Have you ever had an itch you were unable to scratch? Usually its right in the middle of your back and no matter how you contort yourself, you just can't satisfy the urge to scratch it. Unpleasant, right? Well, for a dog with fleas, they experience this sensation all the time. They don't have fingers like we do (what a luxury our fingers are!) to single out areas that need relief. So they resort to using their hind legs on the spots they can reach, and their teeth. The worst part of all, scratching generally makes flea bites worse.

First things first…

 

CLEAN HOUSE

For any level of flea infestation, light or severe, you will need to do a thorough house cleaning, and you will need to clean daily until the situation has been brought under control. Vacuum in every corner and along the baseboards, and throw out the vacuum bag when you are finished. Wash all of your dog’s bedding and toys with warm soapy water and vacuum the car too — even if you do not take your dog into your car, since you may be carrying fleas on your shoes or pant-cuffs. Removing the majority of flea eggs and larvae present will help reduce the population of adults hatching in your home.

POWDERS AND SPRAYS

Flea powders and sprays are relatively inexpensive methods of repelling fleas. Be cautious when applying these products, as the spray or fine powder can be irritating to the mouth and lungs if breathed in (for both animals and humans). Also be sure to use caution around the eyes, nose, and mouth. As these products will wear off the skin faster than a spot-on treatment, you will need to reapply them more often. Always read labels carefully before using flea powders or sprays.

FLEA SHAMPOOS

Bathing your dog with a special medicated shampoo that kills fleas and/or ticks on contact can be an inexpensive (though labor-intensive) method of protecting your dog during flea season, or year round. You will need to repeat the process more often, about every two weeks, as the effective ingredients in these shampoos won’t last as long as a spot-on or oral medication.

SPOT-ON TREATMENTS

While spot-on medications seem like they would only work on the spot they are applied to (in the same way a collar works), they are actually very effective at covering the animal’s entire body. The drops work by a process of translocation, by which the medication is spread over the body by way of the oil glands. They are not affected by bathing, swimming or rain and will kill and repel fleas for several weeks before reapplication. They may also work to interrupt the flea life cycle while it is in progress. Before choosing a particular spot-on product, read all labels carefully to be sure you are choosing the one most appropriate for your dog’s age and size.

 

It's really important to attack your dogs flea problem from all sides. If you simply treat your dog, and the fleas have spread to certain areas of your home, they'll return and the problem will continue. Typically if you take the time to do one deep clean on your place, wash their bedding and sleeping areas, and vacuum the carpeted areas – you'll be working with a clean slate. From there, a simple flea dip and spot treatment should prevent the fleas from coming back.

We loved this list of flea treatments from the team at PetMD. For the full list and alternate methods to help with fleas, view their article here.

 

Have You Tried a Great Flea Treatment for Your Dog?

If you have used a product or method that has worked and you want to share it with us, we would LOVE to hear from you. Fleas are a pain in the you know what. Let's work together to keep our homes and our pets flea free!