Fleas and ticks are blood-feeding arthropods and their bites are painful.  Fleas & ticks can also transmit diseases (e.g. plague and typhus) to both humans and domestic pets!  Cat fleas and brown dog ticks are most commonly encountered in the Quad Cities area; however, deer ticks are also becoming more of a problem, particularly for hunters and others who enjoy outdoor activities.

Flea problems in homes are generally associated with domestic pets such as dogs & cats.  Fleas can be carried in from outside but are most ofter picked up from other animals that have fleas.  They can hitch-hike along from a vet's office or grooming parlor, or from a flea-infested location while you're on vacation.

Controlling fleas or ticks can be a daunting task.  Rarely will getting a can of flea spray do the trick.  Effective flea control requires a teamwork effort between the pet owner, their vet or groomer, and a reputable pest control firm.