Is your dog plagued with fleas? Are you afraid of having fleas infest not only your pet but your house as well? If so, you are not alone. Fleas are one of the most common insects to burden pets, homes and people. Fleas are very hearty and can be very difficult to get rid of.
Dogs and Fleas
They bury themselves deep into the fur of your pet and live there. If you do manage to get the fleas off without a lot of hassle, if you do not properly dispose of them they can get in your carpet or other fabrics and live there until they find another pet to reattach themselves to.
So what is the best way to permanently get rid of fleas on your pet and keep them from coming back? Flea collars are one of the most popular and widely used means of keeping fleas away from your pet, but to help get rid of them once they are on your pet, you will need either a flea shampoo or medicine from the vet and sometimes a combination of the two.
It is very important that you get rid of the fleas as soon as you can and to also do everything you can to prevent them from returning to your pet and your home. Fleas can lead to other and more serious health inflictions in animals and it is important that you properly and quickly do what you can to get rid of them.
Prevent fleas from coming back
To help prevent fleas from coming back, make sure that you vacuum your house on a regular basis and then remove and get rid of your vacuum bags often. Use a fine tooth comb on your pet to help loosen up the fleas and get rid of them.
If you suspect your pet has fleas or you live in an area that is prone to them, make sure that you give them a bath every week. This is especially important to do during the hotter months of the years when fleas thrive outside and your pet is likely to be infested with them.
Watch for signs that your pet may have fleas such as excess scratching and biting, and watch for patches of skin that is exposed or where the fur may be worn down from the excess scratching and itching.
You may be also able to detect the actual fleas on the skin of your animal. You can always check with your vet to see what the best treatment options are for your pet for preventing and removing fleas. Make sure that you remove the flea entirely and dispose of it properly; you may want to clean the area extra carefully where the fleas were removed to make sure that they will not move to another area.
Available flea products
There are products available that are in powder form or spray form that you can use on your pet and to spray or use around your home where fleas are most prone to be. Preventing your pet from getting fleas is the only sure way to keep them out of your home and keep them from attacking other pets.
Once you know your animal has had fleas, be sure to properly groom and bathe them to remove any possible fleas that may have remained or new fleas that are on your pet. Also, make sure that you clean the bedding and other areas where your animal spends a lot of time and sleeps. They can loosen the fleas from scratching and itching on those areas and the fleas may be living in the bedding or areas where they were shed from.