Fleas are commonly brought indoors by the pets we love. They’re small, brownish black bugs that jump and cause bites around the ankles. There is a risk of disease transmission, as most notably, the plague spread throughout Europe this way. Today, (Murine) Typhus is spread throughout the southwest via fleas. There is also the chance that humans can ingest the flea and get infected by tapeworms that live inside the flea. Flea bites are small, itchy welts that often happen in groups.
Ticks are increasingly becoming more worrisome because they carry a number of adverse diseases. Tick borne illnesses are spreading across the US and are infecting increasingly more ticks every year. Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and even an allergy to mammalian meat are all transmitted through tick bites. Ticks can range in size from a tiny speck to about 1/4 of an inch. They have 8 legs and are very good at climbing. They eat the blood of humans and animals and love to dig into the crevices of the body and clothes. For example, the edge of elastic bands in clothes, hairlines, between toes. Ticks live outdoors and connect with humans by climbing off grasses and other vegetation. Be on the watch for the bullseye-like mark that tick bites leave. Concerned about fleas and ticks? Call us for help.