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When the weather warms up flowers aren't the only things that bloom. Fleas, tick and other pests emerge to plague your pet and invade your home. Fortunately there are some simple steps you can take now to prevent infestations from starting.

Pest prevention is all the more important when you consider the problems caused by fleas, ticks and mosquitoes. Besides the obvious irritation of itching, fleas can cause flea-bite anemia and tapeworm infestations. Ticks can spread Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever to pets and people, and mosquitoes can transmit West Nile Virus to pets and people and heartworm disease to pets.

Fleas, in particular, can lie in wait for extended periods before emerging in warmer weather to feast on your unsuspecting pet. Fortunately, the less habitable you make the environment, the fewer fleas you'll have on your pet and in your home. A successful flea-control program targets all stages of the flea life cycle - from eggs to larvae to pupae and adult fleas.

Dr. Albert Ahn, Vice President of Veterinary Operations at The Hartz Mountain Corporation, has these tips to prevent infestations.

For indoors:

--Vacuum your floors, rugs and furniture surfaces frequently - every other day, if possible.

--After vacuuming, place the vacuum bag in a large plastic garbage bag and discard outdoors.

--Wash pet bedding and furniture coverings every week.

--Consider using powders and sprays, such as Hartz(R) ADVANCED CARE(TM) 3 in 1(TM) Carpet Powder and Hartz(R) ADVANCED CARE(TM) 3 in 1(TM) Home Spray that kill fleas, ticks and flea eggs and other pests that live and breed in carpets, rugs, upholstery and pet bedding.

To fight these pests outdoors:

--Mow your grass frequently.

--Remove weeds, brush and other ground cover from your property.

--Remove piles of leaves, sand or gravel.

--Make sure there are no pools of stagnant water, such as collects in buckets, wheel barrows or other containers.

--Keep your dog out of tick areas as much as possible and check him/her daily for ticks.

--Consider using outdoor flea and tick repellents or residual insecticides.

One of the most effective ways to protect your pet from pests is to use a topical flea and tick product. These products typically are applied to the animal's skin once a month. For the maximum benefit, it is important to begin using them at the beginning of flea and tick season - before your pet shows any signs of infestation.

When choosing a topical product, look for one that provides complete topical protection, such as Hartz(R) ADVANCED CARE(R) 4 in 1(R) Flea & Tick Drops Plus+, which kills fleas, ticks mosquitoes and flea eggs and larvae. Killing flea eggs and larvae is critical to breaking the flea life-cycle.

Before applying any flea and tick medication on your pet, be sure to read all label instructions and follow them exactly. Consult your veterinarian before using the medication on sick, aged or debilitated animals and before using flea and tick treatments in combination with other medications, and never use a product for dogs on a cat and vice versa.