It's not that only dirty and neglected dogs suffer from fleas. This insidious parasite can attack the most well-groomed dog. How to recognize fleas and how to get rid of them quickly and effectively? Pleas read below.
HOW TO RECOGNIZE IF YOUR DOG HAS FLEAS?
A flea-ridden dog scratches like crazy at every opportunity, and tiny black grains may be visible on its fur - these are not fleas, but their feces. In addition, in specific places of the dog's fur, red spots in the areola are traces of flea bites. It happens that persistent itching causes inflammation of the skin, and if the dog scratches intensively, a bacterial complication may occur. In addition, the dog may start losing fur and, in extreme cases, may become anemic due to lack of blood. Prevention is important - check your dog's fur regularly, comb it with a fine-toothed comb, and if we notice only one flea, act immediately!
WHERE DO DOG FLEAS COME FROM?
Fleas most often jump from individual to individual. So, places with a high density of dogs are a real paradise for these parasites. It is also possible to become infected with eggs from the environment - an infected animal scatters them literally everywhere. Catching fleas can happen anywhere - during brief contact with a flea-infested dog on a walk, during a stay at a dog hotel or during a visit to a grooming salon or even on the walk in the park. Importantly, it does not have to be a neglected or dirty place - it is enough that one flea-infested individual was there for at least a moment. Dogs can become infected with fleas from other animal species - from wild cats, foxes, wolves, and even from hedgehogs, rabbits, poultry or... humans.
WHAT DO DOG FLEA LOOK LIKE?
Fleas are visible to the naked eye. Males are about 2 mm long, females about 3 mm. They have an oval shape and dark color. However, it is rare to spot them on a dog's body because they are extremely fast, lively and agile. The previously mentioned special comb is helpful in diagnosing flea disease, as it collects both the excrement and the fleas on the dog's body. A simple test to check whether we are dealing with flea excrement or, for example, dirt, is a test with hydrogen peroxide. How to conduct an experiment? Just collect a small amount of dirt from the dog's hair on a white paper towel, then sprinkle it with a few drops of water. If a red color appears, it means that blood is present, i.e., we are dealing with feces of these bloodthirsty parasites.
HOW TO GET RID OF FLEA IN YOUR DOG?
The most popular and effective way to combat fleas is to use insecticides. Preparations available on the market include tablets, collars, neck drops and sprays. The preparations differ in active substances, duration and spectrum of action. A good solution is to use preparations that combat fleas at all stages of development. Medicines are selected according to the patient's weight, considering both the breed sensitivity and the general condition of the dog. Remember that some of these preparations are dangerous for cats, so if you have a pet at home, buy one that you can safely use in its presence. Importantly, the anti-flea treatment should be repeated periodically in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations (each form of the drug has a different duration of action), and all other animals that live with the dog suffering from fleas should be treated. Shampoos that were once popular are now only an addition to therapy. They help remove flea excrement and adult fleas, and can also act as a deterrent, but they won’t get rid of flea infestations. Removing them from the dog is one thing but getting rid of them from the house (especially fleas in the form of pupae or their eggs) is a completely different, much more difficult story. These insidious creatures can survive in our apartment long after we free the dog from them.
As a DOG GROOMER I recommend do below steps:
1. Buy flea bombs (you can bay them on Amazon or Ebay). FLEA BOMBS kills not only only fleas but also flea eggs!!!- no spray does this!
2. Buy flea collar for dog/cat. I recommend SERESTO ) Seresto Flea and Tick Control Collars from £34.98 (vetuk.co.uk) )which is working well for around 7-8months for fleas and thicks.
3. Bath the dog in flea shampoo and then in the same day:
-Put flea collar on a dog-Place one smoke bomb in each room according to the manufacturer's instructions
-Close all doors and windows-Take all animals and people outside for 4h (you can go for walk to the park)
-After 4h open all windows and ventilate the house well-Vacuum sofas, carpets, clean floors with hot water and vinegar
-Wash blankets, bedding, dog bed, dog clothes.
You can apply flea drops to your dog but remember that you can only do it 2 days after bathing your dog.
After all you should have clean house and a DOG 😊