To get rid of ticks and fleas, treat your pets with a vet-approved product, treat the yard (especially shady areas, kennels and where pets rest) and the indoor areas where pets sleep, wash pet bedding hot, vacuum thoroughly, and keep grass short. Treating only the pets or only the yard usually fails because the cycle continues.
Why ticks and fleas keep coming back
Most of a flea population lives as eggs, larvae and pupae in carpets, bedding and soil, not on your pet. Ticks wait in grass and shrubs for a passing host. That is why the pets, the home and the yard all need treating at the same time.
How to get rid of ticks and fleas: step by step
- Treat all pets with a vet-approved tick and flea product
- Wash pet bedding on a hot cycle
- Vacuum carpets, couches and pet areas daily for two weeks and empty the vacuum outside
- Mow the lawn and cut back long grass and overgrown beds
- Book a yard and home treatment covering kennels, shady beds and resting spots
- Keep up preventative pet treatment year-round
Are ticks dangerous in the Western Cape?
Ticks can carry diseases such as tick bite fever in people and biliary (babesiosis) in dogs. Check dogs after walks, especially near fynbos, long grass and farmland, and see a vet if your dog is lethargic or off its food.
Frequently asked questions
Can fleas live in my house without pets?
Fleas need a host to feed on, but eggs and pupae can survive in carpets for weeks, which is why fleas can bite people in a home after pets have gone.
How often should I treat my yard for ticks?
In high-risk areas and warm months, a yard treatment every few months alongside regular pet treatment works well.
Is yard treatment safe for pets?
Pets should stay off treated areas until they are dry. Your technician will give you the exact time.
Need help now? Cape Shield Fumigation offers tick & flea control across Cape Town and the Western Cape. Call or WhatsApp 066 575 0079.