Flea & Tick Treatment in Southern California
A flea and a tick are different problems with different sources. One came in on the pet; the other came home from the trail.
Fleas in Southern California do not have an off-season. The mild winters that make the region pleasant let the cat flea, the species on nearly every dog and cat here, keep breeding year-round. An infestation almost always starts on a pet and then spreads into the places the pet rests: carpet, pet bedding, the couch, and the shaded, damp spots in the yard where the animal lies down. Adult fleas on the pet are the visible part; the eggs, larvae, and pupae in the carpet and soil are the larger part, and they are what make a single spray fail.
Ticks are a different animal. They are picked up outdoors, in the foothill, canyon, and brush areas across Los Angeles, Orange, and San Bernardino Counties, and ride home on dogs and on people. The western black-legged tick is the species of concern here. Fly Guys Pest Control treats fleas indoors with a growth regulator and an adulticide, treats the yard where pets rest and ticks wait, coordinates timing with your veterinarian's treatment of the pet, and returns for a follow-up visit, because eggs and pupae survive the first one.
Flea or Tick? How to Tell Which You Have
Bites around the ankles
Clusters of small, itchy red bites at the ankles and lower legs are fleas jumping from carpet and floors.
Flea dirt on the pet
Black specks in the fur that turn reddish on a damp paper towel are flea droppings, a sure sign even if you have not seen a flea.
A single attached bump
One small, dark, attached lump on a dog or a person after time outdoors is a tick, not a flea. Fleas do not attach.
Chewing at the base of the tail
Dogs and cats scratch and chew at the tail base and inner thighs, where fleas congregate.
Jumping specks in the carpet
Tiny dark specks that hop when you walk through a room or kneel on the carpet are adult fleas emerging from pupae.
Ticks after a hike or in brush
Finding ticks on clothing or pets after a canyon trail, a brushy slope, or tall grass points to an outdoor source rather than an indoor infestation.
Our Flea & Tick Treatment Process
Identify and trace the source
We confirm flea versus tick, check the pet resting spots indoors and the shaded yard areas outside, and map where the population actually lives.
Treat indoors
An insect growth regulator stops eggs and larvae from maturing while an adulticide handles the adults, applied to carpet, under furniture, and pet areas.
Treat the yard
Shaded, damp spots where pets rest, along fences, under decks, and at the edges of brush are treated for fleas and ticks.
Coordinate and follow up
We time the service with your vet's treatment of the pet, then return about two weeks later for the fleas that hatched after the first visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I still see fleas a week after treatment?
Flea pupae are protected inside their cocoons and hatch over the following days, which is normal. The growth regulator stops them from reproducing, and the follow-up visit catches that generation. Vacuuming daily between visits speeds it up.
Do I have to treat my pet too?
Yes. The pet is where the adult fleas live and feed, and no amount of treating the house holds if untreated fleas keep hopping off the animal. Your veterinarian supplies the pet treatment; we handle the house and yard, and we will coordinate timing.
Are the ticks here dangerous?
The western black-legged tick found in Southern California foothills and canyons can carry disease, which is why a tick found attached should be removed promptly and the bite watched. Most ticks on pets here are picked up outdoors rather than from an indoor infestation.
Can fleas survive the winter in Southern California?
Yes. Fleas die off in cold climates, but our winters rarely get cold enough. That is why a flea problem that starts in fall here does not resolve on its own by spring.
How do I schedule a flea and tick treatment?
Call (909) 736-4750 or use the quote form. Tell us how many pets you have and whether you have found ticks, and we will plan the indoor, yard, and follow-up visits around that.
Other Services
Get a Free Flea & Tick Treatment Quote
Call now or send a message — we'll get back to you the same day.