Fleas make your dog’s life miserable, and you might get itchy just thinking about them. Pills, shampoos, collars and dips are just some solutions used to get rid of these pesky parasites. However, you should keep in mind that there’s no single treatment that will fully eradicate fleas on your dog.
There are also numerous approaches to flea eradication, but most pet owners focus first on getting the fleas off their furry friends. The constant licking, itching, scratching and biting are annoying, but those actions can damage the animal’s skin. Thousands of pet owners visit their pets for Flea Allergy Dermatitis, FAD, every year, so fleas can lead to other complications.
A common mistake pet owners make is to adopt the “more is better” approach. More is definitely not better when it comes to giving your pet medications or using chemicals on his skin.
Always follow the directions on the packaging when using over the counter medications, and only use products that are designed for your dog.
For instance, do not use medications for cats or horses on your dog.
Even when you read the labels and follow instructions, your dog might have an adverse reaction to the flea treatment. Call your vet immediately if this happens.
A shampoo is an excellent first solution for eradicating fleas, especially if the dog has a lot of fleas visible on his body. Follow the directions on the label for applying the medicated shampoo to get rid of fleas. Keep in mind that a shampoo is not a long term or lasting solution for fleas.
Many pet owners are surprised to see the fleas return a few days after giving the dog a flea bath. Shampoo treatments only last for a couple days, at most. And they won’t leave residue if you use them properly.
Flea dips are chemical solutions that aim to eradicate not only fleas, but also ticks and mites. Do not use a chemical dip unless it’s necessary. For instance, you can use it if there’s a case of mite infestation. Unlike shampoos, dips last for 1-2 weeks, which means they will leave a lot of residue on the dog’s body. Flea dips and shampoos are only effective for adult fleas.
Some flea collars release a toxic gas to eliminate fleas while others are absorbed into the dog’s subcutaneous fat layer. Toxic gas collars are ideal if there’s a large concentration of fleas around the dog’s head and neck. These collars should be used in collaboration with vacuum cleaner bags to kill fleas as they’re vacuumed up.
Flea collars that are absorbed into the subcutaneous fat are more effective than toxic gas collars. Consult with your vet to find out what type of collar, if any, will be best for your dog. The collars are effective for treating adult fleas, and some collars will regulate insect growth to prevent flea egg and larval development.
Flea sprays and powders are short-term solutions for treating fleas, ticks and mites. The protection lasts 2-3 days, so they are not the most popular form of flea eradication.
Spot-on treatments have replaced a lot of flea sprays and powders on the market. These are applied between the dog’s shoulder blades and are effective for up to one month. Spot-on treatments get rid of adult fleas, and a few brands contain ingredients to inhibit larval development.
Popular flea pills stop larvae from emerging from the flea egg. These must be administered orally, but some are available as injectable medications. The medication gets into the dog’s blood, and once the flea ingests the blood, the female fleas will lay eggs that are unable to hatch. Flea pills do not kill adult fleas, so use them only to break the fleas’ life cycle. This means you’ll have to use the pill in conjunction with a shampoo or spot-on treatment to kill adult fleas.
Flea control shouldn’t be limited to your pet. The flea eggs in your yard, carpeting, bedding and upholstered furniture will re-infect your pet if they’re not eliminated. The fleas in and around your home contribute to 90% of your problem, and neglecting to treat these areas will cause the flea problem to worsen over time.