​Whether you own pets or not, there’s always a chance of an indoor pest problem in your home at any time of year. You might think that fleas are only an issue during the warmest months of the year, but especially in the South these parasites are a year-round problem. If you suspect you have a flea problem at home, you shouldn’t wait around and hope the situation resolves itself — you need to take quick action. Here’s a brief guide to exterminating fleas so you can get rid of these troublesome pests for good.

Detect the Presence of Fleas
Are you wondering if you have a flea problem at home? The first thing you should do is jump into detective mode. There are some obvious signs to look for, especially if you have pets. If your dog or cat is scratching like crazy and you hear them whining or groaning, they likely have fleas.

You may even see fleas on your short fiber carpets or hardwood floors. If you spot a single insect, there are likely many more, so you need to spring into action to prevent a full-blown infestation from occurring in your home. Don’t hesitate to call an exterminator immediately.

Check Your Pets Before Exterminating Fleas
If you have fleas on your pets, that means the bugs are inside your home, whether it’s the pests themselves or their eggs or larva. Grab a flea comb, a cup of soapy water and dry paper towels to physically check your pets for fleas. It’s best to use slow, gentle strokes to see if any bugs are getting caught in the comb’s teeth.

As you encounter fleas on your pets, drown them in the soapy water and keep combing. You should also invest in a veterinarian-approved flea and tick shampoo. It’s best to keep shampooing pets every week until you’ve eliminated every trace of the parasites from both your pets and your entire house.

Clean Your House
If you’ve found fleas on your pet or on yourself, they are probably inside your home, too. A deep cleaning can help. Take time to dust wood furniture and thoroughly wipe down all other surfaces. Wash all bedding, throws, curtains and other fabrics.

One of the best things you can do to remove fleas and flea eggs from your home is to run the vacuum over your floors, whether hardwood or carpet. Vacuum your floors several times and make sure to use the wand extension to get into cracks and corners where insects could be hiding. Be thorough and vacuum all sliding door tracks and windowsills.

Call an Expert at Exterminating FleasIf you detect fleas, whether in your home, on pets or even on your own body, you need to call an exterminator right away. The presence of one flea signals the presence of many more, so extermination is the only option for preventing a full-blown infestation.

When it comes to exterminating fleas, Bug Ninja is the name to call. If you want to get rid of pests in a hurry and make sure they don’t come back, contact us today.

1. They Look Like Bed Bugs
 
Fleas and bed bugs have a similar appearance. Both are reddish brown and nocturnal, but there are ways to tell the pests apart. Fleas tend to have a short, oval shape as opposed to the longer seed shape of bed bugs. Fleas usually cap out at 3 mm while bed bugs can be as long as 5 mm. Both insects are also nocturnal, but fleas tend to hang around pets.
 
2. They Can Lead to Health Issues
 
Both pets and humans may suffer from health issues due to fleas. Not everyone will have the same problems, but the health issues could include:
 

• Parasites: Fleas can be carriers of tapeworms and other parasites. If animals groom the pests off of themselves, they may end up swallowing the bugs. This leads to the parasite being released in their systems.
• Bacteria: These miniscule insects can also carry a variety of bacteria. Some may infect humans while others may infect animals. The most common human-related bacteria carried by fleas causes cat scratch disease.
• Allergies: Fleas are known for the itchy feeling they produce in their hosts. Most people and pets get itchy due to the creepy-crawly feeling caused by the bugs walking on them, but some animals can develop an allergy to proteins in the insect's saliva. The itching caused by this allergic reaction is usually much worse than that caused by the simple movement of the flea.
• Anemia: If the blood-sucking bugs consume too much of the host's blood, it could lead to iron deficiency anemia. This is usually an issue for small or young animals. Some may even require blood transfusions due to the large amount of blood lost.

 
Fleas can lead to an uncomfortable feeling for many, but sometimes the issue can be even worse. Because these pests can be detrimental to health, you typically want to call in a Baton Rouge pest control team as soon as you spot the little bugs.