Exterminating Fleas in South Florida

We recently got a call from a client in West Boca Raton… “Help!  I just discovered my dog had fleas!!”  With the help of a groomer, the dog was bathed in diluted Dawn dish soap and given a Capstar tablet.  It’s administered orally and kills fleas within 30 minutes. But what about the house and yard??

Haggerty Service was there the next morning to spray the yard and treat the house.  Our professional pest control technicians know how to develop a customized approach to treat a flea or tick infestation in your home and yard. A treatment plan is a must because infestations are difficult to control since there are four stages in their life cycle—eggs, larvae, pupae and adults—and certain stages are easier to eradicate than others.  Adult fleas only live when they can bite (or suck the blood) of live animals, but the eggs and larvae they produce and leave behind can lay dormant for many months.

Here are a few tips to deal with a flea infestation and its aftermath:

• Throw all bedding, dog beds, clothes, other fabric items, etc. into the washing machine and use hot water, then the clothes dryer set to high. If things such as pillows and stuffed toys cannot be washed, just pop into the clothes dryer;  the hot temperature will kill live fleas and eggs.
• Vacuuming isn’t enough to maintain your home after being professionally treated. Dust your carpets with food grade diatomaceous earth, let sit overnight, then vacuum. Make sure it’s food-grade which is harmless to people and pets.
• Use flea and tick prevention on your dogs and cats, either oral or topical. Your vet can advise.
• Just as you should with mosquito prevention, keep your property clear of standing water… it attracts fleas.