleas are classified as parasites. Flea outbreaks are becoming more common as the number of domestic pets grows, so learning more about these little pests will help us recognize them more quickly.
What are the characteristics of fleas?
Coloured in a reddish-brown hue
6 legs with muscular hind legs for jumping, oval-shaped with short antennae 2mm long
They have saw-like jaws for piercing skin and needles feeding on their host’s blood.
Their saliva contains an anticoagulant that helps them eat since it thins the blood and keeps it flowing.
Australia’s main flea species
The cat flea is the most prevalent, and it infects cats, dogs, rodents, humans, and other mammals.
The dog flea is less prevalent than the cat flea, although it may live on many mammals.
Due to excellent hygienic standards, human fleas are rather uncommon. Dogs, pigs, rats, and mice have all been known to carry this species.
Fleas are most active when and where they are most active.
Fleas thrive in humid, warm conditions (such as pet fur)
During the summer, they reproduce.
In the winter or waiting for a suitable host, larvae might survive by remaining dormant.
Is it possible that it’s a tick?
Ticks and fleas have similar appearances, but ticks cause paralysis. Tick bites in pets can result in life-threatening paralysis. This means that being able to recognize paralysis is crucial. The difference between a flea tick and a flea bite can be crucial to your pet’s life, so here’s how to tell:
Ticks don’t have wings and can’t jump, whereas fleas do.
Tick bites have a distinct “bullseye” appearance: they burrow into the skin when they bite, causing the affected area to turn red. You’ll also notice a fainter red ring surrounding the damaged spot if you look attentively.
Ticks have eight legs as adults, six legs as freshly hatched ticks, and six legs as adult fleas.
Flea infestation symptoms
Don’t disregard these telltale indicators of a major flea infestation:
Flea excrement (flea dirt)
Looks like black pepper powder
Place flea filth on a white paper towel and sprinkle it with water to distinguish it from the soil. Because it contains digested blood from feeding, flea soil takes on a reddish tint.
Check your pet’s fur with a fine comb to see if it has it.
Pets with flea bites
Look for changes in your pet’s behaviour, such as being more snappy or fidgety rather than calm and pleasant, scratching itself more frequently, or appearing restless.
Flea bite dermatitis is a skin disorder caused by flea saliva that results in red, irritated regions of skin as well as painful-looking welts. Examine their fur in the groin and armpit areas for this.
Look for bites in hard-to-reach areas, such as the back of a cat’s head and neck and the hindquarters of a dog.
Look for dried blood stains on the skin from bite wounds.
Eggs of fleas
Because they are roughly 0.5mm long, white, and oval-shaped, they can be difficult to notice.
Easily detach from pet fur.
Even if the epidemic has been brought under control, they are responsible for a re-infestation when they hatch.
Look for them in small gaps, pet bedding, carpets, rugs, and floorboard crevices.
People who fleas have bitten
A little stinging sensation is produced.
Irritation and itching are caused by skin swelling around the bite mark.
Be on the lookout for a rash of red bumps.
You may notice bites on your ankles or knees if you go about barefoot.
Try the white sock test: walkabout in white cotton socks, digging and shuffle your feet into the carpet, then inspect your socks for fleas, flea filth, or eggs.
Hair loss in pets (alopecia)
Some flea species might provoke a response in pets, causing hair loss.
This might happen in sections of your pet’s fur where they are scratching and biting constantly.
Gums that are pale in pets
If your pet appears fatigued and has pale gums, this could indicate anemia, which is caused by a large blood loss from fleas eating. If you feel this is the case, contact your veterinarian right once.
Flea-related problems
It’s important not to overlook fleas if you’ve seen more than normal about the house. This is why:
They have the potential to spread dangerous infections.
Fleas transmit typhus from rats, cats, and possums to humans and pets. Fever, nausea, cough, stomach pain, rash, and body aches are some symptoms.
Larvae of tapeworms: Fleas can transmit tapeworm infection from rodents to humans or pets. The Bubonic Plague is a well-known example (albeit it is now extremely infrequent). Nausea, gastrointestinal pain, diarrhea, weight loss, and a general sensation of weakness are symptoms of this illness.
Their bites are unpleasant.
Around the bite mark, you may notice skin irritation, itching, and moderate swelling.
Allergies are triggered by the bites, leading to hypersensitivity to subsequent bites.
Outbreaks can happen at any time.
A single female flea can lay up to 2000 eggs in her lifespan.
It just takes 2-12 days for eggs to hatch.
How to avoid flea infestations
You can take things to lessen your chances of getting a flea infestation and have expert pest management.
