A Pet Sitter’s Guide to a Bite-Free Flea and Tick Season

If you’re here because you want to prevent fleas and ticks or because you just spotted your Rover pet itching all over, you’re in the right place. Whether you’re a brand-new sitter or a seasoned pro, dealing with these pesky parasites can be stressful.

Fleas and ticks spread through contact with other animals and outdoor environments, and while they’re often just itchy and uncomfortable, they can also carry other parasites and diseases. They’re especially common during warmer months, as pets are typically spending more time outside.

Some pet parents use monthly preventives, but not all do, so it’s something you’ll want to ask new clients about or even build into your pet-sitting policies. In this guide, we’ll cover how to tell for sure if an animal has fleas or ticks, what to do if you encounter them on a pet you’re watching, and how to prevent a flea and tick situation from happening again.

Signs of Fleas and Ticks

Fleas and ticks can be tricky to spot at first. Knowing what to look for can help you identify and confirm the signs before you take action.

Signs of fleas

As you’re checking your pets, remember that if you spot just one flea, you can be pretty sure there are more where that came from.

Behavior clues:

• Constantly scratching, chewing, or licking (especially near the tail, belly, or back legs)
• Restlessness or trouble settling
• Hair loss, scabs, or hot spots from irritation

How to confirm:

• Use a flea comb, moving in the direction the fur grows
• Look for tiny, fast-moving dark specks (adult fleas)
• Check for “flea dirt” or droppings (black specks)—if the speck turns reddish-brown when you dab it on a wet paper towel, it’s likely flea dirt (digested blood)

Where fleas may show up in the home:

• Pet bedding and blankets
• Soft furniture
• Carpets, rugs, and baseboards
• Other pets—Dr. Ashly Smith, DVM at Small Door Veterinary, says that if one pet has fleas, you can assume they’ve already spread to the other pets in the home

Signs of ticks

Behavior clues:

• Head shaking or ear, neck, and paw scratching
• Licking or biting at one specific spot
• Lethargy

How to confirm ticks on the pet:

• Run your hands over the skin to feel for small, firm, dark bumps (ticks that have latched onto the pet’s skin)
• Look closely around the ears, neck, under collars, between toes, armpits, and groin

Where ticks may show up in the home:

• Near pet beds, entryways, or areas where pets rest after walks
• Ticks can survive indoors for a while while waiting for a new host
• Other pets—outdoor pets can carry and spread ticks to indoor-only pets

Fleas & Ticks in Your Home (Pet Boarding, Daycare)

If you find fleas in your home while you’re hosting a Rover pet, there are a few steps to take to ensure everyone stays safe and healthy.

1. Notify client(s) immediately. Let every pet parent know what you’re seeing, especially if you have multiple pets staying with you.
2. Document what you find. Take photos or videos of the fleas, flea dirt, or irritated skin and save message threads for your records.
3. Confirm if the pets are currently on flea prevention medicine. Ask the owners if their pets are on vet-approved flea preventives and when they last received them.
4. Seek veterinary care if okayed by your client. If a pet isn’t on prevention, ask the owner if you can take the pet to the vet for treatment.
5. Deep clean your home. Wash all pet bedding, blankets, and soft items in hot, soapy water. Vacuum carpets, rugs, couches, and baseboards daily for several days and empty the canisters outside immediately.
6. Wait to host until you’re sure the risk has passed. While there’s no strict timeline, Dr. Smith says it’s generally safe for pets to return when the home has been appropriately treated and all pets, both in the household and visiting, are on effective flea prevention.

What to do if you find a tick in your home

1. Contact the owner right away. Share what you found and where the tick was located on the pet’s body.
2. Document the tick. Take a photo before removal if possible.
3. Remove the tick if the owner is okay with it. Wear gloves, use fine-tipped tweezers, grasp close to the skin, and pull straight out.
4. Dispose of the tick. Crush or seal the tick in a bag/container (don’t release it).
5. Clean the bite area. Use soap and water or a pet-safe antiseptic.
6. Monitor for illness. Watch for persistent scratching, hair loss, red or scabby skin, lethargy, fever, limping, or changes in appetite. While uncommon, ticks can transmit serious diseases such as Lyme, ehrlichiosis, and anaplasmosis.

