2 tips to tell customers to lookout for fleas, ticks

John-Michael Kibrick

Vigilance is key when it comes to avoiding the worst of a flea or tick infestation. Remind your customers to always be on the lookout for fleas and ticks, especially if they own pets and especially if those pets go outside regularly.

Here are two things they should be looking for:

• Ticks often can be found by simply petting a cat or dog. They stand out well against white fur despite their small size. After spending a day or two attached to the animal, ticks become enlarged and hardened with blood, making them that much easier to spot. Have customers simply remove them with special tweezers, making sure the head comes out as well.
• Fleas require a sharper eye to handle. If a flea problem is suspected, your customers should watch carefully for small, jumping adults, eggs or larvae everywhere they or their pets have been recently. Fleas spread quickly and probably will have infested several spots in the home by this stage. Have customers spray, wash or discard anything in which fleas may be hiding, including beds, curtains, carpets, furniture and outdoor plants where they may have originated in the first place.