Flea Treatment For Dogs
It’s every dog owners worst nightmare when they spot a flea on their beloved furry friend!
I went into a tailspin when I found a flea on Holly a few years ago. Surely not! she’s spotlessly clean and never gets dirty, but guess what?, any dog can catch fleas!
I had lots of things going on and forgot to use the preventative flea treatment, now a pesky flea had hopped on and made themselves truly at home.
Have you started itching yet?
Me too!
I’ll keep this post brief, don’t worry.
We don’t need to know about the anatomy and lifecycle of fleas so I’ll give that a miss!
However, it is essential for dog owners to spot the signs and know about flea treatments for dogs.
If you are against using chemical based treatments on dogs, there is a section at the bottom of this post with some natural flea repellents, which you will find useful.
A Few Flea Facts First
- Fleas are an external parasite.
- A flea can live from 14 days to many months.
- A female flea can lay 50 eggs a day.
- Some fleas can jump 100 times higher than the length of their body.
- Different species, ie dog, cat, rabbit etc, have different types of fleas.
- Adult fleas pierce the skin and suck the blood from their host.
- Fleas can take in 15 times their body weight in blood.
With these facts in mind, it’s easy to see how a flea infestation can appear on any dog.
Symptoms Of Flea Infestation
Look out for the following signs if you are worried about fleas. Do regular checks weekly in warm weather, or use a preventative treatment to keep fleas away.
- Is your pet scratching recently?
- Have you noticed insect bites on yourself?
- Separate the fur at the neck and look closely at the skin of your dog. Can you see tiny black dots that appear to be moving?
- Look for areas of soreness, irritation or baldness.
- Groom your pet whilst standing on a large piece of white paper or kitchen towels. Use a fine comb and slowly work through the fur from root to tip. If any black dots appear on the paper they could be flea droppings. Add a little water to the black dots, if they change colour to a reddish brown, your pet has fleas.
Treat straight away to kill fleas and remove eggs, then repeat regularly. Use the products mentioned here or consult your vet for a prescription. Make sure that you use the correct treatment for the weight of your dog.
If you have more than one pet and only one has fleas, treat all the dogs or cats regardless.
Around The Home
If your dog has fleas it is important to treat not just the dog, but also the home. Don’t do this in a half heated way, be thorough and you will only have to do this task once.
- Wash cushions, bedding, dog beds at 60c
- Hoover the carpets and skirting boards, then put the dust bag into the rubbish bin.
- Don’t forget to treat the car if your dog travels in it.
- To make sure your home is flea free zone, use a spray like this one from Amazon.
Subscription Flea Treatment From Itch (UK)
If you’re forgetful like me and can easily overlook flea and worming treatments, a subscription to Itch is just what you need. There’s no need to check your calendar because a personalised plan drops through your letterbox, right when you need it.
Even if your dog doesn’t have fleas, it is important to use a regular preventative, especially in the summer months.
Right now is just the time to treat fleas, they are much more common in the warmer months.
The first month is free to new UK customers.
Itch tailors exactly what you need to treat your pets against fleas, worms and other parasites. It then develops a customisable protection plan for your pet and provides free delivery to your door, just when you need it.
This is information from their website.
HOW ITCH FLEA WORKS
Itch Flea’s double action, spot-on treatment kills adult fleas within 24 hours, halts all other flea life stages in their tracks and stops any new fleas joining the party, protecting your pet until their next monthly treatment. Plus it kills ticks and lice!
Itch Flea spot-on treatment is suitable for adult dogs & cats, and puppies & kittens 8 weeks or older.
It’s super easy to apply – once the solution from the pipette is applied to your pet’s skin between their shoulder blades, you can put your feet up, safe in the knowledge they’ll be protected for the next 4 weeks!
If you’re not in the UK or a subscription is not for you, here are some flea treatments which are recommended from Amazon.
Health Complications From Flea Infestation
It’s horrible for a dog or cat to have fleas. They scratch endlessly and feel really uncomfortable. There are also complications which arise from flea infestations including flea allergy dermatitis (FAD) and anaemia.
Natural Flea Treatments For Dogs
If you are a regular reader of this blog you will know that I hate using chemicals on my dog. However, I hate fleas more!
Therefore, I will make an exception for parasite treatment.
If you are still against using chemical based flea treatments for dogs, there are natural products which are believed to repel or treat fleas.
Here are some tips.
- Steam carpets, curtains and upholstery regularly in addition to vacuuming.
- After laundering, dry dog blankets, toys etc in the tumble dryer to kill any remaining fleas.
- Use a specially designed flea comb to remove both fleas and their eggs from dog’s fur.
- Add small amounts of organic garlic to dog food. (Less than a quarter of a clove)
- Make a spray to use regularly on your dog’s coat using organic Apple Cider Vinegar and water. (4oz of water and 6oz of Apple Cider Vinegar) Mix in a spray bottle and apply weekly , avoiding eyes.
- You can also add 1/4 teaspoon of Apple Cider Vinegar to drinking water.
- Plant the following natural flea repelling plants in your garden, close to doors or on windowsills.
Sage
Clove
Basil
Rosemary
Lavender
Mint
Turmeric
Marigolds
Chrysanthemums
Natural Flea Repel From Amazon
PLANT-BASED INGREDIENTS: Our formula uses plant-based ingredients, such as white Vinegar with Lemon, Coconut & Neem Oil Blend, and Citronella. Flee Flea! Flea Spray does not contain any steroids, antibiotics, alcohols or any nasty chemicals. It is 100% biodegradable, cruelty-free, and vegan-friendly.
Additional Reading
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