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Dog and Fleas: How to Get Rid of Fleas
All dog owners are familiar with the problems
caused by pesky fleas. Fleas are very small wingless insects,
brownish red in color, and have sharp mouths by which they
obtain blood from their canine hosts. Flea bites usually cause
your dog to scratch at affected areas and some dogs are more
sensitive than others and can have allergic reactions to flea
bites. In general, fleas do not transmit diseases from dogs
to humans, but the potential for this exists and they can and
do bite humans as well as dogs and cats. Fleas and flea larvae
live in warm climates and will live until the ground freezes
in cooler climates. They can live on in your home well past
this time also.
If you suspect that your dog has fleas, you
should take him to your veterinarian. Your veterinary staff member will first
use a flea comb on your dog. Flea combs are wide tooth combs
and “flea dirt” or dried blood flea excrement is what they
are looking for. If this is found, your veterinarian will recommend
treatment. Most veterinarians recommend preventive treatment
for fleas as it is much easier to prevent them than to treat
them.
For those of you that wish to treat your dog for fleas without
commercial products, there are a few recommendations. One way
is to comb your dog with a flea comb regularly. You can put
some petroleum jelly on the comb to help fleas stick to the
comb. Other people recommend using rubbing alcohol to slow
down the fleas so they are easier to catch. Garlic and Brewers
Yeast added as supplements to your dog’s food are recommended
by those who prefer the natural approach to treating fleas,
however, the benefits of these treatments have yet to be proven.
There are several over the counter flea treatments available
at your local pet store. However, many of these contain pyrethrins,
which are natural insecticides derived from the chrysanthemum
plant. In the past, this kind of treatment of fleas was the
only one available to veterinarians. If you choose to use a
product containing pyrethrins, you should be aware of the potential
side effects. There is a potential threat of toxicity when
using a product containing pyrethrins, not just to your dog,
but to other animals in the house and humans as well. Make
sure you follow the label usage directions and if you have
any questions about using these products, consult your veterinarian.
Today,
there are much safer products available. Most of these
products are only available through your veterinarian. One
of the most popular treatments for fleas is Frontline Plus
by Merial. It is topically applied to the skin of your dog
on the back of the neck. According to Merial, Frontline Plus
kills 98-100% of adult fleas within 24 hour and will also kill
eggs and larvae to prevent fleas from recurring. Frontline
Plus is waterproof for up to 30 days and is safe to use on
puppies as young as 8 weeks of age.
Another popular flea treatment is Sentinel
by Novartis. Sentinel
is a monthly pill that also prevents heartworms. Sentinel kills
adult fleas, eggs, and larvae. Novartis also makes the flea
control products Program and Capstar. Program is a flavored
tablet that is given monthly, and while it does not kill adult
fleas, it does interrupt the flea life cycle by preventing
the development of flea eggs. Program is safe to use in dogs
and puppies four weeks of age and older. Capstar is a pill
that is given to kill adult fleas. It can be given as often
as once per day. According to Novartis, Capstar will begin
killing adult fleas within 30 minutes. One pill should kill
all adult fleas. Capstar is safe for dogs and puppies four
weeks of age and older.
Remember that it is much easier to prevent fleas than to treat
them once your dog has them. As with all medications, follow
the advice of your veterinarian. If you need more information
about fleas and flea prevention, contact a member of your veterinary
staff or pet professional. #
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SolveYourProblem.com : 2007
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