How to Get Rid of Dog Fleas

Flea control for dogs? Dial 101! Keep dreaming, if only dogs would do it themselves, or there was some kind of a helpline, all would be well and good. But being the best friends in need that they are, we have to do it for them. As far as I am concerned, fleas are the canine equivalent of human lice. Having them is a pain. Getting rid of them is a bigger one. So gear yourself for the first round of getting rid of fleas.

1. Dampen some clothes that you do not mind throwing away

2. Get a hot bath ready with your dog shampoo. It helps greatly to have your dog present and hopefully willing to cooperate.

3. After shampooing you dog thoroughly, use a flea shampoo next. Yes I know this is too much, you dog rebels for one bath, another one and it positively whines in pitches unheard of before.

4. Have a flea collar ready after your second round of shampooing with the flea shampoo. Ensure that after drying the dog, you have cleaned it as much as possible. This is one time to use the hair dryer on your dog, on low heat of course, to ensure that there are no damp areas.

5. The places that your dog usually relaxes in and then the dog bed should be thoroughly vacuumed to pick up those extra fleas and eggs. There are medicines available that can be applied to these areas after cleaning.

6. During the flea season it is highly advisable to repeat the treatment every now and then.

7. Also, it is very helpful if you keep your dog away from animals or other dogs that you know to have fleas. A little prevention goes a long way in saving you and your dog a lot of pain.

The above remedies are mostly for dogs that live in smaller houses or non wooded areas. For those who live on farm areas or heavily wooded areas, these may not be permanent solutions as you will probably end up shampooing your dog everyday heaven forbid. For larger infestation problems, the following are some options:

1. Get your dog injected at the veterinarian with a drug that prevents the dog from catching fleas. This is also a form of booster and asking for it and having your dog get it every six or so months prevents them from catching fleas at all. Costs of course vary, so ask your vet.

2. Planting plants like the penny royal seem to help, possibly because of the smell. In this case cedar shaving can also be placed around strategic areas. The advice is to replace them twice a year.

3. Use flea repellents on your dog in between shampoos and for the areas more prone to fleas. Invest in a flea comb and use only that. The closely placed bristles trap the fleas and you can drown them in hot soapy water. A little brushing gently also improves human animal relationships. Show some love.

4. Flea tablets are also available if the booster is not an option. These tablets, have chemicals that when the flea bites into your canine, sterilizes it and the flea is unable to reproduce.

5. Flea bombs away. These bombs, if bought from a reputed dealer are effective for covering large areas. Of course, if you have children, keep them away and wear goggles yourself. They have been known to cause some skin irritation to both animals and humans. Note that some of these bombs may be flammable so ensure that there are no open circuits or anything that may cause an ignition.

Maintain your pet well after all the above. You’re sure to stop scratching in a few days!