Clean carefully and regularly
Pay extra attention to areas where pets spend a lot of time, like upholstered furniture.
sweeping, scrubbing, mopping and steaming clean carpets and floors
Vacuum with the highest suction setting possible, then spray the contents of the vacuum cleaner with pesticide and double bag them before sealing them; dispose of the bags right away.
When shifting pet bedding and carpets, try to avoid spreading eggs.
Gardening upkeep
Fleas hide in lawns and grab on to pets when they go by.
Weeds and loose rubbish should be removed.
Keep your lawns in good shape.
Shaded places are more likely to have larvae.
Fleas are attracted to bugs, so get rid of them.
Rats, mice, and pest birds are examples of this.
Consider getting a flea collar for your pet.
This collar steadily dispenses flea-repelling chemicals, which must be replaced every few months to keep your pet safe.
Inspect and clean your pets regularly.
Fleas can be picked up from other pets and places; therefore, excellent hygiene is essential. To avoid transmitting fleas onto yourself, remember to use gloves.
Flea shampoo is a good idea.
Groom your pets regularly.
Consider keeping pets outside to avoid bringing a flea infestation indoors.
Take your pet to the vet for flea spray or powder treatment if it scratches or eats its fur.
Wash your pet’s bedding regularly.
To kill fleas, eggs, and larvae, use hot water (above 50°C).
Instead of carpets and rugs, which can harbour eggs, use pet bedding on concrete surfaces.
Infestations of fleas in hotels and commercial buildings
Fleas crawling around a business aren’t simply a nuisance; they can jeopardize the health and well-being of staff, visitors, and customers. You also risk breaking health and safety rules, which might result in costly fines and negatively impact your company’s reputation.
Commercial structures and shopping malls
Fleas can find a variety of hiding areas and hosts with a mix of various retailers and strong foot traffic. Fleas can make unsuspecting shoppers, clients, and staff feel ill after visiting and potentially introduce an outbreak into their own homes by leaving eggs and flea dirt on stock and goods.
Taking care of a flea infestation
Once a flea infestation has been confirmed, you can take immediate action to try to control it before it worsens. There are more targeted approaches you can take in addition to cleaning and maintaining infested areas and removing other pests:
Take good care of your pet.
Flea treatment options and products, such as combing, tablets, and applying solutions and powders to their fur, should be discussed with your veterinarian. Treatment for tapeworm infections is also something to think about.
Treatment with chemicals
There are numerous commercial products on the market. Before applying, remember to put on gloves, long-sleeved protective clothing, and a face mask, as well as put away children’s toys and pet water and food bowls.
Spray surfaces indoors and outdoors where pets congregate.
Make use of flea bombs.
Flea eggs can take a few weeks to hatch, so repeat treatments.
If you have a severe infestation or a rodent infestation, call B2B Pest Control for professional flea removal and treatment.
B2B is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for any emergency flea problems in your home or business. Flea elimination is a three-step process that focuses on where fleas live, breed, and feed:
Initial examination
Our technicians will arrive and conduct a thorough assessment of your flea infestation before recommending a treatment plan.
Treatment
We employ a mix of the following techniques:
Flea control dust is used in infested areas where spraying is difficult, such as cracks, crevices, or wall voids.
Insecticide for flea control: This can be used to treat fleas at any stage of their life cycle. The spray is applied to treated zones around the home’s perimeters and flea hot spots. This applies to floor-to-wall joints, flooring, and skirting boards under rugs, among other things. For several hours afterward, you won’t be able to enter the treated rooms.
Treatment in the future
Fleas can be difficult to get rid of because their eggs take along to hatch. Severe outbreaks may necessitate multiple treatments, so we’ll return to review and replenish your medications to ensure that the problem is fully resolved.
Why should you go with B2B Pest Control Service?
We understand how stressful and overwhelming a flea infestation can be for you, your family, and your pets at home or work. That’s why our flea control team is ready and waiting to respond to an outbreak.
We’re available for call-outs all over Sydney, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Please use the chat box at the bottom right of this page to contact us.
Please get in touch with us if you have an emergency.
Our team is always ready to respond to emergency calls.
Guaranteed 100 percent refund
If you’re not happy with your flea treatment, we’ll refund your money.
We have interest-free payment plans available.
To ensure that you have quick access to our services in the event of an outbreak.
With follow-ups, we provide targeted, effective solutions.
Before recommending a treatment plan for your home or business, we’ll conduct a thorough inspection. We’ll then follow up to make sure you’re covered in the long run.
Our treatments are completely safe.
Our flea control products are safe for children, pets, and the environment.
Our technicians are adaptable and unobtrusive.
We’ll do our best to accommodate your schedule and business hours.
