Sachse, TX · Fleas
Fleas in the house even after treating the pets
Bites around the ankles and small dark insects jumping on carpet or socks, even after the dog or cat was treated, mean the fleas are living in the house and the yard, not only on the animal. In Texas most flea problems are the cat flea, which also lives on dogs, and most of the population is eggs, larvae and pupae in carpet, bedding and shaded soil.
Texas pest control businesses are licensed by the TDA. The call carries no obligation.
Why one round rarely does it
The pupae are protected. The cocoon stage resists treatments and can wait until vibration, warmth or carbon dioxide from a person or pet tells it to hatch. That is why fleas seem to come back a week or two after a treatment, and why Texas A&M AgriLife calls a follow-up treatment 10 to 14 days later critical. Vacuuming helps too: it removes up to 60 percent of eggs.
Indoor and outdoor go together. If pets go outside, untreated resting spots in the yard keep reseeding the house.
The pets are part of it. A treatment of the house works only if the animals are on a product from the veterinarian at the same time.
What the visit involves
A technician treats carpets, rugs, pet bedding areas and upholstered furniture where pets lie, and the shaded outdoor spots they use. Expect preparation steps — vacuuming, washing bedding, picking up items from the floor — and often a follow-up visit to catch fleas that emerge after the first round.
Tell the operator
- How many pets, and what flea products they are on
- Which rooms the pets use, and whether they go outside
- Whether bites are mostly on ankles and legs
- Any recent move into the home
Say what you found and where. Call to check whether a visit is available today.
(866) 204-1244Questions people ask
The pets are on flea medicine. Why are there still fleas?
Pet products kill adult fleas that get on the animal. Eggs and pupae already in the carpet and yard keep hatching for weeks, so new adults keep appearing.
Can fleas live in the yard?
Yes, in shaded, moist spots where pets rest — under decks, along fences, in dense groundcover. Hot, sunny lawn is poor flea habitat; soil above about 95°F kills the larvae.
Do I need to leave the house during treatment?
Usually for a few hours while it dries. The provider explains how long people and pets need to stay out.
Other things people find
- Winged insects swarming inside the houseDark, small, many at once near a window — then wings everywhere
- Mud lines running up the slab or the garage wallPencil-width dirt tubes on the foundation, brick or sheetrock
- Fire ant mounds popping up after rainLoose dirt mounds across the lawn, ants that swarm up and sting
- A trail of small ants across the kitchenTiny ants along the counter, sink, window or dishwasher
- Found a scorpion in the housePale yellowish scorpion in the tub, on a wall or in shoes
- A brown spider in the garage, closet or storage boxesPlain brown spider, long legs, found in boxes or clothes
- Big roaches coming up from the drain or the garageLarge reddish-brown roach in the tub, sink or garage at night
- Small roaches in the kitchen cabinetsLight-brown roaches with two dark stripes, near the sink or appliances
- Scratching in the attic or walls at nightScurrying overhead after dark, usually once the weather cools
- Droppings in the pantry or kitchen drawersSmall dark pellets near food, under the sink or in drawers
- Waking up with bites in a line or clusterItchy bites after sleeping, dark specks on the mattress seams
- Mosquitoes make the backyard unusableBites on the patio at dusk, or even in the middle of the day
- Pests in a house that was just builtCrickets, ants or scorpions in a home that is a year or two old
ZIP codes covered
Mostly built since 2000
Older neighborhoods, 1970s–1990s