A Small Lesson In Getting Rid Of Fleas

The joys of pet ownership come with the burdens of pet ownership. Fleas are one example of such a burden. At one point or another, all pet owners will have to treat and or prevent flea infestations on their beloved pets. Fleas are a hassle and are also a great discomfort to our pets. The faster we can get rid of them, the easy the job will be and the better our pets will feel.

What is the best way to get rid of dog fleas? There are different answers to that question. You must get rid of the actual fleas on your pet plus you must get rid of the fleas in your pets environment. If you do not pay special attention to getting rid of fleas in your home, your pet will quickly get re-infested. Once you have gotten rid of the fleas on the animal and in your home, you would be wise to engage in some preventative steps. Some easy flea prevention steps will go a long way in preventing future bouts with fleas.

Thankfully, ridding your pet of fleas has gotten easier. There are now readily available products that can be applied to your pet’s coat. These products, including Frontline and Advantage, can rid your pet of fleas within 2-3 days. You simply apply a small amount of the solution to the back base of the animal’s neck. With natural scratching and licking your animal will spread this solution around their entire body. The solutions are non-toxic and very effective.

As safe as some flea medications may be, there are some people who insist on only using natural methods to get rid of fleas. Whether to use a natural or commercial treatment is a matter of personal taste and lifestyle. The natural methods tend to be more labor intensive and, perhaps, slightly less effective. Two common natural remedies involve using olive oil and talcum powder to rid your pet of fleas. If your dog is not suffering too badly, it would not hurt to try a natural remedy first. If the infestation is sever, then it is wise to start with a remedy obtained from your vet.

As previously mentioned it is critical that you also get rid of any lingering fleas in your house. The extent of house cleaning will depend on the extent of the infestation. At the very least all areas where the animal sleeps must be vacuumed or even stem cleaned. All bedding, blankets, and linens that have come into contact with the animal must be washed.

Once your pet and home are free of fleas you can take some steps to prevent future infestations. There are a number of ways to avoid future infestations. Some people add small amounts of garlic to their pet food. Other people like to douse a bandanna in citronella oil and tie it around the animal’s neck. There are also commercially available flea prevention medications that your pets can ingest once every few months. For more information on getting rid of fleas or flea prevention speak to your vet.

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