Flea Control – Flea Treatment

Pest & Flea Control

There are several different types of flea, but by far the most common is Ctenocephalides felis, also known as the cat flea. Though it is called the cat flea, it is the species most often found on dogs as well. Unless your pet has a severe infestation, he/she is probably not bothered by the odd flea, unless he/she has a flea allergy. However, since these unpleasant insects also bite humans we are, not surprisingly, somewhat intolerant of them. This article discusses how to tell whether your pet has fleas and, if they do, how to eliminate them from your house.flea treatment

It is not always obvious when your pet has a flea problem. You may see an adult flea crawling around on your pet’s skin, especially if they have a pale coat. However, the easiest way to check for the presence of these pesky critters is to look for flea dirt. This is actually flea feces, and appears as tiny black specs near the base of hairs on certain parts of your pet’s coat, particularly around the rump (on the back, in front of the tail). Since fleas feed on blood, their feces is basically dried blood. When these little black specs come into contact with water, they turn reddish-brown. So, try this: moisten a piece of white paper kitchen roll thoroughly and place it on a hard surface. Then, lift your pet above the paper and vigorously rub and scratch his/her back, going against the direction of hair growth, so that as much scurf and debris fall off your pet as possible. Afterward, examine the wet paper closely. If your pet has fleas, the dried black flea dirt will have fallen onto the wet paper and turned into little red spots.

If you have seen a flea on your pet, or have found flea dirt as described above, then you have a flea infestation to deal with. Do not fear, the problem can be easily resolved by following these simple steps.

1. All pets in the house must be treated with an effective flea treatment.
2. The house must be sprayed to kill any fleas and flea eggs in the environment.

It sounds simple. However, I have lost count of the number of times clients say to me that they have done that already, when in fact they did not do it quite properly and so their flea infestation continued.

1. If one of your pets has fleas, you need to treat them all simultaneously. Your goal is to wipe out every flea in the house, so make sure there is no safe host for them to live on. Remember dogs and cats require different doses of flea treatment products.

Many owners believe that applying a flea product they have bought in a pet shop or supermarket will kill all the fleas in their house, or that a flea collar will provide adequate protection for their pet. Wrong. Purchasing these products is certainly better than doing nothing, but they are nowhere near 100% effective. They are comparatively weak compared to the products you can get from your veterinarian. There are many veterinary recommended products, here is a list of some of the best: Frontline®, Advantage®, Advocate®, K9 Advantix®, Program®, Revolution®, Stronghold®. Most of these are prescription-only medicines, meaning they can only be obtained from your veterinarian or with a prescription from your veterinarian. However, Frontline® has recently been granted a general sales license and so can be bought over the counter, or ordered via an internet store.

Once you have purchased one of these recommended products, it is important to apply it correctly. Part the fur on the back of your pet’s neck and empty the contents of the pipette onto the skin, to form a small puddle of liquid. Applying it to the back of the neck prevents your pet from ingesting it as this is the one place they cannot lick it while grooming themselves. Once it is applied, do not wash or bathe your pet for several days, and do not let your pet go out in the rain or go swimming, or the product will wash off and be wasted. The liquid is absorbed through the skin and distributed around the body.

Generally, these products provide protection for 1 month from the time of application. Frontline® for cats provides 1-month protection vs fleas whilst Frontline® for dogs provides 2 months protection vs fleas, but only 1-month protection vs ticks and so is often applied monthly nevertheless.

2. Spraying the house. This is equally as important as treating your pet, as the major part of the flea life cycle develops off the host, in the environment. Though adult fleas will spend most of their time on your pet, the flea eggs and flea larvae live in the environment, often being concentrated in or near pet sleeping areas. To eliminate the next generation of fleas, the environment must be sprayed thoroughly with an effective spray.

The commercial introduction of Insect Growth Regulators (IGRs) represented a major breakthrough in flea control. These chemicals are highly effective at destroying flea eggs and larvae, and so complement the spot-on treatments very well. They are readily available over the counter in many forms and do not wash off the floor with water so have considerable residual activity; an application is required only once every 6-12 months.

So, where and how should you use this household flea spray? The various stages of the flea life cycle are not found on tiled floors or floors covered with linoleum. They are mainly found in carpets and in cracks of wooden floors. First of all, shut all of the windows in the house. Make sure the house is empty, if this is difficult then shut all of the pets in a room where they seldom go, which you can spray separately later. If you have an aquarium, move it outside or make it airtight as the flea spray can get into the water and kill the fish. Then, go around the whole house spraying anywhere where your pet(s) spend time, concentrating on where they sleep and their favorite lying spots. Remember to move furniture and spray underneath too. Hold the aerosol about 30cm from the surface you are spraying. Once you have sprayed everywhere, leave the house, with the windows closed, for 3 hours. On your return, open all the windows and leave again for a further 30 minutes. Then go back and vacuum clean the entire house thoroughly. Remove the vacuum cleaner bag or empty the container immediately.

