Help! My Dog Has Fleas!
Can fleas go away by itself?
Fleas are small parasites that live on your dogs’ fur. Most dogs will get fleas at least once throughout their lives. Fleas will actually get worse if you don’t treat them, resulting in weight loss and hair fallout.
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Fleas suck your dogs’ blood, and (if left untreated) will likely cause anemia. Anemia is a lack of red blood cells which causes your dog to loose their appetite. If you suspect that your dog has anemia, you should definitely consult your vet for further treatment.
Fleas might be the reason your dogs’ fur is falling out. Since scratching causes dry skin, dog hair will fall off in areas that are often scratched.
How to prevent getting fleas?
There are multiple ways to make sure the fleas don’t even make it into your house:
Limit visits to the park:
If you often visit dog parks, it is very likely to get fleas transmitted from other dogs. Fleas can hide in the grass, which makes it easy for your dog to catch them. Avoiding dog parks will definitely help preventing getting fleas and other diseases.
Cut your grass in your backyard:
As mentioned before, fleas like to hide in high grass. Cutting your lawn short will prevent the nesting of fleas.
Vacuuming pet areas often:
Simply vacuuming your dogs’ bed and rugs around your home will help to remove any eggs, larvae and fleas before they start reproducing.
How to get rid of fleas on your dog?
1. Flea Medication from your Vet:
There are many options for flea treatment that you can get from your vet. Nexgard and Hardgard are just a few preventative medications. You will need a prescription from your doctor for it. Typically, your dog gets 1 piece of flea treatment orally every 30 days, which will prevent any larvae development on your dog.
2. Spot-On medication:
This medication is available without prescription. It works by applying a small amount of liquid on your dogs neck. The liquid is absorbed by the oil glands, that spread the treatment all over his coat. I have tried the spot-on medication for cats before and it worked like a charm. I would definitely recommend this option if your vets’ prescription has run out or you are looking for an effective, cheaper treatment option. Frontline has a different options for small (5-22 Pounds), medium (23-44 Pounds) and large size dog (45-88 Pounds).
3. