Fleas on Dogs

Imagine a dog infected with fleas, becoming a mobile world for the flea community. There are mama fleas and papa fleas, baby fleas and even grandma and grandpa fleas. All living happily, feasting on the dogs blood and laying hundreds of eggs. And the poor host becomes all itchy and red, whining, and scratching all the time. This is not a healthy picture that you can imagine for your pet dog. Some dogs may even become hypersensitive to the antigens present in the female flea saliva and develop severe 'flea reaction'.

Symptoms of Fleas on Dogs

Different dogs react differently to dog fleas. If you are wondering about symptoms of fleas on dogs, then watch out for all or some of the symptoms exhibited by your dog:

• The dog keeps scratching and itching intensely, leading to lumps on skin that are inflamed, lesions and ulcers.
• Fleas on dogs, in certain severe cases may cause flea allergy dermatitis.
• Few dogs may indulge in mild scratching and biting the skin.
• Certain dogs may remain totally oblivious to the fact that their coat is infested with fleas.
• Fleas on puppies may lead to anemia, due to severe infestation.

How to Make Sure it is a Flea on Your Dog

You need to be sure that it is flea on a dog and not some other parasitic infestation, in order to take steps necessary for treatment for fleas on dogs. You should observe the dog coat closely and look out for:

• Crawling adult flea that is 2-8 mm long with mahogany brown color, with three pairs of legs. The back legs are supposed to be longer than the other two front pair of legs. When observing the flea side to side, it should be quite flat in dimension.
• In case you fail to find any fleas, look for 'flea dirt'. You should comb through the dog fur on the neck and hind quarters. Collect tiny black specks of dirt dropping out from his coat. This is actually 'flea dirt' , in other words, "flea poop". This flea dirt is the dried blood of your dog and you can place the dried bits on wet paper and see them turn dark red in color. This indicates blood and proves there are fleas on dogs.

How to Get Rid of Fleas on Dogs

If there are fleas on your dog, then you need to get rid of the fleas not only from the animal but the surrounding environment as well. It is a fact that only 5% of the adult fleas live on the host. The rest of the population consists of eggs, larvae and pupa. The female flea lays over 500 eggs each, that fall off on beds, carpets, grass, and other surroundings visited by the dog. After hatching, the baby fleas develop into adults and jump onto the coat of a passing pet. Thus, begin feeding on the blood. These tiny fleas can outdo an Olympic long jump athlete when it comes to jumping on to a dog from ground zero or any other animal. Now, arises the main question, how to get rid of fleas on dogs?
Treatment of fleas on dogs, does not only involve getting rid of the adult fleas but also getting rid of the large population of eggs and larvae. It is very important to have proper flea control on the dog and its surroundings. Home remedies for fleas on dogs are as follows:

• Vacuuming the house regularly will help clean the house from any fallen eggs and larvae and prevent them from returning. Vacuum on the upholstery, pillows, pillow cases, carpets, closets, baseboard, any place possible. You may even use pest control services to help get rid of fleas.
• Keep the dog bed clean. Wash it in hot water and carry out a long cycle in a hot dryer to kill any flea or egg clinging to the cloth.
• You may use some effective liquid topical treatments, available over the counter that prevent and control fleas. You may also opt for other topical applications available only with the vets.
• Dog grooming is another aspect that helps keep fleas on dogs at bay. You should use flea shampoo or add a little neem oil to the regular dog shampoo while bathing the dog. You should keep using neem or eucalyptus oil every time you bathe your dog, even if he has no flea infestation.
• If your dog loves to remain outdoors, then you need to make sure the yard is free from flea and flea eggs. Keep the grass short, keep away the leaf piles and make sure there are not many dark, moist places for the fleas to grow. You may use cedar chips near the fence lines and in areas often visited by your dog.
• It is very important to feed nutritious dog food to your dog, to keep him healthy and his immune system strong. A malnourished dog or puppy can fall prey to fleas and develop flea allergies due to weak immunity.

Natural Remedies for Fleas on Dogs

• Homemade Flea Spray: This homemade, natural remedies for fleas on dogs will help control fleas. Take 600ml of warm water, 2 drops lavender oil and 2 drops of pure cedar wood oil. Shake and mix them well in a spray bottle. Spray the mixture throughout the dog's coat, avoiding the eyes. The essential oil evaporates quickly, so carry out the process many times a day to make it effective against the fleas.
• Citrus Repellent: Cut a lemon into small quarter like pieces and place the pieces in a jug. Add boiling water to the jug with lemons and let it stand overnight. The next day, fill the water in a spray bottle and use it as a flea repellent. Spray the lemon water throughout the dogs fur and in large quantities around the head, behind the ears, near the base of the tail and under the dog's armpits. This natural flea control spray will help keep the fleas at bay.
• Herbal Flea Dip: After a bath, try using this herbal flea dip to get rid of fleas on dogs. Soak 2 cups of rosemary in two pints of boiling water for 30 minutes. Strain, discard the leaves and increase the quantity of the liquid with about 1 gallon of warm water. Saturate the dog's coat by pouring the liquid. Do not rinse off the liquid and let the dog dry naturally. This is an effective remedy, especially during the hot summers.
• Garlic: One garlic clove eaten by the dog everyday, will prove beneficial in getting rid of the fleas on dogs. The smell of garlic is excreted through the dog's skin, which the fleas find repulsive and hence avoid feeding on the dog's blood.

Try using these home remedies for fleas on dogs and prevent these fleas from feeding and growing on your dog. You should consult a vet before trying any medications on your dog. Your pet's health should be an utmost priority, as a sick dog causes a lot of pain and disturbance to a loving owner. These tiny vampires are not only dangerous to your dog's health but can also spread diseases in humans. They are carriers of tapeworm larvae, spread murine typhus and bubonic plague. Thus, it is very important to eliminate any traces of fleas on dogs on a war footing. A happy dog is always equal to a happy owner.