Get Rid of Fleas on Dogs

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Fleas are tiny bugs that are often found on a dog's coat. They are resilient pests, and even if you think you have gotten rid of them, their 4-stage life cycle can often protect them, so they can reappear after you think you have treated your animal. Fleas actually spend very little time on dogs, so you have to take a holistic approach to battling these insects. Get rid of fleas on dogs by treating your pet, your indoor living space and your yard.

Steps

Treating your Dog for Fleas

  1. Wash your dog with a flea and tick shampoo. These products will kill fleas on contact, and help keep your dog from itching at fleas.
    • Lather the flea shampoo into your dog's coat and rinse thoroughly.
  2. Apply a flea treatment to your dog every month. Talk to your veterinarian about any products she recommends. Many vets like Frontline and Advantage flea treatments. You can buy products from pet supply stores, your vet or in retail stores and online.
    • Follow the treatment instructions on the package. Most flea treatments will kill any fleas that are currently on your dog and prevent them from returning with a monthly application.
    • Wait 2 or 3 days after shampooing your dog with a flea shampoo to apply a flea treatment. If you wash your dog after applying the treatment, you will strip the dog's coat of the oils that keep the treatment working.
  3. Put a flea collar on your dog. Make sure your vet recommends a good flea collar because some of them contain harmful and toxic ingredients. They can also disrupt your dog's nervous system.
  4. Try a flea powder. Most dog owners prefer treatments and shampoos to powder because flea powder can cause dry skin on dogs. However, powders are inexpensive and easy to find in any discount store.
  5. Mist your dog with natural oils. You can do this in addition to other treatments, or on its own if you want an all natural way to protect your dogs from fleas.
    • Buy a spray with citronella, lavender, eucalyptus, cedar or lemongrass to repel fleas naturally. You can buy mists at natural food or health stores.
    • Remember that when you use natural oils, you are repelling the fleas from your dog, but not killing them. You will need to continually mist your dog to keep fleas away.

Treating your House for Fleas

  1. Spray your carpets with aerosol insecticides. Fleas love to hide in carpets, and an aerosol spray treatment can kill the fleas and their eggs, protecting your dog and your family.
    • Purchase a can of flea spray for carpets online or in retail stores.
  2. Sprinkle your carpet and furniture with flea powder. Most powders contain toxins such as boric acid, which will kill fleas but can also be dangerous for your dog and other pets. Powders also leave a residue behind.
    • Consider using powders when you know you will be away for a while, such as before vacation.
  3. Use a fogger. These can be purchased from hardware stores or pet supply stores and you can also hire an exterminator to fog your home if you have a flea infestation.
    • Remember that foggers will work best in open spaces. They will not be able to kill fleas that are hiding between furniture cushions, for example. Use an aerosol spray or powder for hard to reach places in addition to your fogger.

Treating your Yard for Fleas

  1. Treat your outdoor space with an insect growth regulator. This will not kill living fleas, but it will shut down their ability to reproduce. This is useful considering fleas can have up to a trillion offspring in a lifespan.
    • Look for an outdoor insect growth regulator you can spray around your yard.
  2. Mix a concentrate of esfenvalerate with some water, and spray it on your yard. This will kill fleas and other household pests that are found outdoors.
  3. Keep your grass short. Fleas love to hang out in grassy areas, so a well maintained lawn will not be terribly attractive to them.

Video

Tips

  • Keep your dog healthy and groomed. Frequent trips to the vet and attention to the coat will reduce your chances of getting fleas.
  • Don't try to kill fleas with your nails, they might jump on you. Keep a distance if your dog has fleas.
  • Call a professional exterminator if you have trouble keeping your dog or home free of fleas.

Sources and Citations

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