Ticks are tiny, but they pack a punch in terms of Lyme disease. Lurking in tall grass and other subtle places, these blood-sucking arachnids latch onto humans or pets and transmit bacteria. The good news is, if you take the proper precautions, you can reduce your family’s risk. It starts with diligence at home, and extends to hiring a Mesa and Phoenix tick control company for effective treatment.
Know Your Yard
Ticks love moist, shaded environments such as wooded edges, tall grasses, leaf litter, and wood piles. They like to hide out where natural areas meet your lawn. Regular landscaping—mowing, trimming hedges, and removing leaf debris—can keep tick populations from flourishing and possibly transmitting Lyme disease.
Lyme Disease: Key Symptoms
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Bull’s-eye rash
If left untreated, joint pain, neurological problems, and heart issues can arise. Prompt diagnosis and antibiotic treatment are the best defense against this disease.
Personal Protection
When spending time outside—whether walking the dog, hiking, or playing with the kids—safeguard yourself, your pets, and your family by:
- Wearing protective clothing: Long sleeves, long pants tucked into socks, and closed-toe shoes. Light-colored fabrics make ticks easier to spot.
- Applying tick-repellent treatments: Use EPA-approved repellents like DEET or permethrin on clothing to reduce tick contact.
- Checking for ticks after outdoor activity: Shower promptly and conduct thorough tick checks—especially the hairline, behind the ears, and around joints.
Spot and remove a tick within 36–48 hours to greatly decrease the risk of Lyme transmission.
Protecting Your Pets
- Perform daily tick checks: Inspect pets—especially long-haired ones—after they come inside. Focus on paws, ears, under the collar, and belly. A lint roller can help detect hidden ticks.
- Apply preventative treatments: Ask your vet about spot-on products, oral meds, or tick collars.
- Consider Lyme vaccinations: Vaccines for dogs can reduce disease severity.
- Landscape management: Mow regularly, clear undergrowth, and use wood-chip barriers between lawns and wooded areas.
Safe Removal Tips
- Grasp the tick close to the skin with fine-tipped tweezers. Pull upward with steady pressure—do not twist or crush. Clean the area with soap and water.
- Place the tick in a sealed bag for identification if needed.
- Watch for symptoms in the coming days and weeks (rash or fever).
Lyme disease is not something you want to contract. However, by practicing these safe habits, you can protect yourself and your family against tick disease transmission.
Contact Frontino Pest Co.
If you suspect you have a tick infestation on your property, contact us for a free quote and inspection at 602-338-9223. Our Phoenix pest control team will perform a thorough inspection.
We hope contact us for a free quote and inspection at 602-338-9223