Nothing hits you quite like the itchy reality of flea and tick season! Most pet owners dread the warmer months of the year that inspire the circus and fleas and parade of ticks through their properties because once they are there, it can be tricky to get rid of them.
These tiny critters target your furry friends because they feed on the protein found in blood. Just like mosquitoes, fleas and ticks often need the blood of humans and animals in order to reproduce. This is why your pets can't stop itching and why you sometimes wake up with tiny bites around your ankles.
Luckily, Greenix is here to shed some light on the situation! We've got all the information you need to know about these infuriating insects, as well as some natural solutions to help you and your pets avoid them when possible.
Know Your Enemy: The Flea and Tick Lowdown
Frustrating Fleas: Known for their hops, fleas are wingless bugs that are most commonly found bouncing around in tall grasses in search of food. As soon as they realize you've got a pet in the yard, they come a-hoppin'.
They're very small and appear to be black or dark brown. They are very hard to see on pets with long hair, but they like the protection that it gives them.
Female fleas have to consume blood in order to develop and lay their eggs, making it imperative for them to find some sort of warm-blooded mammal to attach themselves to. Their only food source is blood, so there's no alternative snack for them to munch on until they find a person or animal.
Terrible Ticks: Ticks actually fall into the arachnid family, making them closely related to spiders. They also have eight legs, though they don't spin webs and wait around for flies. Like spiders, ticks have the desire to hunt down a food source, but they often hide in tall grass, bushes, or trees waiting for the opportunity to jump onto a host.
Ticks aren't as picky as fleas, considering they don't have a preference for human versus animal. They'll take any opportunity to grab a bite when they can.
These pests need to feed on blood over the course of several days, and when the female has had her fill, she will drop away from the host to go lay thousands of eggs. While fleas remain very small throughout their entire life, ticks can grow to be as large as a small grape.
DIY Defense: Natural Remedies to Protect Your Pals
Seeing one tick or a flea here and there doesn't necessarily warrant going all out with pest control. Vets often offer medications that can help protect your pets from getting bit by fleas, but sometimes it doesn't work, or the medications don't last. Here are some natural options to help prevent fleas and ticks:
Herbal Bath Time: Natural herbs like rosemary and lavender can not only be soothing, but they can help prevent these pests from attacking your pets! Whether it's a fragrance in the shampoo or you decide to throw sprigs of rosemary into the bath, getting the scent on your pets can help!
***Greenix does not claim to be an expert on pets! Be sure to use pet-safe products to keep your furry friends safe and healthy.
Essential Oil Blends: Cedarwood and lemongrass are known to be safe for pets, and they can help deter fleas and ticks! You can try diluting them in water and spraying them on your pet, but be sure to do a patch test on your skin and then your pet's skin before putting it all over them.
Neem Oil Necessities: Another great option is neem oil, though you want to be careful of concentrations as it can cause skin irritation if too potent. A great way to use it is to add it to shampoos or mix it into coconut oil so you can massage it onto your pets.
Beat the Heat and the Pests!
While there are natural ways to treat and prevent fleas and ticks, infestations require the help of professionals. Greenix can help with our targeted flea and tick treatment that aims to protect both you and your pets from the harm that fleas and ticks can cause. Ditch the itch and schedule your pest control treatments today!
