All posts in “dogs”

Resources for IPM

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I talk a lot about IPM because it just makes sense, you know the stories and how people just want the old way of pest control. Just like any business you have to change and adapt to those changes or you ultimately die from lack of business. I will admit it isn’t easy to walk away from money but Integrated Pest Management  (IPM) is here to stay) and the the betterment of all of us.

Which makes more sense:

  • Pest Company A shows up at your home, power sprays (soaks everything with pesticide), then comes inside your home and using a compressed sprayer sprays all the baseboards within the home.
  • Pest Company B asks questions about activity, does a walk around the property and then begins a treatment program. They use a webber broom to knock down webs and locates wasps nest. They might use bait for ants outside and/or using a backpack treat specific locations for scorpions and crickets, they might use a bellows hand duster to put pesticide dust into cracks and crevices to treat the insects (food insects or actual pests) that might be hiding in those areas. If there is a problem within that structure they might use baits or products that pose less risks to the family and pets.

School & Home Integrated Pest Management July 2014 Newsletter – Thanks to the University of Arizona (College of Agriculture & Life Sciences.

APMCOrg

Tick, tock is it time for ticks?

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ImageFile087ImageFile087ImageFile087As our weather becomes hotter and hotter, ticks become more active and need food. Guess what, that is an animal maybe your dog or cat or maybe you. I had a question today and wasn’t sure how to answer it – customer asked about ticks in her pine tree? Ticks when born seek a meal and will climb to a height on average with an animal. So maybe 4-6 foot at the most and they do not drop from trees when they see an animal, I don’t think their eyesight is that good.

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Here are a few tips for you and your pet.

  1. When hiking keep an eye out for pests, when you arrive home check yourself and your pet.
  2. Know what to look for and the difference between ticks and Bed Bugs.
  3. If you decide to use a Pesticide on your pet, bring that to the attention of your Pest Management Professional. For example if you decide to use a product with Fipronil and then the Pest Operator uses that product in the yard there could be some concerns.
  4. Check out this website – very informative. www.peteducation.com and specifically this page “Ingredients in Flea and Tick Control Products“

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Another tick disease discovered

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ticks

 

Two different farmers in Missouri have been diagnosed with Heartland virus with symptoms that include fever, fatigue and nausea. Back in 2013 we reported on CDC reported cases and we just want people to take precautions before hiking or going off into the woods. Lyme Disease in Arizona, Yes was another article we did on protecting yourself against ticks and fleas.  Take care hiking!

Have you seen coyotes in your neighborhood?

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The other day I rounded the entrance to my cul-de-sac and two coyotes ran out in front of my truck. This isn’t the first time that I’ve seen a coyote but is does concern me about the pets in the neighborhood. I live in the City of Phoenix, not in a rural section but a established community that has been there since the 1980’s. So why would there be coyotes in this section of the city? Coyotes thrive just about everywhere in the U.S., I think because it adapts and will eat almost anything.

Coyotes are most active at night and early morning, when there is little interaction with humans they may hunt throughout the day. I think they look cool and are similar in general appearance to a dog such as a collie. But remember they are wildlife not pets, do not feed them it will only cause more issues.

Coyote_arizona

http://www.flickr.com/photos/emdot/145432
marya (emdot) from San Luis Obispo, USA

So what can you do to prevent them from frequenting your home or backyard, I’ve seen them jump gates over 6 foot high? Installing  higher fencing can help but adding this may not serve to prevent that ambitious or mischievous one from getting in. If you live on a farm or acreage with animals, you may have to get serious and install electric fencing or change the property. There are also noise machines, lighting and the use of a good size dog may be enough to scare them off.

 

Feral Cats

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I try not to do this service and for good reason, it hardly ever ends well for anyone. Somebody always takes extreme exception to my performance of the issue. So here is the recommended service protocol – trap the animal, take it to a shelter have it spayed and/or neutered  and then return it to the original location.This procedure cost lots of money in labor and the service for the shelter isn’t free, see the services listed below.

http://www.fixadoptsave.org/

http://www.azhumane.org/our-services-arizona-humane-society/stray-animal-resources/

Thev reason to spay/neuter and release the animals back to the original location, prevents another cat family talking over the area. Here is an original story on feral cats by ProBest from 2009.

TNR-Infographic

My hats off to PetSmart Charities for there continued work with pets and for this infographic, click the link to give them a hand in this work. The problem isn’t the cats and dogs, its us as a society – don’t abandon pets and have yours spay/neutered, or maybe even a donation to PetSmart.

Have you done whatever it takes to keep out rodents?

