Do you have fleas in your house?

In addition to being repulsive and difficult to remove from your home, fleas can transmit serious disease and cause people and pets to get serious allergic reactions caused by flea saliva and bites.

An adult female flea can lay forty to fifty eggs per day.

What are fleas?

Fleas are parasites that feed on animal and human blood. Fleas are 1 to 4mm long, with dark, reddish brown bodies and microscopic hair that allows them to travel easily through hair and fur. Although fleas do not fly, they can jump up to 20cm (vertically) and 41cm (horizontally).

There are at least two-thousand known flea species around the world. Here are some more common types of fleas that can be found in Quebec homes:

Cat Fleas: are the most common fleas found in pets and Quebec homes. Regardless of their name, they can infest both cats and dogs, wild animals and even humans.

Dog Fleas: are much less common in Canada than cat fleas. Dog fleas are a different species than cat fleas, although their differences can only be seen using a microscope.

Chigoe Fleas: are found in tropical areas. They make their way into
Canadian homes through tourists who vacationed in locations such as Central or South-America. Chigoe fleas can be found in the sand and attach to their hosts (usually on the feet) by entering the outer layers of the skin. Chigoe fleas can cause infection, inflammation and pain, but can also cause more severe conditions, including gangrene and serious blood infections.

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Signs of a flea infestation

Most people believe that they can only attract fleas at the dog park, and consequently, their pet will start scratching. However, this could not be further from the truth!

Although the above scenario is possible, flea infestations can occur through various scenarios. Fleas are complex parasites whose 4 life cycle stages allow them to survive through various environments and conditions. Moreover, fleas only live about one quarter of their life on their host. This means that the remainder of their lives is spent out in the environment, and therefore, under your baseboards, in your carpets, and other cracks and crevices in your home, or yard! For this reason, only relying on checking your pet for fleas, is not an effective way to avoid a flea infestation.

Here are some of the signs that will reveal that you have fleas in your home:

Physical Signs of a Flea Infestation

Physical signs that prove fleas are present in your surroundings include: red, infected skin, or red bumps on your or your pet’s skin. Rashes and, of course, itchy skin are also a sign of infestation.

Flea droppings as a sign of infestation

Flea droppings are tiny, dark or red specks of dirt that look like coarse pepper. Finding flea droppings in your pet’s fur or in areas of your home, is a sign you might have a flea infestation in your house.

Flea larva as a sign of infestation

Flea larva can be found around your home. Their colour is creamy white, and they measure approximately 3 to 5mm in length. They feed on organic debris (including dead skin or even other flea droppings).

For this reason, they do not rely on hosts to survive. They can be found in bedding, under the furniture, in carpets, under baseboards or cracks. In the yard, flea larva can be found in shaded, protected areas.

Fleas on your property?

Because fleas travel on and off their host during their four life stages (egg, larva, pupa, and adult flea), it is difficult to locate and get rid of them. Moreover, pets like cats and dogs are not the only possible carriers of fleas. Many flea infestations are caused by a wild animal or rodent lurking in and around the property. In some cases, fleas can also attach to humans who are traveling.

Contacting a certified pest control expert like Eco-pro is the safest, fastest, and most effective way to exterminate fleas from your home. A go-forward prevention plan will also be put into place to ensure that you know how to prevent getting fleas again in the future.

Eco-pro has experience and success in solving infestation problems. We have helped thousands of clients in Montreal, the South Shore and Laval. We will completely remove fleas from your property, ensuring your home is safe again!

Eco-pro will ensure the problem is gone.