Check for Flea Dirt

One of the foremost steps for verifying whether your dog is infested with fleas is examining them for traces of flea dirt. Flea dirt, contrary to what the name suggests, is not dirt but rather the faecal matter of fleas, which manifests as tiny, dark specks on your dog’s skin or coat.

To effectively check your dog for flea dirt, begin by spreading your dog’s fur, focusing particularly on areas such as the lower back, tail, abdomen, and behind the ears where fleas are typically more prevalent. Look out for any black or brown spots, which could potentially be flea dirt.

Look for Fleas

Fleas are tiny, wingless parasites that are difficult to spot, even on hairless dogs, let alone those with thicker fur. However, if you spot a flea on your dog’s skin or fur, it’s almost confirmed that your pooch has a flea infestation. These parasites are agile and can jump pretty high, so you might have to look a bit more closely. Check around the ears, under the belly, and around the hind legs, as these are common areas where fleas like to hide.

Check for Scratching

Flea bites can be incredibly itchy, leading your dog to scratch excessively. If you notice your furry friend scratching more than usual, it could be due to flea bites. Check the affected areas for any redness or irritation, as these are typical signs of flea bites.

Look for Flea Allergy Dermatitis

Flea allergy dermatitis (FAD) is a severe allergic reaction that some dogs experience from flea bites. It causes intense itching and can lead to infection if left untreated. If you notice your dog is biting, licking, or scratching a particular area more than usual, it’s worth checking for FAD. You may notice redness, hair loss, and scabs in that specific area.

Use a Flea Comb

If you’re struggling to spot fleas or flea dirt, try using a flea comb. This is a fine-toothed comb that can catch fleas, flea dirt, and eggs. First, wet your dog’s fur, then run the comb through their coat. If fleas are present, you should be able to spot them on the comb.

Contact Willis Pest Control

At Willis Pest Control we are specialists in providing expert pest control solutions across Birmingham and the Midlands. For help in dealing with pests, please do not hesitate to get in touch with our expert Willis Pest Control team, give us a call on 0121 588 5258 or 07305 518033.

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Fleas

Fleas are common anytime in the year; however, autumn is one of the more peak months for flea infestations. This is because there is a lack of attention from pet owners, making fleas more likely to build up on your pet’s fur. Fleas also enjoy colder temperatures and thrive when it is cooler, making them become more of a problem at this time of year. During colder times in the year fleas are able to complete the natural life cycle in just a few weeks with them typically laying 30 to 50 eggs in one day. Eventually you can end up with millions of these pests. Since there are more leaves in the autumn time fleas are more likely to hide in the leaves and easily jump onto pets. Fleas can also easily hide in your carpet and jump on your pets this way as well.

2. Squirrels

During autumn squirrels start to look for hiding places to nest and to hibernate. During these months squirrels are less likely to be in your garden and the likelihood of them nesting in your loft increases. During the autumn months squirrels start to look for food in time for the winter months, this is why you see squirrels mostly in the autumn time. Grey squirrels specifically like to enter lofts where then can easily cause expensive damage, especially if they start chewing through electrical wires which can cause a fire risk. It’s always good to check weekly if any squirrels are hiding in your loft during the autumn months just in case, and if they do appear at any time, we are just a phone call away.

3. Spiders

In the autumn months spiders are more common than other times in the year. This is because they are looking for warmth and light, the only thing to do is to seal every gap and keep your windows shut. Spiders don’t normally pose any sort of threat, but they are a common fear. During the autumn months the spider mating season starts, this typically starts in early September and ends in the middle of October. The good thing about spiders is that they eat other insects such as ants, flies, mosquitos and beetles. Spiders are also able to control pests eating crops by eating their eggs.

Contact Willis Pest Control for Pest Removal

At Willis Pest Control we are specialists in providing expert pest control solutions across Birmingham and the Midlands. For help in dealing with Pests, please do not hesitate to get in touch with our expert Willis Pest Control team, give us a call on 0121 588 5258 or 07305 518033.

The post Which Pests are Most Common in Autumn? appeared first on Willis Pest Control.

1. Treat Your Home

One of the first things to do is to treat your home. Fleas have a life-cycle of around 90 days, so treating your home just once won’t be enough. It is recommended that you treat your home at least three times to ensure that they are gone for good. Make sure that when you are treating your home to wash everything with hot water and then dry with high heat.

2. Clean Your Pets

Another good way to remove fleas from your home is to clean all your pets, since this is where fleas are located most commonly. Wash your pets with anti-flea shampoo from the vets and make sure to clean thoroughly. You could also brush your pet with a specialist flea comb from a vet.

3. Seek A Professional

One way to ensure that all fleas are exterminated from your home it’s best to call in a professional. They will use special chemicals to ensure the fleas don’t come back. Here at Willis Pest Control we will ensure that we will choose the right treatment for you and the fleas are moved with minimal disruption.

<H3> Contact Willis Pest Control </H3>

At Willis Pest Control we are specialists in providing expert pest control solutions across Birmingham and the Midlands. For help in dealing with Fleas, please do not hesitate to get in touch with our expert Willis Pest Control team, give us a call on 0121 588 5258 or 07305 518033.

The post How Do I Get Rid of Fleas Fast? appeared first on Willis Pest Control.

How Fleas Spread

Much in the same way as other pests, fleas are always looking to find a home for themselves. Unlike many other pests, fleas are more than happy to reside on a host and can be commonly found clinging to hair or fabric. The way in which they spread is through attachment to their host which they access through giant leaps. At this point, the flea might make itself completely at home and endeavours to stay attached to its host as long as it physically can, or it may look to distance itself and move onto a different host or location where it will begin to lay eggs.

A regular flea has a lifespan of around 2 years during which time it can lay around 1500 eggs. Naturally, you wouldn’t want to keep even a single flea around as it could very quickly produce an entire family tree, bonded in their affection toward sucking the blood out of you and your pets.

When Should You Call an Expert?

Due to the ridiculously speedy way in which they spread once they have their first taste of blood, getting in touch with an expert as quickly as possible is vital. Given the opportunity, fleas may spread faster that you can deal with them and require the undertaking of a far more extreme solution – such as setting fire to your carpets. Of course, this is only a joke but the general idea is that fleas should be dealt with as quickly as possible in order to limit their breeding potential.

Dealing with fleas once you’re aware they are within your property isn’t actually that challenging. They are pretty susceptible to temperatures and anything over around 35 degrees or under 8 degrees causes them severe discomfort and can kill over time. Due to this, washing clothing at high temperatures is incredibly effective at destroying both adult fleas and eggs. If you find that your fleas have spread to multiple parts of your home you should look to contact experts as soon as possible in order to remedy the issue.

Contact Willis Pest Control

At Willis Pest Control we are specialists in providing eclectic pest control solutions across Birmingham and the Midlands. For help in dealing with Rats, Wasps, Fleas, Cockroaches, Mice, Squirrels, Ants, and Bed Bugs, please do not hesitate to get in touch with our expert Willis Pest Control team, give us a call on 0121 588 5258 or 07305 518033.

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