My dog has fleas I’ve tried everything! What to do? Complete guide
Questions like: How do I know if my dog has fleas? Why does my dog has fleas? Or how to get fleas off my dog immediately? are very common in veterinarians’ offices.
The first thing you must know is that flea bites cause intense discomfort in your pet, which can result in erythema, inflammation, and hair loss in the animal.
Fleas can also carry infectious agents that can be transmitted between animals and humans.
Animals such as dogs and cats can become infested with fleas.
If you have woken up one morning and said “Oh no, my dog has fleas!” then this post is for you.
We’ll tell you all about fleas on dogs and you will discover how you can make them go away immediately and for good with this complete guide.
Keep reading!
How do I know if my dog has fleas? – Diagnosis and symptoms
Signs of fleas on dogs…
The first symptom to discover that a dog has fleas is frequent scratching, that is, generalized itching. Fleas on dogs symptoms may vary.
Although fleas are not the only reason why a dog scratches insistently, other skin problems such as dermatitis can also cause itching.
Check that your dog does not have a wound or any irritation caused by the bite of another insect, such as ants.
It is not easy to see fleas on the dog’s skin, so, you better go to a veterinarian so he or she can examine it in detail.
And if it turns out that you have already seen a small insect moving in your dog’s fur, you should rush to the vet for proper treatment.
If you see something moving in your pet’s fur it is probable fleas.
Fleas move very fast and this makes them difficult to detect.
In addition, they are small, only a few millimeters in length. In black or brown dogs, fleas can be especially difficult to see, and you can barely catch their movement out of the corner of your eye.
How do you know if it’s a flea or another insect?
To answer this question, you need to know:
What do fleas look like?
Fleas are small insects that are only 1.5-3.3 mm long and are dark in color, which can vary from reddish, brown, or black depending on the species. Their body is hard and flattened on the sides, covered with small hairs and spines.
In addition, if you notice small black specks of dirt on your dog, they are usually flea feces.
Why is it bad for my dog to have fleas?
Fleas feed on the dog’s blood.
Also, when a dog has too many fleas, it can become anemic because they suck the dog’s blood. They can also cause diseases such as plague or typhus, but most often it does not go beyond Flea Bite Allergic Dermatitis.
Another very important factor to consider is that fleas are very contagious and can also bite humans.
A dog with fleas can leave fleas everywhere it walks, such as in the living room, sofa, carpets, and beds, among others.
How do you get fleas?
A flea lays eggs after feeding on the dog’s blood. The eggs tend to detach from the dog’s body and fall to the ground.
Flea larvae resemble small white caterpillars, although they are difficult to see as they usually hide under carpets and baseboards.
Therefore, they are very easy to spread.
How do I know if I have fleas?
If you notice any changes in your skin, uncomfortable itching, or redness, it is best to see your doctor immediately to find out if it is fleas or if it is an allergy or dermatitis.
If you have fleas you will notice small red bumps, often three bumps grouped together, which are very itchy.
And if you have a flea allergy, annoying blisters will form on your skin.
Home remedies for dog fleas
Fleas hate citrus fruits, so you may find these home remedies helpful.
Rub your dog’s coat with lemon, orange, or some other citrus fruit, it will keep fleas away.
Lemon water for fleas on dogs
Preparation:
Boil a liter of water and add a few slices of lemon.
Let it cool overnight and the next day spread the water all over the dog’s body, avoiding the muzzle and eyes.
You don’t need to bathe him afterward, but you should be attentive to your dog’s reaction.
If you notice any discomfort, immediately remove the remedy.
For the home, spray this same mixture made with lemon and water on areas where fleas lodge, such as cushions, cracks, and carpets.
Eliminating fleas with lemon and other citrus fruits is undoubtedly a very effective home remedy.
However, we must emphasize that the aroma given off by these fruits is also part of the odors that dogs hate.
For this reason, it is common to observe the animal restless and annoyed, although not in all cases it is a nuisance.
If it is, we recommend opting for another remedy.
Other home remedies for fleas
Vinegar is a very popular anti-flea product, as the strong smell kills them and keeps them away.
For this, we can prepare a home remedy for fleas with white vinegar or apple cider vinegar, although the former usually offers better results.
Preparation:
For flea bath: mix one cup of vinegar and one cup of dog shampoo.
Use the solution to bathe your dog.
Let the mixture act for 5 minutes and use a flea comb to remove fleas from the hair.
Afterwards, wash the dog very well to remove all the excess. Repeat the bath a couple of times a week.
You can also mix half a cup of water with half a cup of apple cider vinegar and put the mixture in a spray bottle.
Spray the mixture on your dog to keep fleas away and relieve itching.
You can also add a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar or white vinegar to your dog’s water bottle for him to drink, as this keeps fleas away and adds shine to the coat.
The best is to take your dog to the vet immediately if you discover that it has fleas!
A veterinary professional will be able to tell you the best solution for this annoying flea problem.
Nowadays there are very effective treatments for fleas such as Frontline products that will help you to eliminate fleas on your dog forever.
(FRONTLINE Plus Flea and Tick Treatment for Dogs (Small Dog, 5-22 Pounds)
FRONTLINE Plus Flea and Tick Treatment for Dogs Medium Dogs
Frontline Plus Flea and Tick Treatment for Dogs (Large Dog, 45-88 Pounds, 3 Doses)
Directory of veterinarians in the United States
On this website, you can find a list of different veterinary professionals in the United States.
We recommend you make a call to tell them what is happening to you and they will give you the best solution.
We hope this post has helped you to know how to combat and eliminate the flea problem in your dog.
Share it if you found it useful.
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