Types of Flea Protection for Dogs

Fleas are a common parasite that bothers pets and their owners alike. These tiny arthropods live by drinking the blood of warm-blooded animals. They burrow beneath an animal's fur and are small enough to generally evade detection by the naked eye. Signs of a flea infestation include excessive itchiness, red bumps on the skin and general agitation. Not only are fleas very annoying pests, they can also be dangerous. Fleas carry several diseases, including the plague, and some pets are allergic to them.

How Fleas Are Transmitted
Most dogs pick up fleas from playing outside in grass or coming into contact with other animals carrying fleas. Fleas can jump long distances, enabling them to travel from one animal to the next; this also makes them likely to travel from your dog to you and other members of your household. Because flea infestations are very difficult to eradicate, it's best to avoid them altogether by using preventative measures for your pet.

Fleas go through a three-part life cycle of egg, larva and adult. Poisons must be developed to be effective against all three stages or the protection will not be effective. Worse, fleas can quickly grow resistant to pesticides that do not wipe out entire infestations. Therefore, the key to flea prevention for dogs is to choose a product that will ward off new fleas and kill all life cycles of existing fleas.

Types of Flea Prevention for Dogs
Several years ago, the most common types of flea treatments were flea collars and flea dips. A flea collar is made from a compound of pesticides and plastic or rubber. The result is a collar that will emit enough pesticide to ward off fleas and kill those living on the dog's body. While flea collars are still sold commercially, they have fallen out of fashion in recent years. They can be toxic to dogs if chewed, and some dogs have allergic reactions to the pesticide in the collar.

A flea dip is another term for pesticide shampoo. Bathing a dog with flea shampoo is a good way to provide instant relief from a flea infestation, and may shampoos are developed to soothe inflamed, itchy skin. Flea baths are not always effective at killing eggs and larvae, however, so multiple treatments may be required. Some dogs are also allergic to flea shampoos. In many cases, using a medicated flea shampoo in conjunction with another flea treatment is the best choice.

More modern methods of flea protection for dogs are cream or liquid medications that are applied directly to the pet's skin with a dropper. This medication soaks into the pet's skin and reaches its bloodstream, which in turn poisons the fleas as they feed. Many of these treatments need only to be applied once to provide continuous protection for several months. The most powerful of these medicines are available by prescription through a veterinary clinic, but some over-the-counter options are available as well.

By learning about fleas and the types of flea protection available, you can improve your pet's quality of life and protect your home and family from a flea infestation. This will help keep everyone happy and healthy throughout the year.