Flea control in Clarksville, Tennessee

How to recognise fleas

UT Extension describes a small, reddish-brown wingless insect around 1/16 inch long, flattened from the sides, with long legs for jumping. Adults prefer pets and wild animals but will bite people when no pet is around.

• Small itchy bites, often around the ankles.
• Tiny dark insects that jump from carpet, bedding or pet fur.
• A pet scratching more than usual, with black specks in its fur.
• Fleas that seem to appear after a house has sat empty.

Why they show up here

Wild animals bring them into yards and crawl spaces, and pets carry them in. The young live in carpet, cracks and shady spots outdoors, out of reach of anything you do to the adults you can see.

Ticks are worth mentioning on the same call if you've been finding them on pets or people. Ask whether the company handles them.

What a flea visit usually involves

1. Questions and inspection

   Which rooms, which pets, and whether shady parts of the yard or the crawl space are involved.

2. Preparation

   UT reports that vacuuming before treatment can remove many of the eggs. Expect to be told to vacuum and to wash pet bedding, and to get the pet treated.

3. Treatment and timing

   Ask the company how to prepare, how long people and pets need to stay out, and when to expect fleas to stop appearing, because new ones can keep emerging for a while.

When to call

Call if bites continue after you've treated the pet and vacuumed, or if you see fleas in several rooms. For the animal itself, talk to your veterinarian. UT warns that pets, especially young ones, can be sensitive to insecticides, and that labels should be read before anything is put on them.

Flea questions