Fleas & Ticks in Their Home (House Sitting, Drop-Ins, Dog Walking)

When you’re in a client’s home, you might have to handle fleas and ticks a bit differently. It’s important to be respectful of the owner’s space while also doing everything you can to manage the situation.

1. Message your client immediately. Share what you’re seeing and where you found signs of fleas (on the pet, bedding, carpets, etc.).
2. Document the issue. Take photos or videos of fleas, flea dirt, or skin irritation.
3. Ask about flea prevention. Confirm whether the pet is on a vet-approved preventive and when it was last given. If the owner simply missed their pet’s monthly dose, ask if you can administer it.
4. Discuss veterinary care if needed. If the pet isn’t on prevention, ask if they’re okay with you taking their pet to get treated.
5. Use pet-safe cleaning products with client approval. Make sure the owner is okay with using specific types of sprays, powders, or cleaning treatments in their home.
6. Limit the spread of fleas and ticks between homes. Change clothes and shoes after visits. Bag them if you can before returning home, and avoid placing personal items on carpets or pet beds.

What to do if you find a tick in a client’s home

1. Tell the client right away. Share where you found the tick and whether it’s still attached to the pet.
2. Document it. Share photos and videos with the guardian.
3. Remove the tick if the owner is okay with it. Wear gloves, use fine-tipped tweezers, stay close to the skin, and pull straight out.
4. Crush or securely dispose of the tick. 
5. Clean the area around the tick. Use soap and water or a pet-safe antiseptic.
6. Monitor the pet. Watch for signs like fever, lethargy, persistent scratching, or appetite changes, and contact the pet’s vet if symptoms appear.

How To Prevent the Next Flea & Tick Situation

The good news is that fleas and ticks are highly preventable. One of the best ways to protect yourself and the pets you care for is to set clear expectations with clients in advance. Here’s what to consider.

• Set prevention policies (especially in high-risk areas). Consider requiring that all your clients’ pets be on vet-approved flea and tick medicine. This prevention is especially important if you live in an area where fleas and ticks are common.
• Ask about preventives before you take on a new client. Make flea and tick prevention part of your intake questions. Ask what product the pet uses and when it was last given, so there are no surprises later.
• Be cautious if applying topical treatments. If you’ll be administering topical flea and tick treatments for a client, Dr. Smith advises keeping pets and children separated until the medication has fully dried, which usually takes several hours. You’ll also want to hold off on bathing the pet for 24-48 hours so the medication stays effective.
• Never mix products with different types of pets. Topical dog flea products can be toxic to cats and vice versa, so you’ll want to keep dogs and cats from interacting with each other after applying the flea meds.
• Avoid walking dogs in areas where fleas and ticks are common. Tall grass, wooded trails, leaf piles, and brushy areas are common tick hotspots.

Flea & Tick FAQs

How soon can I host pets again?

Once the home has been appropriately treated and all pets (both in the household and visiting) are on a preventive, it’s generally safe to host again. Many sitters wait two to three days or longer, depending on the extent of the infestation. “There isn’t a strict waiting period,” says Dr. Smith. “Consistent prevention is what truly protects against reinfestation.”

What should I do if an owner has not disclosed fleas?

If an owner did not disclose an active flea or tick issue, document what you find and notify them immediately. You should also contact Rover Support to report the situation and get guidance on next steps. This helps protect you and ensures there’s a record in case the stay needs to be modified or canceled.

Can I leave a stay if the house has fleas?

If you feel like the infestation puts your health, safety, or ability to care for other pets at risk, you should document the issue and contact Rover Support right away to discuss options. Your well-being matters!

Can fleas spread from house to house if I am only doing drop-ins?

Yes. Fleas or flea eggs can attach to clothing, shoes, or bags. This is a common way infestations spread between homes, especially if pets aren’t on a consistent prevention regimen. Changing clothes, limiting contact with soft surfaces, and bagging items between visits can help reduce the risk.