tick at the tip of some grass in a yard, ready to grab onto a victim in Vermont

One of the biggest things that spoils a great summer day is finding a tick on your leg or flea in your pet’s fur. It’s worrisome and discomforting, and you may have no idea where they came from. Cats and dogs are most commonly affected by fleas and ticks, and can spread them throughout your home once indoors. 

Not only are fleas and ticks a nuisance, they can be dangerous as well. These two insects are both parasitic, meaning they feed on the blood of their hosts to survive. Ticks in particular pose a possible risk in that they can pass blood-borne diseases, such as Lyme disease, to their hosts. Although it’s rare to catch one of these diseases, you still don’t want these pests around. The team at Vermont Pest Control is here with tips on how to prevent fleas and ticks on your property this summer and all year long.

Ways To Prevent Fleas & Ticks on Your Property

No one wants to deal with fleas and ticks in the summer. But you’ll often find them around densely vegetated areas, tightly-packed trees, or habitats crawling with small animals. In addition to getting any pets treated for fleas regularly, it’s important to make sure you implement preventative measures outside the home to keep fleas and ticks away. 

Here are some ways to prevent fleas and ticks:

  • Keep a tidy landscape. Avoid piles of debris, store garbage carefully, and trim back trees and foliage. Ticks can make temporary homes out of piles of clutter in your yard. Firewood, yard waste, and old furniture can all serve as tick hideouts.
  • Don’t leave pet food outside.
  • Fleas cannot survive in direct sunlight, so keeping your home and yard sunny may be a natural deterrent.
  • Seal holes and any areas of entry into the home to detract rodents from getting inside.
  • Trim trees: If you have tree branches hanging over your deck, patio, porch, or anywhere else you like to hang out, ticks will use them as a platform to make their way over to you.
  • Mow your lawn: Ticks like to hang out in tall grass to sneak up on unsuspecting animals. Mow your lawn once a week to keep ticks off of your lawn.

Keeping Ticks Out Of The House

Ticks have a hard time living in most indoor spaces for more than a few days. However, if you have indoor areas that stay humid, like a shed, poorly ventilated bathroom, or a cabin, ticks can stay around for much longer. Most ticks get inside by stealthily clinging on to your leg or your dog’s back. You can prevent this from happening by:

  • Limiting exposed skin: Wearing shorts and low socks outside makes you a great target for ticks. Wearing long socks and pants will prevent ticks from coming back inside with you.
  • Applying bug spray: Using insect repellent on exposed skin can prevent ticks from hitching a ride indoors on your legs.
  • Checking your pets: After letting your dog outside or taking them on a long walk, comb through their fur to look for ticks. Dog owners are much more likely to have ticks in the house.

How Dangerous Are Fleas and Ticks?

Fleas and ticks can possibly be dangerous, especially if you ignore all signs of them. Fleas often attach to cats or dogs outside as they nestle in fur and spread to items inside the home. Rats and mice also bring them indoors sometimes. These tiny, reddish-brown insects can cause itchy bites and, in serious cases, allergic reactions. Fleas can spread easily, making them a pain to deal with once they get inside.

Just like fleas, ticks latch onto the fur of animals, as well as clothing and skin. An infestation is often caused when they’ve infested a rodent, raccoon, or another animal near the home. Certain ticks, such as the brown dog tick, do well living indoors, and many species of ticks transmit a number of viruses or infections. The most common tick-borne illness is Lyme disease. If left untreated, this disease can cause damage to the heart and nervous system.

Ticks feed on blood when they bite an animal or human. Ticks can latch onto your skin for anywhere from a few hours to a few days. When an infected tick attaches to a dog for a few days, it’s possible for them to transmit Lyme disease as well. 

Flea & Tick Prevention Tips for Pets

Summer in Vermont beckons everyone to spend more time outdoors with their pets. But are you staying cautious of the potential dangers of fleas and ticks? Whenever you’re outside your home or in your yard with your family and pets, it’s important to learn how to protect yourself against fleas and ticks. Rather than wait to find out your dog has been infected by a tick, it’s best to stay on top of it with tick prevention tips:

  1. Talk to your veterinarian about tick prevention. They’ll have professional recommendations for prevention or treatment options, including heartworm protection.
  2. Check your dogs or cats for ticks daily or whenever they go outdoors. When inspecting, focus on areas under the legs and around the neck and ears. In addition, look out for excessive scratching, licking, or grooming behavior.
  3. Avoid taking your pets to areas with tall grass on hikes. Ticks are known to be in areas with high grass, be careful to stay on trails when hiking or walking.

The team at Vermont Pest Control is here with tick prevention tips for your pets this summer and all year long.

What to Do When Your Pets Have Ticks or Fleas

If you notice your pet is showing symptoms of depression, loss of appetite, fever, lameness, or swollen joints and lymph nodes, contact your veterinarian. Ticks are also known to cause anemia in more serious situations. 

Thoroughly vacuum your home and inspect for ticks as you would for fleas. Cats rarely get ticks, but could easily carry them into your home. Ticks can easily hop off of one animal and onto a dog – or you!

Effective Flea and Tick Control in Vermont

Getting fleas or ticks in your home can be overwhelming. If you need help getting rid of ticks in your house or in your yard this summer, tell your local pest control company about your problem. At Vermont Pest Control, we focus on preventing tick problems before they start through pertinent pest control products and exclusion efforts. Contact us today for a free quote!

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How To Keep Ticks Out Of Your Yard & Home in Vermont

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