Flea Control in Vallejo, CA

Fleas are a house problem, not just a pet problem

Here is the part most people do not know: the fleas you see on your dog or cat are only a small share of the problem. Most of the population lives in your home as eggs, larvae and cocoons, deep in carpet, between couch cushions, in pet beds and in the cracks of wood floors.

That is why a flea collar or a bath alone does not work. The pet gets treated, then picks up new fleas from the carpet the next day.

Good flea control in Vallejo has two parts at the same time: you treat your pet with a product your veterinarian recommends, and we treat the home and yard. Call (707) 000-0000 and we will set a time that lines up with your pet’s treatment.

Why fleas keep coming back

The cocoon stage is the one that catches people out. Fleas inside cocoons can wait for weeks, then hatch all at once when they feel footsteps. That is why you may see a burst of fleas a week or two after treatment, and why we plan a follow-up visit from the start.

It is also why fleas can be waiting in a house or apartment that has been empty. Moving into a Vallejo rental that had pets, or coming home after a long trip, is a classic time for a flea surprise: lots of bites around the ankles in the first few days.

Where Vallejo fleas come from

The common flea in California homes is the cat flea, and it bites dogs, cats and people. Your pet does not have to go far to pick them up.

• Wildlife under and around the house. Opossums, raccoons, rats and stray or feral cats carry fleas and often bed down under decks, in crawl spaces and under porches. When they move on, the fleas they left behind look for the next host.
• Dog parks and trails. Places where many dogs gather, from neighborhood parks to the trails around Blue Rock Springs and Lake Dalwigk, are easy places for fleas to change hosts.
• Shaded yard spots. Flea larvae survive best in shady, moist areas: under shrubs, along fences, under decks and in the spots where your dog likes to lie. Sun-baked lawn is less of a problem.
• Warm summer months. Fleas build up fast in Vallejo’s warm, dry summer and early fall, and the mild bay climate means they do not die off completely in winter.

If you are seeing rats or other animals around the house, deal with that too, or the fleas will keep coming. See rodent control in Vallejo.

Signs you have fleas in the house

• Small, itchy red bites, usually around ankles and lower legs, often in clusters
• Pets scratching, biting at their skin or losing fur, especially near the tail
• Tiny dark brown bugs that jump when you walk on the carpet
• “Flea dirt”: black specks on pet bedding or in the fur that turn reddish on a damp paper towel (it is digested blood)
• Seeing fleas on white socks after walking through a room

Bites at night in bed, in a line, with no pets in the home? That is more likely bed bugs. See bed bug treatment in Vallejo.

How our flea treatment works

1. Talk first. We ask about your pets, when they were last treated and where they sleep, and whether you have seen animals under the house.
2. Inspection. We check carpets, rugs, furniture, pet beds, the crawl space and the yard to find where fleas are breeding.
3. Indoor treatment. We treat carpets, rugs, under furniture and along baseboards with a product that kills adult fleas plus an insect growth regulator (IGR) that stops eggs and larvae from growing into biting adults. The IGR is what makes the treatment last.
4. Yard and crawl space treatment. Where fleas are breeding outside, we treat the shaded areas where pets and wildlife rest.
5. Your part with the pet. Treat every dog and cat in the home with a vet-recommended flea product on the same schedule. We do not treat pets.
6. Follow-up visit. Fleas still in cocoons hatch after the first treatment. A second visit, usually about two weeks later, catches them.

We will tell you exactly what we are using, how long to keep people and pets off treated floors, and when it is safe to let everyone back in.

Before and after flea treatment

Before:
– Vacuum every carpet, rug, couch and pet bed thoroughly, including under furniture and along edges. Empty the vacuum outside in a sealed bag.
– Wash pet bedding, throw blankets and anything on the floor in hot water and dry on high heat.
– Pick up toys, clothes and items from the floor so we can reach the carpet.
– Mow the lawn and clear clutter from shaded spots in the yard.
– Treat your pets with your vet’s product.

After:
– Keep people and pets off treated areas until they are dry.
– Keep vacuuming every day or two for the next two weeks. The vibration makes cocoons hatch so the treatment can work, and it picks up eggs.
– Do not shampoo or steam the carpets for two weeks unless we say it is fine, so you do not wash the treatment out.
– Expect a few fleas for a week or two. That is the cocoons hatching, not the treatment failing.

For more general advice, see our guide to before and after pest control.

How to get rid of fleas: what works and what does not

Works: treating all pets with a vet product, vacuuming daily, hot-water washing of bedding, a home treatment with an IGR, treating shaded yard areas, and keeping wildlife out from under the house.

Usually does not work on its own: flea collars only, flea bombs (foggers do not reach under furniture or deep into carpet), salt or baking soda on the carpet, and essential oils, some of which can be harmful to cats.

Fleas in Vallejo rentals

If you just moved in and the bites started right away, the fleas were probably there before you. Let your landlord or property manager know in writing with dates and photos.

Property managers: treating for fleas between tenants, especially after a pet-owning tenant moves out, is far easier than dealing with a new tenant’s complaint in the first week.

What does flea control cost in Vallejo?

The price depends on the size of the home, how many rooms have carpet, whether the yard and crawl space need treatment, and how many follow-up visits it takes. A small apartment with one cat is a different job from a large house with dogs and wildlife under the deck.

We inspect first and give you a clear price before we start. For more on pricing, see our Vallejo pest control cost guide.