Everyone who has pets knows that fleas are a nuisance and a health threat to your pet. However, many pet owners don’t know that when their pets get fleas, pet owners can be the victim of these pests as well.

Fleas on people are more than just a nuisance. They are a significant health and safety risk that is important to prevent with stringent flea control and pest control in Sacramento. Keep reading to learn more about fleas, the diseases and health risks they bring to your household, and how to prevent and get rid of them for good.

What Attracts Fleas To Mammals?

Fleas are attracted to mammals because of the blood on which they feed. Another important characteristic of mammals that makes them a more suitable victim for fleas is their dense hair. An animal’s fur allows fleas to live on their prey full-time. This is why they typically don’t live on their humans but instead wait nearby to jump on and bite. People don’t have dense enough hair for fleas to cling to while they feed.

The fact that mammals are warm-blooded animals is the most obvious of the factors that attract fleas. A less-known factor of this relationship is our thermal signature as mammals and our tendency to stay in lighted areas. Not only are fleas more attracted to lighted areas, but they prefer climates of above 65 degrees, making our warmth and our tendency to seek out light integral factors in their attraction towards us.

a flea on a persons leg

Fleas Can Be Dangerous

When fleas are on your pets, they are definitely annoying, but few people know just how dangerous they can be, not just to the health of your pet, but to the members of your household. Fleas can cause hair loss, dermatitis, severe itchiness, and tapeworms in your pets, but they can also cause health issues like anemia from blood loss.

The health threats to you are much more severe. While they can leave itchy flea bites on your exposed skin, usually your ankles and shins, they can also transmit diseases. Fleas are the most common transmitters of the plague, which remains a difficult condition to treat. They can also transmit typhus and tularemia, among others.

Five Natural Flea Prevention Tips

Most flea prevention is keeping your pets protected against them, as they are the most likely source to bring fleas indoors. However, pets are not the only way pests come inside.

Another way these disease vectors infiltrate homes is on other dangerous pests like mice, rats, and squirrels. These fleas are far more likely to carry dangerous diseases, so the best way to prevent these home invaders is through general pest control techniques. These five tips include pet and pest-centric flea prevention:

  1. Collaborate with your veterinarian to keep both indoor and outdoor pets protected from fleas.
  2. Trim your backyard, and if you take pets on walks, keep them out of tall grass. Bathe them after they come inside.
  3. Vacuum often, and be sure to wash your pets’ things regularly.
  4. Store food in glass or metal containers so as not to attract rodents.
  5. Keep outdoor trash sealed and away from the property to deter other flea-carrying pests like raccoons.

Unfortunately, fleas are often a natural consequence of the presence of other pests on your property. If this is the case, then all of the natural prevention methods in the world can’t get rid of a current infestation. For this kind of problem, there’s only one solution.

How To Keep Fleas Away For Good

The best way to prevent flea diseases and other unpleasant consequences of fleas is with a combination of prevention and professional treatment from HomeShield Pest Control. With our eco-friendly flea control treatments, you don’t have to worry about your family, your pets, or the environment. You can still enjoy fast and thorough results without harmful poisons and chemicals.

At HomeShield Pest Control, the safety of our community is our first priority, so we back our treatments with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If the fleas return between visits, we will too, at no extra cost to you.

The best way to get rid of fleas for good is by building a relationship with your local pest control, so you’re protected against all kinds of pests through every season. As a locally-owned business, we can be that trusted organization for your family. For long-term, safe and effective protection against pests, call HomeShield Pest Control today.