Fleas and ticks on DFW pets: yard and home prevention

Prevent fleas and ticks on DFW pets with three habits: make the yard less welcoming, keep the house vacuumed and pet bedding clean, and check pets for ticks every day they go outside. Ask your veterinarian which on-animal product suits each pet. If you find an attached tick, remove it with clean tweezers using steady, even pressure, as the CDC directs.

Know the suspects: which fleas and ticks bother North Texas pets?

Fleas. According to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension's flea guide, most flea problems in Texas are caused by the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis, which bites dogs as well as cats. Adult fleas live on the animal, but eggs, larvae and pupae develop in the places pets rest. Texas A&M notes the pupal stage can lie dormant for up to five months, so new adults can keep turning up for a while after you start prevention.

Ticks. Texas A&M AgriLife (AgriLife Today) lists the black-legged tick, brown dog tick, lone star tick, Gulf Coast tick and American dog tick as the species Texans are most likely to encounter, with populations swelling in warmer months and typically peaking in summer. The brown dog tick is a special concern for dog owners: Texas A&M's Tick App says it is primarily associated with homes and kennels and is often seen inside infested homes crawling up walls.

See our flea and tick profiles for identification details. The illustrations on this site are drawings, not identification photographs.

How do I make my yard less friendly to fleas?

Focus on shade and moisture, not the whole lawn. Texas A&M's flea guide explains that larvae develop in moist, shaded spots near where pets rest, and that relative humidity below 50 percent or soil temperatures above 95°F kill them. As Texas A&M puts it, "well maintained lawns in sunny sites are unlikely to harbor many fleas."

The CDC's flea prevention guidance recommends:

1. Mow frequently so sunlight reaches the soil.
2. Don't overwater. Constant moisture helps flea larvae survive.
3. Rake up debris such as leaves, straw and clippings.
4. Discourage wildlife and strays. Store pet food in sealed containers, remove brush and debris piles, seal holes under porches and sheds, and keep trash cans secured.

Look at the shaded spots where your dog lies down: under the deck, beside the AC unit, under shrubs. Texas A&M advises targeting those shaded resting areas if any yard treatment is used. Any yard product must be applied exactly as its label directs; see how to read a pesticide label.

How do I make my yard less friendly to ticks?

The CDC's tick prevention page recommends:

1. Remove leaf litter.
2. Clear tall grass and brush around the house and at the lawn's edge.
3. Put a 3-foot barrier of wood chips or gravel between lawn and wooded areas.
4. Mow often.
5. Discourage wildlife such as deer, raccoons and stray dogs with fencing.

Texas A&M (AgriLife Today) adds: trim brushy areas, remove weeds, avoid brush piles and keep building materials off the ground, which cuts shelter for the rodents that carry ticks. "The neater your yard," the article says, the fewer places ticks and their animal hosts can hide.

While you're working the yard, empty anything holding water. It won't stop fleas or ticks, but it helps with mosquitoes. See the dump-and-drain checklist.

Sweep the bunkhouse: how do I keep fleas out of the house?

Vacuuming does more than you might expect. Texas A&M's flea guide says vacuuming can remove up to 30 percent of larvae and up to 60 percent of flea eggs from carpet. It recommends vacuuming under furniture and along walls. The CDC (flea prevention) adds:

1. Vacuum well and often, including furniture, baseboards and pet resting spots.
2. Wash bedding, especially pet bedding, often with soap and water.
3. Change pet bedding regularly, as Texas A&M also advises.
4. Limit contact with wild or stray animals.

How do I check my pet for ticks?

Do it every day your pet has been outside. The CDC's guide to preventing ticks on pets lists the spots to check:

• In and around the ears
• Around the eyelids
• Under the collar
• Under the front legs
• Between the toes
• Between the back legs
• Around the tail

The CDC notes ticks can be hard to spot on long or dark coats, and that daily checks also help keep crawling ticks from reaching people. Texas A&M (AgriLife Today) says to be especially careful if pets sleep in your bed.

Check yourself, too. The CDC (tick prevention) recommends a full-body check after time outdoors, including in your own backyard: look under the arms, behind the knees, in and around the ears and between the legs. It also suggests showering soon after coming in and tumble drying clothes on high heat for 10 minutes to kill ticks.

Should I put a flea or tick product on my pet?

That's a decision for your veterinarian. The CDC says to talk with your vet about tick prevention products and flea control products that are right for your pet. Texas A&M (AgriLife Today) notes vets can discuss options such as pills, topicals and tick-repelling shots for dogs. Its flea guide stresses getting veterinary advice for very young animals.

Cats need extra care. The CDC warns: "Cats are extremely sensitive to a variety of chemicals. Do not apply any tick prevention products to your cats without first asking your veterinarian!" Never use a dog product on a cat. NPIC also notes that products applied to pets can hurt them if not stored and used properly (NPIC).

Is flea and tick prevention a year-round job in North Texas?

For the pet, generally yes. The CDC's flea prevention guidance recommends treating pets with veterinarian-recommended flea control year-round. Outdoors, Texas A&M (AgriLife Today) says tick numbers rise in warmer months and typically peak in summer before falling off in autumn, so step up yard work and daily checks from spring on. The brown dog tick doesn't follow the outdoor calendar as closely. Texas A&M's Tick App notes that adults can survive more than 18 months without feeding and resist drying out, which lets them persist in and around homes year-round in warm climates. Keep vacuuming and checking your dog through the winter.

How do I remove a tick?

The CDC's tick bite guidance gives these steps, for people and pets alike:

1. Use clean tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin's surface as possible.
2. Pull it away with steady, even pressure. Don't twist or jerk, which can leave mouthparts behind.
3. Clean the bite and your hands with soap and water, rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer.
4. Dispose of the tick by putting it in a sealed bag or container, wrapping it tightly in tape, flushing it, or submerging it in alcohol. Never crush it with your fingers.

Skip folk remedies. The CDC says petroleum jelly, nail polish and heat can agitate the tick and force infected fluid into the skin.

When to get help

For people, see a doctor if you develop a rash or fever within several weeks of removing a tick (CDC), and tell them when and where the bite happened. Texas A&M (AgriLife Today) also lists headache, joint or muscle pain and swollen lymph nodes as reasons to call. For pets, call your veterinarian about any tick-borne illness concerns, skin problems or a heavy infestation. If brown dog ticks or fleas persist indoors despite vet-guided pet treatment and cleaning, a licensed pest professional can assess the house. For a pesticide exposure in a person or pet, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.

This field guide is educational and does not offer treatment bookings.