Dog Flea Control

Most dog-owners find that fleas can be quite a problem in summer. Your dog will inevitably bring some home from time to time because fleas are all over the place and contact with them is unavoidable. If your dog has just one or two fleas he will probably not be too bothered with them and you may not even realise he has them. But if there is a larger number of fleas, your house can get infested and that’s when you need to know about dog flea treatment.

Fleas are unpleasant parasites that bite and suck blood, causing itchiness and discomfort. They can also spread other parasites, such as tapeworms. Dog fleas do not live on humans, but they do jump around and bite people, especially when the dog is not around.

If you observe frequent scratching in your dog, chances are he has an infestation, and you may find fleas on his body or in his bed. Once they invade your carpet and upholstery you are likely to start getting bitten, often around the ankles, and you will need to use dog flea products to get rid of them.

Before getting rid of the fleas in your house, you must first treat your dog. Purchase a flea spray or powder or a dog flea shampoo, and follow the instructions. You will probably need to use a fair amount, but it is important do it in a safe way. Make sure you cover your dog’s eyes, nose and mouth when you use the dog flea product, as it can cause irritation to these areas. It might be wise to protect yourself too, so read the label to see if this is advised.

It is easier to apply a dog flea remedy if you have another person to help you. One of you should hold the dog’s head while the other one applies the product. You should take your time over this to make sure you do a thorough job. Begin at the head and work your way down to the tail and legs. To make sure it gets in under the hairs it is best to apply the product against the grain of the coat.

If you find you are not able to do away with all your dog’s fleas, your best course of action is to take him to a groomer for treatment. They will most likely use a bath treatment on your dog, which is probably suitable for home use too.

Fleas reproduce by creating a place to breed (not on the dog). They particularly favour the dog’s bed, so you have to treat it thoroughly with a spray, as well as any other place he may sleep. If your carpeting and furniture is infested you should spray it or buy an insecticide bomb at a hardware store and fumigate the entire house. This involves leaving the house for a few hours so if you should use that method, you must make sure you don’t leave any food out. It should all be stored in sealed containers. Be sure to read the instructions carefully to check whether the product you bought could be harmful to any other pets you may have, for example pet fish, which may need to be removed during the fumigation.

Once you have tackled the live fleas, you have to get rid of the eggs they have left. There are products available to keep these from hatching. Also remember to repeat the treatment on the dog and his bed again after a few days.

You may not be able to avoid fleas altogether, but remember that they are always treatable. And the best treatment is of course prevention, so it is a good idea to get a dog flea collar and have him wear it when you take him outside. You can remove it when he is in the house, and must be sure to take it off if ever it gets wet, to avoid irritation to the dog’s skin.