Parow is an older working suburb built around Voortrekker Road, with shops, flats, family homes and an industrial area all close together.
Fleas in Parow homes
Fleas are common in Parow homes with pets, especially in summer when the inland heat helps them breed fast. Older homes with wooden floors give larvae gaps between the boards to hide in, and backyards with shaded corners, kennels and backyard rooms where dogs sleep keep the cycle going. Rats in the roof or under outbuildings can bring fleas too.
We treat the house and yard with a product that stops larvae developing, so new fleas stop hatching. Pets should be treated by the vet on the same day, and vacuuming daily for a week after treatment brings out the last ones.
Fleas and ants are common in homes during summer.
Tell-tale signs
Tick every sign you have noticed. It takes ten seconds.
Why it matters: Flea bites cause intense itching and many people and pets develop allergic dermatitis that leads to broken skin and infection. Fleas carry the dog and cat tapeworm, which pets pick up by swallowing infected fleas while grooming. Heavy infestations can cause anaemia in puppies, kittens and older animals. For rental properties and holiday lets, a flea problem left by previous occupants is a common source of complaints.
Something most people miss
Landlords should insist on a flea treatment between tenants where pets have been living in the property. It costs far less than dealing with a complaint from the next tenant in the first week.
Children crawling and playing on carpets tend to get more bites than adults. We treat in a way that lets floors be used again once dry, and we ask that toys are lifted off the floor beforehand.
How the treatment works
A proper flea job hits every life stage, not just the adults. We use an insect growth regulator, which stops eggs and larvae developing into breeding adults, together with a residual insecticide on carpets, floors, under furniture and around pet resting places, both inside and in sheltered outdoor spots. Before we arrive, you vacuum thoroughly, wash pet bedding hot and lift items off the floor so the product reaches where the larvae live. The pets must be treated by your vet on the same day or just before, otherwise new fleas keep arriving. Because pupae are protected in their cocoons, we often book a follow-up treatment a couple of weeks later to catch the late hatchers.
Want the full step-by-step? See how our flea control service works.
Keeping them out afterwards
- Wash pet bedding on a hot cycle every week or two and vacuum the areas where pets sleep.
- Discourage stray cats from sleeping under the house, on the stoep or in the garage.
- Deal with rats or mice in the roof promptly, as their fleas can drop into the house.
- Before moving into a rental or newly bought home, ask whether the previous occupants had pets, and consider a treatment before the furniture goes in.
- Keep the grass short and rake away leaf litter in shaded spots where the dog lies outside.
How much will it cost?
The main factors are the size of the house, how much carpet and soft furnishing there is, and whether outdoor areas need treating as well. A heavy infestation in a multi-pet home will usually need a follow-up visit, which we include in the quote. Preparation on your side makes a big difference to how well a single treatment works, and we give a free quote upfront.
Fleas breed fastest in warm, humid weather, so numbers rise from about October and peak through the hot Cape Town summer. Indoors they keep going all year because houses rarely get cold enough to stop them. We also see a spike in autumn when people return from holidays and the vibration of activity wakes up dormant pupae.
Questions we get asked in Parow
Why do fleas come back after I treat my dog?
Eggs and larvae in the house and yard keep hatching. Treating them together breaks the cycle.
Why do I still see fleas after the treatment?
Pupae in their cocoons are protected and keep hatching for up to two or three weeks, and those new fleas then die on contact with the treated surfaces. Keep vacuuming, and call us if numbers are not dropping after that period.
Is there a guarantee?
Our treatments carry a minimum 3-month guarantee, provided the pets are kept on vet flea treatment as advised.
Do you treat my dog or cat?
No, pets must be treated by your vet. We treat the house and garden, and both need to happen together for the job to work.
Should I vacuum after the treatment?
Yes, but wait until the day after. Vacuuming encourages pupae to hatch and removes eggs, and it does not undo the treatment.
How soon can the pets come back in?
Once the treated surfaces are completely dry, usually after a few hours. We will confirm on the day based on the products used.
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