Treatment

A Guide On Getting Rid Of Beastly Pests From Your Dog’s Fur

Fleas are one the most common parasites found on dogs and cats, and thereby the most annoying ones. A survey was conducted by the ‘Korean Journal of Parasitology’ on domestic dogs from 3 regions. A total of 407 fleas were recorded to be found from 83 domestic dogs. Studies also showed that fleas are more common in temperate areas and during the summer season. So, this is when you need to pay attention to the signs your dog may show.

How do I know if my dog is infected

Your furry friend may start displaying certain symptoms, and it is often not that hard to notice fleas. Frequent itching and biting are common signs. Another way to check for fleas is by examining your pet’s fur for ‘flea dirt.’ This can be done by combing the fur and seeing if black flecks that resemble dirt fall off, after a while they appear rust red in colour, this is the blood sucked by the fleas. Fleas prove to be extremely uncomfortable, which is why you should ensure you rid them as soon as possible.

[google_bot_show][/google_bot_show]Best Flea treatment

There are many different ways you can treat fleas; however, always make sure you consult your vet before carrying on with the treatments. Mostly a vet would recommend a fast-acting oral treatment, which kills fleas. Putting special sprays called ‘flea sprays are also effective, in order to prevent repeated infection, make sure you treat all the pets in the house, even though there aren’t affected. Also, wash your dog with flea shampoo. Furthermore, purchasing a flea comb will come in handy as you can comb the fur simultaneously as you wash the dog, for a much effective result. For furry dogs like golden retrievers, it becomes quite hard to manage, thus giving them topical treatment (according to the Vet’s advice) all year round may be beneficial.

Natural ways to get rid of fleas at home

  • Salt

Yes! Salt! It acts as an amazing dehydrating agent, thus sprinkling some salt in carpets and other ‘flea prone’ areas. After two days, vacuum the area thoroughly.

  • Lemon spray

Make a citrus spray by squeezing a lemon into water and bringing it to a boil. Set it overnight and transfer it to a spray bottle. Spray this on infected furniture, and the low pH prevents the growth of fleas.

  • Dish wash soap

How amazing it is to think that such simple items can have multiple uses! This method can be used to create a flea trap. All you have to do is mix some dish soap with warm water and place it in a vessel. It is more effective in the night as fleas tend to come out at night. Thanks to the high viscosity of the liquid, fleas get trapped. However, this needs to be repeated every night.

  • Flea repelling plants

This can’t get any more natural, certain plants contain pigments, oils, and scents that repel this insect away, thus installing such plants will be helpful, just make sure your pet doesn’t knock the pot off though. Examples of such plants include;

  • Lavender (Smells blissful)
  • Chrysanthemums
  • Spearmint
  • Pennyroyal

In general, taking care of your pets by cleaning them often and combing their fur will help in preventing parasitic insects.

Nicole Hennig
Nicole Hennig is a freelance writer, content writer, blogger, and also a photographer. She graduated from the University of Caloocan in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2015.

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