A problem for both dogs and their owners are fleas. These are tiny insects that are known to live on the body of your dog, sucking the animal's blood and laying eggs. Causing the dog to itch are the bites and presence of fleas and if the dog happens to be allergic to fleas (the allergy is technically to the insects' saliva) it can experience extreme itching, loss of fur in some places, inflammation, and infections. Regardless of whether the dog has an allergy to flea saliva, infestations must be dealt with or they will go on and on and the fleas will also infest your home, other pets, and can even live on humans. You can be directly and adversely affected by an uncontrolled flea infestation is what this also means.
Tips for Detecting Fleas:
There are ways to check for fleas if ever you suspect that your dog has them because you see him scratching more than usual. Fleas are visible to the naked eye even though they are very small, about an eighth of an inch long, and they are also brownish in color. They will try to hide beneath the dog's fur, under the collar, or on the underbelly since they prefer dark places. Their fecal material almost look like peppers and they can be seen on the dog's coat and looks like multiple black flecks or specks. It is time to treat your dog to get rid of fleas if they or their droppings are found.
How to Treat Your Dog for Fleas:
Flea collars, powders, and sprays will not help if the dog is already infested but they may help when it comes to preventing infestations to some extent. When fleas are infesting a dog the female lays eggs at a rate of about thirty per day. These eggs fall off the dog and into the carpet, soil, or wherever the dog may be. In these areas they hatch and pupate, eventually growing into adult fleas which can then re-infest the dog. In order to halt the cycle all the fleas on the dog and in the environment must be killed or the life cycle must be interrupted.
For dogs, there are several flea treatments available but one of the best is an oral medication that will not kill adult fleas, but does kill the eggs and larva. As long as the dog is not continually exposed to new fleas, then this will interrupt the flea life cycle and prevents them from coming back. If that is happening, the source must be cleaned of fleas whether it is the carpet, the environment, or other dogs with which your pet associates.
Catching fleas and treating the dog quickly is the key to eliminating the infestation and preventing the insects' return despite the fact that fleas can be a real nuisance for dogs and their owners.
Tips for Detecting Fleas:
There are ways to check for fleas if ever you suspect that your dog has them because you see him scratching more than usual. Fleas are visible to the naked eye even though they are very small, about an eighth of an inch long, and they are also brownish in color. They will try to hide beneath the dog's fur, under the collar, or on the underbelly since they prefer dark places. Their fecal material almost look like peppers and they can be seen on the dog's coat and looks like multiple black flecks or specks. It is time to treat your dog to get rid of fleas if they or their droppings are found.
How to Treat Your Dog for Fleas:
Flea collars, powders, and sprays will not help if the dog is already infested but they may help when it comes to preventing infestations to some extent. When fleas are infesting a dog the female lays eggs at a rate of about thirty per day. These eggs fall off the dog and into the carpet, soil, or wherever the dog may be. In these areas they hatch and pupate, eventually growing into adult fleas which can then re-infest the dog. In order to halt the cycle all the fleas on the dog and in the environment must be killed or the life cycle must be interrupted.
For dogs, there are several flea treatments available but one of the best is an oral medication that will not kill adult fleas, but does kill the eggs and larva. As long as the dog is not continually exposed to new fleas, then this will interrupt the flea life cycle and prevents them from coming back. If that is happening, the source must be cleaned of fleas whether it is the carpet, the environment, or other dogs with which your pet associates.
Catching fleas and treating the dog quickly is the key to eliminating the infestation and preventing the insects' return despite the fact that fleas can be a real nuisance for dogs and their owners.
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