Flea and Tick Products for Less

Flea and Tick control is one of the number one problems faced by pet owners today. Not only are fleas and ticks annoying and potentially disease carrying but they can take up residence in your home and become nearly impossible to eradicate. In the case of fleas and ticks an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Take a little time in learning how to secure your home and pet against the onslaught of fleas and ticks.

If your pet is flea free to begin with then the best option is to use an Insect Growth Inhibitor (IGR) that can be applied in a single application in a spot at the back of the animal's neck. IGRs will not kill any existing fleas, but they will stop the next generation and do not carry harmful levels of pesticides that can do damage to yours or your pet's system. If your animal already has fleas there are several low-level pesticide 'spot-on' application products available which will kill the fleas without causing further harm to the animal. It is critical that you never use a flea and tick control product designed for a cat on a dog and vice versa.

A good deal of proper flea and tick control can be done with a few simple steps. Run a flea comb through your pet's coat regularly. Wash your pet's bedding once per week. Keep the part of the lawn where your dog prefers to lay mowed and well trimmed. Vacuum your home regularly and clean the filter or dispose of the bag immediately afterward. De-humidify your home as fleas need 50% to 75% humidity to hatch and survive. Keep the house as cool as possible - fleas need temperatures of more than 70 degrees to survive. Doing these things and treating your dog with an IRG either in spot application form or in a collar form should help you to keep your house flea free.

Approach flea and tick control in your house with caution, starting with IGRs and very low-level pesticides before employing high-level pesticides for your pet, your home and your yard. It is best to use the minimum level of chemical necessary to achieve your ends of a flea free pet and a flea free home. Use the weapons of cleanliness, prevention and a non-invasive approach to win the battle over fleas and ticks. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeff_Thurston