Flea Control

Fleas In Central Texas

Nearly every flea problem in Central Texas comes down to one species, the cat flea, which infests dogs, cats, and people alike. Here is what a homeowner is dealing with.

Because only the adult fleas live on the pet while the eggs, larvae, and pupae develop in the environment, treating the pet alone never solves it, which is why Stride treats the home and yard together.

Stride treats every flea in Central Texas. For your situation, see our dedicated pages: cat fleas (the flea behind nearly every infestation), dog fleas, and human fleas.

Signs You Have Fleas

Fleas leave clear signs on pets and around the home:

• Pets scratching, biting, or licking constantly, especially around the tail, belly, and hindquarters.
• Flea dirt, black pepper-like specks in the fur and bedding that turn red-brown when wet.
• Small, fast bugs jumping off pets, carpet, or your ankles.
• Bites on people, small itchy red bumps usually clustered on the ankles and lower legs.
• Hair loss or scabbing on pets from constant scratching.

Are Fleas Dangerous?

Fleas are mostly a pet-health and comfort problem, but they carry real risks. Flea-allergy dermatitis, a reaction to flea saliva, is one of the most common skin conditions in dogs and cats, and heavy infestations can cause anemia in young or small pets. Fleas also pass tapeworm to pets that swallow them while grooming.

Fleas can affect people too. In Central and South Texas the cat flea can spread flea-borne typhus, and the Texas DSHS overview of flea-borne typhus tracks cases across the state.

Beyond disease, a flea problem multiplies fast. A few fleas on a pet become thousands of eggs and larvae in the carpet and yard within weeks, which is why acting early matters.

How We Get Rid of Fleas

Stride treats fleas through the five-step Stride Forward process, built around the flea life cycle rather than just the adults you see:

1. Inspect. We check the pets’ resting areas, the carpet, and the shaded yard spots where flea larvae develop.
2. Identify. We confirm fleas and gauge how far the infestation has spread between the home and the yard.
3. Recommend. We coordinate with your vet on the pet’s flea preventive and walk you through the vacuuming and laundering that clear eggs and larvae.
4. Treat. We treat the interior with a product that includes an insect growth regulator to stop eggs and larvae from developing, and treat the shaded yard areas where fleas breed outdoors. The Texas A&M AgriLife flea guide describes this pet-plus-premises approach.
5. Evaluate. We re-treat on a follow-up visit, because flea pupae are protected and keep hatching for weeks after the first treatment.

Our GreenPro certification guides this reduced-risk approach.

How to Keep Fleas Away

Keeping fleas down comes back to the pets, the home, and the yard together:

• Keep pets on a vet-recommended flea preventive year-round, the single most effective step.
• Vacuum regularly, which removes eggs and larvae and coaxes pupae out of the carpet.
• Wash pet bedding on hot every week or two.
• Mow and reduce shade and moisture in the yard, where flea larvae develop.
• Discourage rodents, strays, and wildlife that carry fleas onto the property.
• Act at the first sign, before a few fleas become a full infestation.

Flea Control Frequently Asked Questions

Stride Forward is our Integrated Pest Management program where we partner with our clients in the long-term removal and prevention of pests. Keeping your property free of unwanted insects and rodents works best when we work together.

The program combines habitat manipulation, biological control, cultural behavior changes, and the targeted use of products designed to repel or eradicate pests. Our approach follows five steps, with non-chemical methods prioritized before any product application.

Our Certifications & Awards

Stride Pest Control holds QualityPro and GreenPro certifications through the NPMA’s Foundation for Professional Pest Management, and fewer than 3% of pest control companies nationwide hold both. QualityPro requires background checks on every service member, a drug-free workplace, and 16 standards that exceed state and federal requirements.

Our Austin and Round Rock office operates under Texas Department of Agriculture license TPCL #667951, with Burton Johnston as Responsible Certified Applicator. Our San Antonio office operates under TPCL #827449, with Alex Randall as Responsible Certified Applicator. Our office manager, Michael Honeycutt, is an Associate Certified Entomologist through the Entomological Society of America.

Founded in 2013, we have served nearly 12,000 customers across Central Texas and hold a 4.9-star rating across 2,400+ reviews with an A+ from the BBB.