Dogitek flea and tick lawn treatment

The only good flea is a dead flea. 

There’s nothing savory about these pests – they hatch from larva and feast on the fecal pellets of their adult forbearers until they enter the pupa stage, wherein they enter a pesticide-resistant cocoon, which can last up to six months or until they sense the presence of a hot-blooded body to chomp on.

Then, when the moment’s right, they bust out of their cocoons as vicious blood suckers that scorn the likes of pets, cats and humans alike. They burrow into skin with a sharp, straw-like mouth that they force into the bloodstream to draw out the blood. Pretty nightmarish, right?

And that itchiness, redness and swelling that occurs when you or your pet has been bitten? That’s the anti-coagulant they inject to ensure you don’t cut off their meal prematurely.

The gestation period in which the larva enter the pupa stage makes it extremely difficult for exterminators to eliminate fleas, because even if the adults are eradicated, the cocoons and eggs can hang around long after the exterminator collects his payment.

However, recent developments in flea-combating technology have enabled us to halt the growth and reproduction cycle of fleas. In the mid ’90s, veterinary pharmacists developed an Insect Growth Regulator (IGR) known as Program and Precor, which then evolved into a more user-friendly solution called Advantage.

If you’re a pet owner, you know the miracle of Advantage. These IGRs enter an animal’s bloodstream via pills (Precor) or topical application (Advantage, Program) and, if ingested by a flea, will break up the life cycle by mutating the first two stages of development, making it impossible for a flea to get past the cocoon stage. Go science!

At Dogitek, we will treat the exterior of your home with a low-intensity pest barrier. Specially formulated for your yard, this ready-to-spray, hose-end treatment kills fleas, ticks, mosquitoes and other listed insects, killing fleas outdoors for up to 12 weeks. Use on your home lawn, in kennel or dog run areas, or as a home barrier treatment around your foundation. An effective flea and tick control program includes coordinated treatment of the home, yard and pet (We only treat outdoor lawn and dog run areas). 

Treatment and prevention work together, so it's key to treat all three areas simultaneously. This integrated pest management approach involves inspection, cleaning and targeting eggs, larvae and adults with the appropriate insecticides. Monitoring your pets and home and follow-up treatments are recommended.