5 min
Are Fleas Flipping You Out? Mack and Mercie Tail of Two Dogs
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- Kids & Family
Welcome to the world of Mack and Mercie and Happy National Pet Day!Give your pet an extra hug today!
Are Fleas Flipping You Out?
“Rebecca, I need your help getting rid of fleas!”
I hear that comment a lot from my customers. My response to them is always “Tell me where the problem is…in your home, in your yard or on your pets?”
Usually they say everywhere and the fleas are beginning to get on them. When the fleas move from the pets to the humans, the infestation is getting out of hand. Taking back control from the fleas is a three-fold process. You have to treat your home, your yard and your pets to make your efforts worth your while.
Other pets or even squirrels can bring fleas into your yard. Even if you have a fence, other animals come up to it with your pet on the other side, and fleas can jump onto them.
When you walk through your yard, fleas can get on you and you can bring them into the house even if you don’t allow your pet inside.
Total control is a 3-step process:
(1) Outside: A good insect granule such as Bug Blaster is what I suggest for outside. It will last 3 times longer than any sprays that you can use which lose their effectiveness after 30 days due to the UV light of the sun.
When you broadcast the granules in your yard, do so before a rain or set a sprinkler for a little while as water activates the chemical in the product. Once it dries, it is safe for humans and pets.
(2) Inside: An adulticide such as Martin’s Viper or Bifen I/T (be sure and rotate the chemical you use so the fleas don’t become immune) mixed with a larvicide for an indoor spray is preferable.
You need a product that will kill the adults but another one to take care of the eggs & larvae which will continue to develop into adults anywhere from 2 days to 2 weeks depending on the environment.
If you don’t stop the cycle with the insect growth regulator (IGR, larvicide), you will continue to have adult fleas! It is a good idea to rotate your adulticide product so that the fleas do not become immune to that chemical.
Cypermethrin, Bifenthrin, Beta-Cyfluthrin are all great products to use in conjunction with the IGR. A one gallon mixture will treat 1,000 square feet. I don’t have a “bug company” come into my house to treat for insects. I do this myself, quarterly, and these products will take care of other insects in addition to your flea trouble.
Spray your floors, pet’s bedding, around baseboards, under sinks, behind washer/dryer and refrigerator, back in closets, around doors & windows.
If for some reason you are not able to mix up and spray these products, there are really great flea/insect bombs that contain both adulticide & IGR ingredients.
(3) Pets: Your pet needs a good spot on product that is applied monthly to kill the fleas that get on them. And there are some oral flea medications on the market today.
The key for the topical products is to make sure they, too, contain an adulticide along with an IGR. You want to make sure you select the right product based on the weight of your pet.
I know for many you prefer organic/non-chemical approach to pest control with your pets. There are essential oils, diatemecous earth and even planting geraniums around your yard to repel fleas.
Whichever method you choose, be wise in the application and use on your fur babies. Knowledge is key!
Thank you for listening, thank you for loving dogs enough to give them a home and if you have a favorite charity for animals, remember they can always use donations. If nobody else tells you today, I care about you and you are important in your world. Take care!
For inspiration and videos go to: https://www.facebook.com/RollingTStoresArkansas
Welcome to the world of Mack and Mercie and Happy National Pet Day!Give your pet an extra hug today!
Are Fleas Flipping You Out?
“Rebecca, I need your help getting rid of fleas!”
I hear that comment a lot from my customers. My response to them is always “Tell me where the problem is…in your home, in your yard or on your pets?”
Usually they say everywhere and the fleas are beginning to get on them. When the fleas move from the pets to the humans, the infestation is getting out of hand. Taking back control from the fleas is a three-fold process. You have to treat your home, your yard and your pets to make your efforts worth your while.
Other pets or even squirrels can bring fleas into your yard. Even if you have a fence, other animals come up to it with your pet on the other side, and fleas can jump onto them.
When you walk through your yard, fleas can get on you and you can bring them into the house even if you don’t allow your pet inside.
Total control is a 3-step process:
(1) Outside: A good insect granule such as Bug Blaster is what I suggest for outside. It will last 3 times longer than any sprays that you can use which lose their effectiveness after 30 days due to the UV light of the sun.
When you broadcast the granules in your yard, do so before a rain or set a sprinkler for a little while as water activates the chemical in the product. Once it dries, it is safe for humans and pets.
(2) Inside: An adulticide such as Martin’s Viper or Bifen I/T (be sure and rotate the chemical you use so the fleas don’t become immune) mixed with a larvicide for an indoor spray is preferable.
You need a product that will kill the adults but another one to take care of the eggs & larvae which will continue to develop into adults anywhere from 2 days to 2 weeks depending on the environment.
If you don’t stop the cycle with the insect growth regulator (IGR, larvicide), you will continue to have adult fleas! It is a good idea to rotate your adulticide product so that the fleas do not become immune to that chemical.
Cypermethrin, Bifenthrin, Beta-Cyfluthrin are all great products to use in conjunction with the IGR. A one gallon mixture will treat 1,000 square feet. I don’t have a “bug company” come into my house to treat for insects. I do this myself, quarterly, and these products will take care of other insects in addition to your flea trouble.
Spray your floors, pet’s bedding, around baseboards, under sinks, behind washer/dryer and refrigerator, back in closets, around doors & windows.
If for some reason you are not able to mix up and spray these products, there are really great flea/insect bombs that contain both adulticide & IGR ingredients.
(3) Pets: Your pet needs a good spot on product that is applied monthly to kill the fleas that get on them. And there are some oral flea medications on the market today.
The key for the topical products is to make sure they, too, contain an adulticide along with an IGR. You want to make sure you select the right product based on the weight of your pet.
I know for many you prefer organic/non-chemical approach to pest control with your pets. There are essential oils, diatemecous earth and even planting geraniums around your yard to repel fleas.
Whichever method you choose, be wise in the application and use on your fur babies. Knowledge is key!
Thank you for listening, thank you for loving dogs enough to give them a home and if you have a favorite charity for animals, remember they can always use donations. If nobody else tells you today, I care about you and you are important in your world. Take care!
For inspiration and videos go to: https://www.facebook.com/RollingTStoresArkansas
5 min