How to Protect Your Pets from Ticks, Fleas, and Mosquitoes This Summer in Texas

Summer in Texas is prime time for pests—and unfortunately, your pets are their favorite targets. Ticks, fleas, and mosquitoes thrive in warm, humid climates like ours, and once they make it into your yard, they can quickly become a problem for your furry friends. These pests aren’t just annoying—they pose real health risks, from flea allergies and Lyme disease to heartworms carried by mosquitoes.

The good news? Prevention is completely possible with the right strategy. Here are simple, effective steps you can take to keep your pets safe and your yard pest-free this summer—plus how partnering with a professional like Big M Pest Control can give you peace of mind all season long.

Know Your Enemy: Pest Threats in Texas

Before you can fight back, it helps to understand what you're up against:

• Fleas are tiny, fast-moving insects that thrive in shaded, moist areas and easily latch onto pets—even from short walks outside.
• Ticks hide in tall grass, woodpiles, and brush, waiting to attach to animals or humans and transmit diseases like Lyme or Ehrlichiosis.
• Mosquitoes breed in standing water and are most active during dawn and dusk. They’re not just a nuisance—they can carry heartworm disease, which affects both dogs and cats.

In Texas, the warm temperatures and high humidity create an ideal environment for all three.

Keep Your Yard Clean and Pet-Friendly

A tidy yard is one of your first lines of defense. Fleas and ticks love overgrown vegetation and cluttered spaces, so take these steps to make your yard less appealing:

• Mow your lawn regularly
• Trim back shrubs, bushes, and tall grass
• Remove leaf piles, woodpiles, and other debris
• Keep play areas and kennels clean and dry

If you have pets that spend time outside, make sure their space is well-maintained and free of potential pest hiding spots.

Eliminate Standing Water to Stop Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes lay their eggs in even the smallest amounts of stagnant water. One bottle cap’s worth can be enough! To keep them at bay:

• Dump water from flower pots, buckets, kiddie pools, and birdbaths
• Clean out clogged gutters and fix poor drainage
• Refresh pet water bowls daily
• Check for hidden puddles around air conditioner units or plant trays

Proactive water control is one of the most effective ways to reduce mosquito populations in your yard.

Create a Pest-Free Perimeter

Many fleas and ticks come from wild animals like raccoons, opossums, or even feral cats that pass through your yard. You can discourage these visitors and keep pests out by:

• Installing a barrier of mulch or gravel between your lawn and wooded areas
• Walking pets away from dense brush or wooded trails
• Avoiding outdoor playtime during peak mosquito hours (early morning and late evening)

Encouraging pets to stay in open, sunny areas also makes it harder for ticks and fleas to catch a ride.

Clean Pet Bedding and Outdoor Items

Fleas love to hide in soft, warm materials—like your pet’s bed or outdoor blanket. Make it a habit to:

• Wash pet bedding weekly in hot water
• Clean and store outdoor toys, bowls, and bedding indoors overnight
• Use elevated pet beds to reduce ground-level exposure

Clean gear means fewer opportunities for pests to settle in and breed.

Hire a Pest Control Professional You Can Trust

While preventative steps make a big difference, they’re most effective when paired with professional pest control. At Big M Pest Control, we specialize in pet-safe treatments that protect your yard from fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes all summer long.

Our team knows exactly where pests hide and how to eliminate them before they can reach your pets. We also offer routine service plans, so you don’t have to think twice about protection—it’s all handled for you.

Protect Your Pets with Big M Pest Control

Don’t wait for your pets to start scratching or for a mosquito to leave behind something worse. Be proactive.

Call Big M Pest Control today for your free quote and let us help you build a safer, more comfortable yard for the whole family—four-legged friends included.