How Do I Know If My Pet Has Fleas?

As Carolina flea control professionals, we sometimes forget that many new pet owners are strangers to the basics of pet pest care. So before taking on what to do if your Metrolina pets have fleas, perhaps we should take a moment to chat about how to recognize the problem.

After all, even though fleas are always annoying, flea infestations are not always obvious. This brings forth an important question: how do you keep your Charlotte home pest free if you don’t know your pets are flea infested? Learn the signs as defined by Metrolina regional veterinarians. Here are five indicators that your pet may have fleas:

How to Tell if Your Pet Has Fleas

1) Excessive Biting, Licking and Scratching

Fleas typically seek to inhabit pet body parts most difficult to see or reach. When you notice abnormal biting, licking and scratching around your pet’s head, groin, leg pits, neck and tail, suspect the presence of arthropods or some other nagging parasites.

2) Odd Patches of Red Skin

Saliva from fleabites often induces allergic reactions in cats, dogs and other pets. Look for odd patches of red skin. Note: these rashes are not exclusive to the bitten region of your pet’s body.

3) Alopecia (Loss of Hair)

If you notice this symptom, pay careful attention to the pattern and severity of the hair loss. Although sometimes a consequence of fleabites, alopecia has many causes. Proper treatment requires accurate diagnosis of the cause.

4) Presence of Flea Feces

It may look like reddish-brown or black specks of dirt on your pet or in areas of your home normally occupied by your pet. But this “dirt” may actually be digested pet blood released in flea feces.

5) Signs of Anemia

When pets endure advanced flea infestation, their systems may not produce sufficient new red blood cells as needed to replace the blood consumed by the fleas. Signs of pet anemia include:

  • Pale pink or white gums and tongue
  • Excessive weakness
  • Loss of appetite
  • AND more.

Carolina Flea Control

Okay, so, the evidence is in. Your pet has fleas! The need to eliminate the fleas is obvious. But coming to a correct and complete ending is just as important as making a right beginning. The following tips will help you reduce home and pet flea infestations in Charlotte.

1) Bathing

Use a natural pesticide-based shampoo. Follow the precise directions for application. Use a comb on your pet’s wet fur to ensure all fleas are gone. Don’t forget those favored body parts used as flea hiding places.

2) Clean Your Pet’s Living Space

Fleas will nest anywhere they find a food source. This means your pet’s bedding, toys, and all throughout your home’s carpeting and furniture. Use a reliable organic flea-killing product, your washing machine and a vacuum cleaner.

3) Flea Collars

Collars, pills and other such flea prevention solutions follow as personal choices. We suggest you adopt and apply some form of routine pet flea prevention.

4) Car, Garage and Yard

Some pets live inside most of the time. Some pets travel when you travel. Other pets live in the yard, the garage and on the back porch. Spraying your car may be just as important as spraying your pet’s living space – likewise with the garage or porch. As to the yard, routine mowing may be more valuable than actual spraying. Keep the grass short, the weeds knocked back and keep other pests off your property.

Charlotte Flea Control Products and Services

From expensive to inexpensive and from organic to a mixed solution, the Metrolina marketplace for flea-killing products is wide open. Unless taking extreme precautions, you don’t want to apply dangerous flea killing solutions to areas where you, your family and your pets sleep. We recommend organic solutions, or at least an adjusted level of chemical/natural pest control based on your specific needs.

If you need professional Carolina flea control, we are here and ready to work. Since 1939, family owned and operated Carolina Pest Management has provided regional Charlotte residents with safer, greener and more effective pest control services. We offer the best in efficient:

Contact us today to learn more about our pest control services.

By Kristin Dodd

Kristin Dodd, the President of Carolina Pest Management, has been with the company full-time for over 20 years, but has been a part of the family-owned business for much longer. She is currently an active board member of the North Carolina Pest Management Association, and was the President from 2010-2011. She is a licensed operator in...

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