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Nothing is probably worse than seeing a mouse inside your house, everything goes through your mind. How do I capture it, what do I do with it, can I do it myself and its goes on and on? The best thing to do, is to never have one get into your home. So what can you do:

  1. Repair all holes and cracks in your home.
  2. Don’t take in boxes which might have room enough for a mouse.
  3. Repair screens.
  4. Repair door seals and thresholds.
  5. Repair garage door seals.
  6. Don’t leave doors open.
  7. Don’t leave pet food out.

If they are already in the home, glue boards do work but be careful if you have pets or children. Never, never use baits inside a home. Never, never use baits inside a home, yes I said that twice.

PoisonControl

Has the Stink got you, have you tried Earth Care odor bags?

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I run across some really stinky little issues from time to time, like a rodents who died within a home. So its one of those things that isn’t easy to fix, so I often recommend the odor bags. I have used these bags many times and have never been disappointed in their use.

DeadRat

Easy to use to remove dead rodent odors, urine and feces odors, skunk odors, musty mildew odors, and cigarette smoke odor. Doesn’t have to come into contact with dead rodent or odor causing agent and works even if carcass is not removed. Bags are easy to use and last an average of 3-4 months in use and contain no chemicals, toxins or fragrances. Simply place the bag near the odor and in 24 hours the odor will be gone. Earth Care does not mask odors it removes them. Its contents are bio-degradable, non-flammable, non-toxic, safe around children, pets & mother earth.

A friend on mine recently had an issue with bats, so I recommended he try hanging some bags near the spot where the bats had been nesting, here’s what he said:

I did exactly what Keith said and I was pleasantly surprised as to the results, odor gone. I’m sold on these bags.  W. Davis – Florida

Hot, Hot and really Hot – did you know this?

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This sign was posted on the door to myVeterinarian Office and I thought I had to post this and pass it along. It wasn’t designed for Arizona I’m guessing, cause it should read 115 – don’t even think about walking the dog. The dog would explode into flames. I know not allot of  people think about things before they do it, so please remember the sign – the concrete or asphalt is HOT.

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Rodents will gnaw on anything, what happens if its your home?

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probestpestmanagementIMAG0413    Rodents will gnaw on anything to keep their teeth from growing to large and this could cause you some BIG problems. Rodents cause approximately 20 percent of undetermined fires in the United States each year according to fire experts. Pack rats will collect all kinds of stuff, so if you’re missing anything – check for rodents in the neighborhood.

What can you do to keep them out?

  • Seal any holes or cracks with steel or copper wool.
  • Check your home monthly especially in the Spring and Fall, rodents will either try to get in or out.
  • Don’t allow trees to touch your home.
  • Don’t stack firewood or stuff against your home.
  • Don’t leave out pet food.

 

Dust-mites are leading cause of asthma in children.

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Dust-mites are leading cause of asthma in children.

 

House dust mites are microscope bugs that primarily live on dead skin cells regularly shed from humans and their animal pets. Dust mites, relatives of the spider, are too small to see without a microscope. Dust mites are generally harmless to most people. They don’t carry diseases, but they can cause allergic reactions in asthmatics and others who are allergic to their feces. People sometimes confuse dust-mites with bed bugs. 500 million people are affected by these little critters worldwide and may be a factor of 50 – 80% of asthmatics.

Skin cells and scales, commonly called dander, are often concentrated in lounging areas, mattresses, frequently used furniture and associated carpeted areas, often harbor large numbers of these microscopic mites. Since the average human sheds or loses about 1/3 ounce (10 grams) of dead skin a week. That gives dust mites a lot to eat. Cats and dogs create far more dander for dust mites to eat.

Beds are a prime harborage (where 1/3 of life occurs). A typical used mattress may have anywhere from 100,000 to 10 million mites inside. Ten percent of the weight of a two year old pillow can be composed of dead mites and their droppings. Mites prefer warm, moist surroundings such as the inside of a mattress when someone is on it. A favorite food is dander both human and animal skin flakes. Humans shed about 1/5 ounce of dander or dead skin each week. About 80 percent of the material seen floating in a sunbeam is actually skin flakes. Also, bedroom carpeting and household upholstery support high mite populations.

What can you do?

  1. Wash the bedding frequently with very hot water.
  2. Purchase quality mattress encasement.
  3. Purchase and use a good hepa vacuum daily.
  4. Use Green Cleaners.
  5. Reduce the temperatures and humidity – dust mites love warm, humid conditions, above 70 F  & 50% or greater humidity.
  6. Replace air filters frequently (air and dehumidifier).

ProBest Pest Management does carpet cleaning and  Bed Bug work, so if you have any questions please feel free to contact us or check out our website.

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