Choosing the right flea treatment
By Jeffere Eugenio
Having a dog also means that you need to deal with annoying fleas. Fleas can survive off of the blood of your dog and it is often difficult to spot them on your dog due to their fur. Fleas can also cause your dog to become weak and anemic due to losing so much blood and they can transmit some pretty tough viruses into your dog. If your dog has allergies or sensitive to flea bites, your pet can have a severe allergic reaction which can cause baldness, intense itch and inflammation throughout the dog's body. There are a lot of dog owner that are very confused right now as to what flea treatment to choose from the wide varieties of flea control products available in the market today. Flea comb, flea sprays, natural products, topical spot-on solutions, oral growth regulator or "birth control" pills for the fleas are only some of the flea treatment products available in the market.
Even if you don't want it, your pets can get fleas everywhere particularly when your dogs are outside. Even the well kept pets will be a host to fleas at some point in their lives. You can't be sure that your dogs will not get any fleas. There is very little you can do to prevent this from happening because fleas can be found lurking anywhere just waiting for a host to pass by but there are some things you can still do to prevent fleas from propagating in your house.
A special type of comb called flea comb can be one of your best tools in keeping your dog free from fleas. Use the flea comb everyday especially after your dogs have been outside during hot weather in order to remove fleas and eggs from your dog's coat. Adding a little bit of oil onto the comb spines is very effective in catching those pesky fleas because they get stuck or trapped to the comb. Do not forget to have a bowl of hot water close by when you do this easy trick so that you can instantly place any fleas directly into the water whenever you catch one. Behind your pet's ears, spots in between their toes, the fur in their armpits, and under the neck are the spots that you check. You can easily spot fleas when you place a white cloth or towel underneath your dog during combing. Fleas are notoriously hard to catch so don't expect to eliminate all your pet's fleas in one combing.
You can also use alcohol to stun fleas while brushing and easily dump them into a cup of water to die. Empty the mug down the toilet to make sure that any fleas do not make it out. Giving bath to your pet regularly can help lessen the flea problem of your dog but not when you are dealing with a major flea's infestation. There are dog owners who prefer using special shampoos in the market that is made to killing fleas but these products are usually too toxic to use every day. Some alternative products available commercially are rosewood, cedar, or eucalyptus is better choice than relying on other commercial products to take care of minor flea problems. Mixture of lemon and water in a clean spray bottle is another good option in dealing with minor flea problem. A little spray across the body is usually enough to solve minor flea problem of your dog, just remember to avoid getting any spray into the eyes of your dog.
You should bring your pet to a veterinarian when your dog's flea problem has reached to flea infestation level. A vet can properly analyze your pet's condition and prescribe medication for the infestation. There are also a lot of products available in the market that is safe to use in your home like a diatomaceous earth. This is one of the cheapest ways to handle flea problems in your home.
There are also dog supplies available like strong medication such as Advantage and Frontline can wipe out all of the adult fleas on your pet in hours while preventing outbreaks for up to 3 months. Just drop some onto your pet's shoulder and the special chemical will spread and cure on its own. Advantage and Frontline has little toxicity which makes it safe for your pet. These products are both harsh to pest but gentle to your pet's sensitive skin. Whether Advantage or Frontline, you can be confident that your purchased item will completely eliminate the bugs on your pet's skin.
Be careful in handling such substances because these chemicals can do damage to you or your pet if used improperly. Ask your vet if you don't understand anything about the product. Flea control products on the market are not the same so pick one that best suitable for your pet's condition. Each has their own levels of effectiveness and kill different flea stages i.e. the eggs, larvae, and adults. One product may be effective against the adult fleas but is simply harmless to the eggs or larvae.
If your pet has a bad flea infestation then you have to use a combination of these products to effectively get rid of the fleas. Try to research on other alternative products or systems in controlling and reducing fleas. There are many flea control systems you might not have been aware of before so research! Your choice of a flea treatment medicine or method for your dog is very significant because it determines the success or failure in your fight against these pesky fleas.