The Importance of Flea & Tick Control in Greensburg
Fleas and ticks love vegetation, including the shady areas of your yard. This can be under trees, hedgerows, and especially under decks and porches where pets like to hide. Here in Greensburg, ticks are prone to hang out in tall grass or overgrown areas where they wait for deer or unaware pets to pass by.
The Dangers of Ticks
Ticks can carry Lyme Disease, a disease that has become much more prevalent in the last decade here in Greensburg. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control, in 2018, there were more confirmed cases of Lyme disease in Pennsylvania than in any other state in the U.S. It is a disease that affects both humans and pets. In humans, symptoms include rashes, joint pain, chills, fever, and fatigue. In dogs, symptoms include fever, loss of appetite, reduced energy, and discomfort and pain.
One of the biggest problems with Lyme disease is that it is hard to diagnose. This is because its symptoms mimic those of so many other illnesses. The most distinct symptom, a red, circular rash, only appears in half the people infected with the bacteria. But ticks don’t stop there. They are also known to transmit Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and several other lesser-known diseases.
The Dangers of Fleas
Fleas, while mostly harmful to your pets, can bite humans and cause red, itchy marks. In animals, they can cause tapeworm and murine typhus. Murine typhus is a disease cats contract from infected rats. Symptoms include body aches, fever, and nausea. They can also cause allergic reactions in both cats and dogs, causing your furry friend significant discomfort even after they are gone. Like ticks, fleas are tiny and hard to see. Therefore they can travel distances on your pet without your knowledge and seek refuge inside your home. Before you know it, you have an infestation on your hands.