Flee from Fleas: 8 Ways to Get Rid of Fleas for Your Dog

Flee from Fleas: 8 Ways to Get Rid of Fleas for Your Dog

dog-getting-scratched

A flea infestation is one of the nightmares every dog owner tries to avoid. Having a flea problem not only affects your dog, but it will eventually affect your household too! Fleas go after blood relentlessly. That means both you and your dog is the target. The nightmarish part of dealing with an infestation is also the duration of it. A flea infestation usually lasts for about 3 months due to the fleas' life cycle. At one point of the cycle, fleas become resistant to insecticides. This means that the things you have to do to deal with the infestation will become a part of your tedious daily routine for 3 months straight! 

An infestation is definitely a headache for dog owners, especially if they are beginners. If this is you, fret not! Here are 8 ways to get rid of fleas for your dog and your household.

1. Flea Shampoo and Flea Combs for Pets

make-sure-dog-is-showered

The first thing to do when dealing with fleas is to shower your dog. And don’t use regular shampoos. Use flea shampoos that specialize in killing fleas and its larvae as you shower your dog. There are various flea shampoos available in the market. Some even added chemicals for extra functionalities such as moisturizing your dog’s fur. There are also shampoos with no chemicals at all if you prefer a more organic approach. In each case, do your research before purchasing! Get one that works most efficient in helping you deal with the infestation. 

When grooming your dog, use flea combs instead of regular combs. Flea combs are designed to trap fleas. Combing your dog with it will dig out the fleas buried under your dog’s fur. Comb your dog a few extra times than you normally would to get as many fleas out as possible. You would most likely not be able to get all the fleas out in one go, especially if your dog’s breed has thicker fur. So make sure you consistently groom your dog every now and then. 

Take this first step immediately when you notice symptoms.

2. Watch Out!

With that said, always be on the look out for symptoms! Watch out for any signs of increased itchiness, severe scratching or red patches on your dog’s skin. Your dog may experience hair loss as well. So get your suspicions up if you start seeing more shed fur than usual. 

Sometimes fleas would also leave traces behind around your house. They would look like tiny dark specks or white ovals with a small brown head. You’ll usually see them on your pet bedding, carpets, window sills, curtains, floors or even on your dog’s body. You can look at these places to confirm your suspicion.

Look out for flea bites on your own skin as well! The longer you delay taking action, the worse the infestation will be. Especially if you yourself have been bitten. In worse cases, flea bites can bring more harm than just mere itchiness or red patches. Some fleas may carry diseases that could be transmitted to the host. And some host may even catch an allergic reaction. So don’t delay! Take immediate action after you spot the signs.

3. Rosemary

rosemary-dog

If you are someone who prefers a more organic approach, rosemary is ideal for you! Fleas hate the strong aroma of rosemary. So rosemary can be just the perfect organic flea repellent. 

Firstly, you can use it to wash your dog after every bath. Here’s what you need to do:

  • Get an estimated amount of 2 pints of water and bring it to a boil
  • Add two cups of fresh rosemary and let it boil continuously for another 30 minutes
  • After 30 minutes, strain out the leaves and let it cool down
  • Pour the water into a container and keep it in the fridge when not used.

Wash your dog with the rosemary water after bathing. Do not wash off the water. Simply let it dry off as it is on your dog's skin. Do this every time you shower your dog to get rid of the fleas. 

Apart from direct application to your dog, you can also use it as a flea repellent spray. Pour the water into a bottle and spray it on flea infested areas in your house. Repeat this daily to get rid of as much fleas as possible.

4. Flea Services 

Sometimes getting professional help is the best move to deal with the infestation. Sure, you can probably save a couple of bucks by dealing with it yourself. But if the infestation is severe, you would probably be paying more while also having to deal with the hassle yourself. So why not just pay someone else that’s trained to help you? 

Getting professional help is always the wisest move since they are well-trained. Contact your local vet and ask for available flea services! They would usually first come to your house for a thorough inspection. After, they would decide on how and where to eradicate the fleas. They would most probably be spraying insecticides and vacuum the infected area but these are details you should consult with them. 

They usually provide help for your dog as well to get rid of the fleas that's on your dog's body. So rather than having to deal with the fleas yourself, they would take care of it completely! 

5. Suck Them Dry

vacuum-the-house

One way to get rid of them quick is through vacuuming. And unlike the other options, vacuuming can be done repeatedly, daily. The suction force from the vacuum would instantly kill the adult fleas while simultaneously also kill the eggs before hatching. It may get tiring but it is best to vacuum every day to get rid of the infestation. 

Focus on vacuuming areas where fleas are usually found. Don’t hesitate to vacuum the same area a few extra times. Doing this will make sure that you are effectively killing the fleas as much as possible. After you’re done with the vacuuming, seal the bag tightly. Any surviving fleas from the vacuum would probably try to crawl out so be extra cautious.

After vacuuming, spray the affected areas with fleas repellent if you have any. This double kill would ensure that you are thorough with getting rid of the fleas. Suck them dry then drown them out! 

6. Get It Mowing

Fleas are usually brought in from the outside. With this said, you should pay more attention on the yard since that’s where most of the fleas come from. Start by cutting the grasses short if your yard has long grasses. Long grasses are the perfect hiding place for fleas. Cutting your grass short would make it easier for you to spot them.

After you have cut the grasses, start spraying insecticide everywhere. Don’t be surprised if you start seeing dead fleas lying around. You would most probably need to clean your yard a few times. Check the next morning if there are still fleas around. If there are, spray the insecticide again. Repeat this until your yard is clean from the fleas. 

Fleas thrive in moist environments. So make sure you don’t over water your plants and try to keep your yard as dry as possible. Another reason to have your grass cut short is to let the sun shine through as fleas thrive also in dark places. So get it mowing! 

7. Flea collars

flea-collar-for-dogs

When it comes to your dog, try your best to monitor its condition as much as possible. If you don’t have the time to do so, get a flea collar. Flea collars are designed to release flea killing chemicals that’ll be spread throughout your dog’s skin. This will save you both the time and energy. 

There are various dog collars available in the market. So do your research before purchasing. Get one that’s long-lasting and would fit well for your dog. Flea collars kill fleas automatically. So just sit back and get ready to clean up the dead fleas. Even so, monitor your dog’s condition from time to time. Make sure that the collar is working and that your dog is clean. 

8. Oral Medication 

Last but not least, you can feed your dog flea pills. Flea medications are designed to be absorbed into the bloodstream after consumption. Fleas that feed on your dog would then consume the chemicals from your dog’s blood, killing them. This makes it much easier to kill off the fleas that are feeding off your dog. 

Do your research before purchasing any flea pills as there are different variations of it. But the general dosage of most flea pills is one pill per month. In any case, make sure that you know the pill you are buying to not feed your dog the wrong dosage. 

Depending on the pill, the medicine would take effect earliest 30 minutes after consumption. With this said, monitor your dog! Check if the pill is effective before considering other means or additional dosage. 

 It would usually take weeks, if not months, to fully eradicate a flea infestation. It’s never easy and can sometimes be overwhelming. But remember to be patient and stick to the routine. Consistency is key. 

Petbacker Logo 

About PetBacker

PetBacker is a platform that lets you hire Pet Sitter and Pet Boarding Owner fast.

Find a Sitter Provide Pet Service