February 14, 2022 | Insect Control | Kylie Kelty
Even if you don’t live near a wooded area, fleas and ticks could still be lurking on your property. That’s why it’s so important to get flea and tick control every year. Otherwise, your family or pets could be exposed to one of these harmful diseases. By keeping up with yard maintenance and opting for a professional flea and tick control application, you can keep these – and many other diseases – at bay.
While some diseases only affect humans, Tularemia can infect humans and pets. It’s widespread in smaller pets like mice, rats, guinea pigs, and rabbits. While it’s primarily spread through tick bites, Tularemia can also be spread through skin contact with an infected animal or by breathing in airborne particles – typically through the dust. Anyone who comes down with Tularemia will develop a fever, and if you contracted the disease through a direct tick bite – as opposed to skin contact, for example – you will notice an ulcer where the tick bit you. Tularemia causes Lymph node swelling – typically in the armpits or groin area. Like the other diseases on this list, it’s best to seek medical treatment right away if a tick has bitten you. If left untreated, Tularemia can enter the bloodstream and move to the lungs, where it can cause breathing difficulties.
At this time, it’s believed that only Lone Star ticks are responsible for spreading the Heartland virus. Patients with Heartland virus will exhibit symptoms including:
Heartland virus impacts the white blood cell count in your system, which means that you’ll be more vulnerable to other diseases and illnesses. Heartland virus also affects the blood platelet count, so if you were to injure yourself while infected, your blood would not clot as fast. Consequently, a minor cut could result in significantly more blood loss. Symptoms often take as long as two weeks before they appear. Once again, if a tick has bitten you, seek medical help right away. The earlier diseases are caught, the less likely they will become chronic, lifelong issues.
Flea-borne typhus is spread not only through the bites of fleas but also through contact with their feces. Flea bites are extremely itchy, so when you or your pet get bitten, it’s only natural that you’d want to scratch that itch. All that scratching can lead to an open wound, especially on pets. They’ll stop at nothing to relieve that itch. Once the skin is broken, bacteria from the feces can enter the body. It’s also possible to contract flea-borne typhus by accidentally rubbing your eyes after touching flea dirt (another name for flea feces). When pets come in from outside, they can inadvertently deposit fleas on the carpet without you realizing it. When that flea dirt gets disturbed – usually through vacuuming – the bacteria gets airborne, and you might accidentally breathe it in. Like Tularemia, flea-borne typhus can take multiple weeks before symptoms appear. And like Tularemia, these symptoms could easily be mistaken for the flu or a bad cold. They include:
If untreated, flea-borne typhus can damage major organs, including the liver, kidneys, heart, lungs, and brain.
Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the country. Currently, only the black-legged tick (also known as a deer tick) carries this disease. Lyme disease can very easily evolve into a lifelong chronic illness if left untreated and spread to the heart, joints, nervous system, brain, and spinal cord. You can treat it with powerful antibiotics if caught early, but that’s the key – you have to catch it early. And like the other illnesses on this list, Lyme disease symptoms mimic those of the flu or common cold. Even if you haven’t noticed a tick bite, if you’ve been in a wooded area recently and developed the following symptoms, it’s a good idea to seek medical treatment. Your doctor can perform tests that can rule out Lyme disease. Symptoms of Lyme disease present as the following:
In addition to lawn care services, we provide flea and tick control. These applications are safe for your children and pets once they’ve dried, and they’ll provide protection from these dangerous bugs. Applications are timed throughout the spring, summer, and early fall, so you have continued protection all year long. In addition to spraying your property, our team will also assess where fleas and ticks are most likely to be hiding. These could include places like the underneath decks and porches, tall grass, landscaping beds, or playscapes. By pointing out problem areas, we can help you prevent future infestations down the road.
Don’t risk your family’s health! Keep your loved ones and pets safe with a flea and tick control application from Farison Lawn Care. For over 50 years, our team of experts has helped thousands of homeowners maintain pest-free yards so they can enjoy their outdoor space with peace of mind. Our pest control service can be applied as a stand-alone treatment or as part of our normal lawn care program. To learn more or schedule an appointment, please call us at (502) 245-9422, or you can send us a message through our online form here.
Don’t forget to browse our blog page for more articles on pests, lawn diseases, lawn maintenance, and caring for your trees and shrubs!
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