ABC 24/7 Pest Control provide an expert local Flea pest control service throughout South Wales and have been specialising in Flea control for many years. We control Fleas in domestic and commercial properties in the Swansea Bridgend Neath Port Talbot Llanelli and surrounding areas.
How do you know you have A Flea Problem?
Quite simply you or members of your family will be bitten, generally on the lower legs but bites can occur on any part of the body, especially on young children because they are nearer to the ground or playing on carpeted areas. Reaction to bites can vary from just itching, to swelling and redness, some people react immediately whilst others may react some time after being bitten. The flea infestation may have started from your own pets by visiting pets or from the pets of previous occupants. Fleas live in the carpets of your house and leave this area to feed on your cat or dog. They will also feed on you and your family preferring women and children and may move onto your beds and clothing before going back to the carpet.
Why Should You Have A Flea Problem Treated?
The infestation should be treated because fleas cause real discomfort to you, your family, and your pets. More significantly they can transmit tapeworm and can bite visitors who may take fleas back to their homes.
What Can You Do In Preparation for Treatment?
The most important preparation for treatment is effective hygiene. The whole floor area of the house should be thoroughly vacuumed. In addition furniture must be vacuumed ensuring that cushions are removed from chairs and settees and everything is cleaned. The vacuum cleaner bag must be removed and placed in a tied bin bag and then put in an outside bin. Pet bedding must be washed on a hot wash or better still discarded and replaced.
How Will The Infestation Be Treated?
A strong residual liquid or powder based insecticide will be applied to all affected areas. It is almost odourless, and does not corrode or stain. The whole of the affected area will be either sprayed or dusted, including furniture and curtains.
What Happens After Flea Treatment?
Don’t let your pets walk on the treated area until it is dry. You and your family can walk on it as long as you are wearing shoes or slippers. Do not vacuum the area for at least two weeks and when you do make sure that you dispose of the bag away from your house.
The fleas will not die immediately, so you may see activity for up to 21 days after treatment, don’t worry about this it is normal.
To ensure success please have your pets treated with with a reputable anti-flea agent normally recommended by the local vet.
In summer time, fleas spend their time outside in bushes and long grasses and will hitch a lift on your cat or dog indoors. Most wild animals carry fleas including birds and hedgehogs which also forage in the same area as your pet outside. Once indoors fleas become a problem and your home will need to be treated.
Most fleas do not live on your pet they live within the skirting boards of your home, at the base of the carpet pile and under laminate or wood flooring. This offers fleas the best protection from prey such as spiders or your vacuum cleaner.
Most people that contact us for help have either already gone to the vets or tried an insecticide from the supermarket already but it hasn’t worked. Why is this ?
Houses that have exposed wooden floorboards will be excluded form our guarantee due to egg casings that drop down between the gaps and aren’t affected by the residual treatment and therefore making control difficult.
Fleas can live between 7 and 14 days, female fleas will divide their time between living on your pet to feed and returning to your flooring to lay more eggs – and this happens every day. The larvae bury themselves into carpets and may lay dormant for several weeks. The larvae travel up and down carpet fibres eating organic matter such as dried flea droppings and microscopic animal material when the adults sense warmth and vibration they will jump onto your pet (or you) and start the cycle over again.
The most obvious sign of fleas will be that your pet is continuously scratching. You should also be able to see them in the fur of your pet. Fleas are dark brown in colour and are approximately 1–2 mm long. You may also find tiny black specks of flea dirt on your pet just under their fur. The height of the summer is when fleas are most rife however they can be nearly as bad at other times of the year if you have a warm central heated home.
