Dog Flea Treatment

Fleas are natural pests that can threaten both your dogs comfort and health.  Fleas are small, crescent shaped, six legged insects with big abdomens and small heads.  They are flat on the sides, which makes it easy for them to travel through a dog’s hair.  Fleas like to live on dogs in places where the dog can’t scratch easily.  This usually means in the tail and hind quarters.  Once a flea is on your dog, it will bite him, taking one or two drops of blood from your dog at a time.  If your dog is small or a puppy, and it is infested with fleas, this by itself can cause anemia. 

There are other health problems associated with fleas, of course.  Many dogs are simply allergic to them.  This can cause dogs to scratch and chew themselves raw in an effort to get at the fleas.  How uncomfortable is this for the dog?  Imagine the worst bug bite you’ve ever had, and then imagine it being a thousand times worse.  This is how maddening it can be for a dog to have fleas that is allergic to them.  Fleas are also the intermediate hosts for tapeworms.  This means that if a dog swallows a tapeworm infected flea, it will become infected with tapeworms as well.  Can you see why it is so critical for your dog that you protect him from fleas?

How do you check to confirm whether your dog has fleas or not?  Besides excessive scratching on your dog’s part, here’s what you do.  Have your dog lie down on a solid piece of coloured paper.  Brush his coat thoroughly, and then take a look at the paper.  If it looks like the paper is covered with salt and pepper, your dog has fleas (the white “salt” are flea eggs, the black “pepper” flea poop).

If your dog has fleas, what can you do about it?  In the past, treatment consisted of insecticides and pesticides in the form of collars, dips, and sprays.  These had to be used with extreme caution, as there was a chance you could poison yourself and your dog.  Newer products work by only killing adult fleas (these are the ones that bite) or by using insect growth regulators (prevents immature fleas from developing and breeding).  These products are systemic, meaning that they enter the dog’s body systems either by tablets of liquids.  The tablets work by releasing the product into the dog’s bloodstream.  When a flea tries to bite your dog, it will ingest the product.  Liquids are generally applied to the dog’s back where it is absorbed by the skin to repel fleas.

There are also two new products that are only available through veterinarians, Advantage Spot-on and Frontline spray.  These products can protect an adult dog for up to a month.  Again, this is only available through a veterinarian.

In order to mount an effective anti-flea plan for your dog, you need to focus on three areas: your yard, house, and dog.  Ignoring any one of these areas is an open invitation to allow fleas to breed and attack your dog.

In your yard, you will want to spray outside using an insect growth regulator.  Make sure the spray you use is meant for outdoors.  If it isn’t, sunlight and water can ruin its effectiveness.

In the house, use a spray or fogger.  This should also contain an insect growth regulator.  If your house is already infested with fleas, it should contain an adult quick kill ingredient as well.

On your dog, use a systemic product, like the previously mentioned (through a vet only) Advantage Spot- On and Frontline.  Other systemic products include Program and Sentinel.

One word of caution.  Make sure you do not mix and match different flea control products.  For example, using a flea spray and a collar.  Always read the label to make sure the products you are using can be used safely together.

If you are looking for products that control fleas, Vet Products Direct is a fantastic source.  They have a great selection with reasonable prices.  Click here or on the picture to the right to check it out.

Natural Cure for Fleas on Dogs

Some people like to try and use more natural methods in order to cure their dog of fleas.  For example, feeding your dog garlic, yeast, or B complex vitamins.  This is supposed to make your dog less appetizing to fleas.  Although these natural methods will not hurt your dog, they are not really effective on your own.  Another natural technique is to line your dog’s bed with Pennyroyal and eucalyptus.  This again is supposed to ward of fleas.  The problem here is that the oil from both of these natural products can be poisonous to your dog if ingested, so be careful.  Ultimately, the best natural cure for fleas on dogs are items that should already be in your house. These are your washing machine and vacuum cleaner.  Weekly washings of your dog’s pet bedding, combined with vacuuming, are the best natural cures out there.

In the end, it is up to you to protect your dog from fleas.  The reason why most efforts at flea control fail is due to pet owners only putting out minimal and sporadic effort.  Don’t let your dog down.  Put forth the effort.  Your dog is counting on you!

- Grover

PS - If you are looking for natural products for your dog to cure fleas, check out botanical dog.  They have natural products for just about anything related to your dog.  Click here or on the picture to your right for more information.