Summer is a season of long walks, beach days, and quality time in the garden — especially if you share your home with a dog or cat. But while you and your pet enjoy the sunshine, so do some of the most persistent parasites: fleas and ticks. These tiny pests are more than just annoying — they can pose health risks to both pets and humans if not controlled.
At Discreet Pest Control, we receive an increase in calls from pet owners during the warmer months dealing with flea infestations or tick sightings. Here’s how you can keep your pets — and your home — free from unwanted guests this summer.
Why Fleas and Ticks Are a Bigger Problem in Summer
Fleas and ticks thrive in warm, humid weather. Ireland’s summer climate, even when mild, creates ideal conditions for these pests to breed and spread. Fleas can multiply rapidly — one female can lay up to 50 eggs a day — while ticks become more active in tall grass, wooded areas, and even gardens during the warmer months.
Your pet doesn’t have to travel far to bring them home — a quick walk through the park or a nap in the garden can be enough to trigger an infestation indoors.
What’s the Real Risk?
Fleas:
- Cause intense itching, scratching, and skin infections in pets
- Can transmit tapeworms
- Can infest carpets, furniture, and bedding — not just your pet
Ticks:
- Attach to your pet (or you) and feed on blood
- Can transmit Lyme disease and other infections
- Often go unnoticed until fully engorged
Even indoor pets aren’t entirely safe — humans and other pets can unknowingly bring fleas and ticks inside.
Top Prevention Tips for Pet Owners
1. Use Vet-Approved Preventatives
Speak to your vet about appropriate flea and tick prevention. This can include:
- Spot-on treatments
- Collars
- Oral medications
- Sprays and shampoos
Apply them regularly and follow the dosage instructions carefully.
2. Check Your Pets Daily
After walks or playtime outdoors, inspect your pet — especially around the neck, ears, belly, armpits, and paws. Ticks are small and often go unnoticed until they swell. Fleas are harder to spot, but you may see “flea dirt” (tiny black specks) in the fur.
3. Keep Your Home Clean and Vacuum Often
Regular vacuuming (especially around pet bedding, skirting boards, and soft furnishings) can remove flea eggs and larvae before they hatch. Wash your pet’s bedding in hot water weekly during the summer.
4. Maintain Your Garden
Ticks often live in long grass or shady, overgrown areas. Keep lawns trimmed, remove garden waste, and create clear boundaries between lawn and wooded or wild areas. Avoid letting pets roam through tall grass or heavy undergrowth.
5. Don’t Rely on DIY Remedies Alone
Natural remedies like vinegar sprays or essential oils may help deter fleas to some extent, but they won’t eliminate an infestation. Rely on professional products — or professional help — when necessary.
What to Do If You Already Have a Problem
Fleas:
If your pet has fleas, assume your home does too. Even if you treat your pet, flea eggs can survive in carpets and upholstery for weeks.
- Treat all pets in the household
- Thoroughly vacuum all rooms, especially where pets sleep
- Consider steam cleaning carpets and furniture
- Use vet-recommended sprays or foggers in the home
- Contact a pest control professional if the infestation persists
Ticks:
If you find a tick on your pet, remove it using a special tick remover — not tweezers — and disinfect the area. Keep the tick in a sealed bag in case symptoms of illness appear (your vet may want to test it).
- Check all pets and family members
- Consider a full yard and home inspection if ticks are regularly appearing indoors
How Discreet Pest Control Can Help
Flea infestations can quickly spiral out of control, and ticks may signal a wider environmental issue around your home. That’s where we come in.
At Discreet Pest Control, we provide:
- Safe, pet-friendly treatments for fleas and ticks
- Discreet home inspections to identify infestation sources
- Prevention plans tailored to pet owners
- Service in Dublin, Kildare, Wicklow, Carlow, and surrounding areas
We use proven methods that eliminate the entire flea life cycle — not just the adults you can see.
Final Thoughts
Summer should be a time of freedom and fun for your pets — not weeks spent scratching, suffering, or on edge because of pests in your home.
By taking simple prevention steps and acting early when you spot a problem, you can protect your whole household from the stress of flea and tick infestations.
Need help fast?
Contact Discreet Pest Control today for expert advice, effective treatments, and peace of mind for you and your furry family members.
