Getting Rid Of Dog Fleas

There are several ways to kill or get rid of fleas that love our dogs and cats. Home (indoors and outdoors) and pets must be treated simultaneously. There are synthetic chemical approaches as well as chemicals that are considered natural, but no one method is totally effective. A combination of different methods is required to get rid of dog fleas.

Dog fleas are found in the bottom mesh in carpeting, pet bedding, under furniture or in dark crevices where they shed twice before maturing. Here they grow undetected on their way to pupae (life stages of fleas undergoing transformation). In cocoon stage, fleas are invulnerable to insecticide and freezing temperatures; emerging only requires warmth and a host. That is why they reappear when you think you solved the problem.

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How to get rid of dog fleas depends on the individual situation.

You won't get rid of dog fleas by simply sprinkling flea powder on your dog. Thoroughly vacuuming the home and placing a flea collar on your pet will not do the job of getting rid of dog, cat and animal fleas.

Getting rid of dog fleas requires a diligent, systematic approach.

Flea collars work moderately well but these collars have harsh and potentially dangerous chemicals, especially if improperly used or mixed with other toxic agents.

Cedar repels many insects including fleas. Cedar shampoo, cedar oil and cedar-filled beds are available.

Topical treatments can be effective. A few carefully placed drops, according to the canine's size and weight, on the skin between the shoulder blades keeps your pet from ingesting it, but allows the application to interact with skin oils.

Your veterinarian can prescribe oral medications that render the larvae feeding off the host unable to reproduce, which ends the life cycle.

Flea shampoos and dip baths are part of the combinations used in getting rid of dog fleas. "Dips" usually sting when applied to open irritations. Some dogs are bothered more by the use of pesticides than they are by fleas. Flea collars, sprays, powders, and shampoos are all loaded with pesticides. Spraying or dipping with a residual pesticide to rid your dog of fleas has little or no lasting effect. Flea shampoos often only help in getting rid of fleas from your dog's fur. Find a shampoo that KILLS the fleas while shampooing your dog; otherwise, if live fleas are in the bath water they can re-infest your pet with a simple splash.

A gentler approach is to wash the dog with a brand name dishwashing liquid. The less caustic chemicals will kill fleas on contact and act as repellent.

Foggers or "bombs" you find at your local stores are often used to rid the house of fleas. Foggers are considered safe, but these products are toxic and should be used as a last resort. They don't effectively reach under furniture; are commonly activated in the center of a room, missing outlying areas. And foggers require everyone to vacate for at least 4-6 hours.

A sensible option to get rid of dog fleas is hire an exterminator who uses non-toxic products to fog or spray the carpets and furniture. These companies usually guarantee a flea-free home for one year.

After treatment, place the cut-off end of a flea collar or moth balls/crystals in your vacuum cleaner bag to kill any vacuumed fleas. Vacuum floors, carpets, furniture and pet bedding more often. Place towels wherever your pets lie and wash those towels weekly in hot water.

Vacuum the dog if it allows you. Groom the dog daily with a flea comb that you dip in water with liquid dish soap. Don't be surprised if you occasionally find a flea on the dog. It comes from outside. You cannot get rid of dog fleas, you only control them. If your pet is outdoors a lot, you may also need to treat areas of the yard. To determine if the yard is infested, walk around it wearing white athletic socks pulled to the knee. If fleas are around they will show up on the white socks. It's seldom necessary to treat areas exposed to full sun. Focus on where your pet rests and plays, under decks, along fences and near the foundation.

Diatomaceous Earth is natural, ecologically safe and non-poisonous to man and animal.

DE represents another method to rid fleas from our dogs and pets and protect them against infestation. If you've eaten anything made with flour, you've eaten DE. It's used in commercial grain storage as natural, poison-free insect control. When lightly rubbed into your pet's coat, DE is effective against fleas, ticks, lice, and other pests. It's also an organic wormer and kills worms or parasites the pets may have.

Note that the DE we are describing is NOT the DE sold for pool filters. That DE has been chemically treated and is dangerous to humans and animals.

Getting Rid Of Dog Fleas

We have existed as a company since 1985, but it was a love of dogs, the dogs that have been a part of our life, and the passing of one dog in particular, Rusty, that inspired the creation of http://www.CalloftheDog.com and http://www.CalloftheDogShop.com -- created to provide the things your dogs and pets need. Visit us for great information and quality dog supplies! Be sure to see our About Us page as well.

The two sites are dedicated to the dogs we have loved so deeply, and who have given us so much love in return. Purebreds and mixed breeds, but mostly rescues in need of a home. We educated them, but each one has had something to teach us in exchange.

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