Mary Allen
Fleas are an annoying problem that all dog owners know, and most dogs occasionally get an itch from an uninvited guest! It can be difficult to completely eradicate fleas, especially when they have also infested your home, but you shouldn’t think of fleas as a natural by-product of dog ownership, but rather something you have to put up with!
When thinking of flea treatment products, a few things usually come to mind: spot-on treatments, flea pills, and flea collars are the most common. But there are many ways to combat fleas and keep your dog and home free from them. In this article, we present ten of them.
It might give you ideas on how to approach a problem or find additional ways you might not have thought of.
Spot-on methods
Spot-on flea treatments are applied to the scruff and take 24 hours to fully protect the dog. These treatments are then effective for about a month before you need to treat your dog again. Spot-on treatments are one of the most effective ways to treat fleas, but the products can lose effectiveness over time or in certain areas. If your dog’s regular spot-on treatment is no longer working, talk to your vet about switching to another remedy.
Oral methods
Oral flea remedies come in a variety of forms such as B. in liquid form or, what is even more common, as a tablet. They are often available in the pet food section of the supermarket, although it must be said that such products are rarely effective and in some cases can make your pet ill. Talk to your vet about oral flea treatments. There is now a new prescription product that offers up to three months of protection against fleas in just one tablet.
Flea collars
Flea collars are collars that are impregnated with a chemical that kills fleas that come in contact with the collar. They used to be one of the most common ways to keep fleas under control, but are less popular today. Adverse effects of flea collars include rubbing and scratching at the neck area, as well as an unwanted reaction to the chemical. They are also not as effective as many other methods.
Flea shampoo
Flea shampoo is a specially medicated shampoo that kills any fleas that are present. It’s one of the cheaper flea control methods if your dog can use a bath! However, bathing with flea shampoo needs to be repeated regularly and is therefore often not the only flea control method.
Dips and douses
A dip or douse is a concentrated prescription product that you mix with water and apply to your dog’s coat with a sponge, then dry without rinsing. These agents are typically used only for severe infestations that have proven immune to other methods of removal and must be used with caution.
Powder
Flea powders can be applied directly to the dog, in some cases, they are also intended for use in the home. Working the powder into the coat will help kill fleas but will then leave a residue on the coat which can not only affect the condition of the coat but may also tempt your dog to lick it.
Spray
Again, there are flea sprays for home use and other products for use on your dog. They work similarly to floo powder but are less messy to use. Flea sprays are commonly used on puppies who are too young to receive spot-on treatment.
Flea traps
Flea traps are quite interesting in a macabre way, but they do little to help with a large infestation in the home. However, they can come in handy when it comes to getting an idea of how severe the flea infestation is and if it will improve with treatment. Flea traps are sticky pads that you set up in your home. If fleas come into contact with them, they will stick to the trap and die.
Flea bombs
Flea bombs are products meant to treat your home, not your dog. They are relatively inexpensive to buy and can be of great help if you have a flea infestation in your home that keeps infesting your dog. A flea bomb releases a pesticide into the air. When using the bomb in a room, you must ensure that there are no animals in the room and that there is no open food, drink, or materials used for eating. If you return to the room after the allotted time, you should also clean all surfaces to remove the residue.
Upholstered furniture
Keeping your home clean can prevent fleas from settling, and the same goes for your soft furnishings. Carpets are a particular attraction for flea infestations, as are curtains, pillows, and bedding. Try to reduce the number of fabric products and wash regularly at high temperatures to kill fleas and flea eggs.