It’s time to talk about flea control options for pets and yards. As the temperatures warm up, so does the flea population. Take care to treat your yard, pets and home for fleas, to ensure a happy and healthy summer for humans and furry friends alike.
Fleas in the Yard:
Fleas like temperatures below 95°F with humidity above 50%. As usual, it’s better to prevent them than to remove them. Fleas are brought in by the urban wildlife like rabbits, rats, squirrels, raccoons, etc. If you feed the bird you’re also feeding the critters (with the fleas!!) that visit the bird feeders. So, if you have a flea problem and feed the birds, stop feeding for a month or so to get the problem under control.
If you have fleas, treat the yard and your pets, see the section “Fleas on the dog/cat”. You need to treat both the yard, the pet and the house within a 24 hour period. When fighting fleas it is all about breaking the life cycle. There are a bunch of all-natural and synthetic products to choose from. Most products will take more than one application, 5 to 10 days apart to break that life cycle.
Our number one all natural product for outdoor flea control is Mosquito Barrier. Just one spraying of all natural, liquid garlic-based Mosquito Barrier will keep mosquitoes out of your yard and away from your home, 24 hours a day for nearly a month. Diatomaceous Earth is also a good all natural flea control option that is safe for pets. We also offer Hi-Yield Turf Ranger Granules and Talstar Granules. This is a broad spectrum residual insecticide for the control of certain insects in home lawns. It controls Ants, Armyworms, Chinch Bugs, Crickets, Fire Ants, Fleas, Grasshoppers, Sod Webworms, Scorpions, Spiders, European Crane Fly and others listed on the label.
There are also quite a few choices on the chemical side in both liquid and granulated. A good rule of thumb is to pick products with an active ingredient that ends with the suffix, “thrin”. Some of the most common are bifenthrin, cyfluthrin, permethrin.
Fleas on the dog/cat:
One day everything is fine, and the next your pet is scratching like crazy. What is that bite on my leg?! Oh no! The dreaded flea infestation! Don’t worry, there are many solutions to get rid of these pesky parasites.
Sprays, dips, shampoos, flea collars, and room foggers for the house.
Kissimmee Valley Feed offers monthly spot-on treatments by Frontline Plus, Advantage, Advantix, CapGuard, Seresto, and a Generic 2:1 Flea Control Capsule. (Please note that if you use spot-on treatments that you will NOT be able to use any other chemical options for the rest of the month without the risk of poisoning your pet) You CAN spot treat with natural options though. When using spot-on treatments the fleas do not die until they actually bite the animal in most cases. To prevent these not quite dead pests, you can spray the animal down with a natural product before coming into the house.
The final option for flea control products are ones that you can only get at the vet. These products include spot-on and oral products. When used on a monthly basis these products are very effective for controlling parasites of all kinds.
The old saying that “A stitch in time saves 9” is a very true statement in regard to flea prevention and you’re pet. Preventative measures will help ensure a flea-free pet and house. A flea free pet is a healthier and happier pet.