How To Get Rid Of Fleas On Dogs
You happen to glance over and see your dog furiously scratching at the back of their ears, trying to get rid of those annoying pests … fleas!
For any pet lover, fleas can immediately cause a panic. You start wondering how long they’ve been on your pet, have the gotten into your house and is your pet in any pain. However, there is good news. Getting rid of fleas on your dog is not difficult if you know what to do. Below are some guidelines that will help you get rid of fleas on your dog.
Clean Your Dog
The first thing you are going to want to do is give you dog a bath. For many pet lovers, this can be difficult, especially if the dog does not like baths. Even so, it has to be done.
Whenever you decide to wash your dog, find a shampoo that does not contain conventional insecticides as this might cause pain or discomfort to your pet. Instead, try to find a shampoo that naturally repels fleas. Some naturally repellents to help get rid of fleas include Rosemary, Citrus or Eucalyptus oil.
NOW Foods Rosemary Oil, 4 ounce
NOW Foods Orange Oil Sweet, 4 ounce
NOW Foods Eucalyptus Oil, 4 ounce
NOW Foods Orange Oil Sweet, 4 ounce
NOW Foods Eucalyptus Oil, 4 ounce
Shampoo Time!
Now it’s time to wash the dog. From what I have seen, many pet owners start either on the back or the head … this is wrong. Instead, start with the neck first. Fleas like to go where water isn’t. By washing the next first, you make it much more difficult for them to “migrate” during the washing process.
Using the shampoo or oils for your dog, wash thoroughly for at least five minutes. This is the minimum amount of time it takes for the shampoo or oils to truly affect the fleas.
Once the shampoo has been applied properly, it is time to wash it away. Do not use cold or hot water. Instead, use lukewarm water. Just as you don’t like to be subjected to extremely cold or hot water, neither does your pet.
Remove All Visible Fleas
At this point, your dog should be spic-and-span, minus a few left behind fleas. It is a good idea to go behind and search for any stragglers.
To do this, use a fine-toothed comb and go over every part of your dog looking for any fleas (dead or alive). Make sure that you do not see any before going on to the next step. If too many are still crawling around, you may need to go back and shampoo your dog again.
Apply Flea Remover
And finally, after you have washed your dog, it is time to make sure that you make sure those little critters can’t survive on your pet. This is the last defense for your pet. There are plenty of effective ways to do this from dog collars to spot treatments. Each has their own inherent reward. I have always chosen the spot treatments as my dog has continually pulled the dog collars off. Maybe he is a little spoiled … but, he’s my pet and I love him.
If for some reason your dog continues to get fleas, you may need to seek out other treatments.