Following this technique will ensure swift eradication of fleas both on your pet and in your house. Good luck!

Affordable Home Insurance Is Not Out Of Reach

Are you trying to find affordable homeowners insurance in Texas? Join the thousands of Texans who have found cheaper rates and better coverage. Make the insurers fight for your business and see what discounts they can offer you. Use a simple 2-minute form online to compare quotes online.homeowners insurance san antonio

With a rising population, Texan house ownership is increasing throughout the state. Because of this, home insurance in Texas is an important necessity for new homeowners who are moving to Texas.
Home insurance provides you the protection needed for any property damage to your homes. All lenders in the United States, including ones in Texas, will not provide mortgages to you unless you purchase some level of housing insurance. The housing insurance can cover a number of natural disasters or damages to property. Fires, floods, vandalism, accidents, and robberies are some basic coverage factors for most home insurance policies. Not having home insurance will stop the mortgage process on the home, but having minimal insurance packages will also not protect your home from every possible property damage scenario.
In Texas, there are five common attributes to all home insurance policies. Dwelling costs are common, meaning the home you live in will be paid for if there are any damages from natural disasters or property damage. Personal property loss is also mandated, meaning any object in your home, like furniture or appliances, are covered by the home insurance. Liability costs, which include if you are being sued up to $25,000 in property damage to another property. For example, if you accidentally hit your neighbor’s fence is one case of a liability cost. Another factor is medical costs, which can cover anywhere from $500 to $5,000 if your property bodily injures someone. Loss of use is also common in Texas, paying for all of your expenses if you cannot use your home because it is severely damaged.

Texas also has specific types of coverage in the state. You can purchase what is known as all-risk policies, which covers across the board issues for your home. The second type is a specified perils coverage. This type of coverage only covers specific types of damages you may pay for in your home insurance coverage. Texan insurance policies also consider the replacement cost versus the actual cost of the property.

Replacement cost is how much it would cost, at the time of damage, to repair your property. The actual cost is the amount of money your property costs with its depreciated or appreciated housing value. These characteristics are important if you are considering rebuilding or moving from your damaged property. It might be better to buy a new property than rebuilding your old home under your specific insurance policy.
Texas home insurance is a crucial step in your ownership of Texan property. Knowing what Texas has for state policies for housing insurance will help you find a unique, money-saving plan for your property.
Search the internet to compare FREE Texas homeowners insurance quotes online now and see how much you could save!

This Blog was brought to you by Falcon Insurance Services in San Antonio and South Texas

Tips on Drain Cleaning

Tips on Drain Cleaning

This short article will give you the data you need if you are trying to find information on the various pipe problems, whether you’re doing some home maintenance on your own or another person’s house. Should you try to accomplish these tasks with no knowledge, your end product will wind up a waste of time and a calamity. More on Plumbing services.

Drain the sediment from the base of your hot water heater two times annually to keep the hot water heater operating at its best amounts. Just open the drain valve and permit the water to run out into a pail until the water runs clear. Then shut the drain valve.drain cleaning - plumbing services

Protect your plumbing pipes! When you are gone, if you live in an area with cold winters and you are leaving your home for an extended amount of time, protect your pipes! Shut off the main water valve! By opening the faucets at the highest and lowest points of the house drain the system of water. In addition, be sure that you’ve got left some heat on in your house! Place the thermostat to at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

Believe it or not, believe it, it is not an excellent idea in case your toilet is clogged, to work with a plunger. Plungers push whatever is stuck deeper to the drain. Instead, it’s a clearer idea to employ a closet auger. It’ll do a better job and is affordable.

Keep water trickling marginally from faucets to help prevent frozen pipes when the temperature drops significantly. Colder than normal temperatures could cause difficulties if pipes are not insulated appropriately, even when pipes usually are not subjected to the elements.

Regularly check faucets and your appliance connections round the house for nearby signs of wetness or any kind of obvious flows. Not only do even the smallest leaks lead into a substantial waste of money and water, but they may also result in damage to your home or even the development of molds that are harmful.

Throughout the week, soap and hair can develop in your drains and can cause serious clogs. Be sure that you have strainers in every one of your drains to assist catch this debris to ensure that it does not become an issue. This will maintain your water flowing efficiently.

Whenever choosing a plumber make sure he’s insured and licensed. This really is very important. When there is a plumbing emergency, you want to make sure the plumber has met the training requirements of the state. This covers any accidental damage while mending your plumbing done if he is insured.

When you have a clogged drain, do not use cleaning compounds to attempt to clear the clog. Your metal conduits can corrode leading to broken pipes and outflows with time. Stick into a plunger or make use of a plumbing snake to clear them.

Using the proper knowledge, plumbing jobs can be accomplished by you, should you make an effort to learn and perform all the steps accurately. Now in order to accomplish your plumbing needs that you’ve got the info which you need, don’t waste any time trying to fix your plumbing issues.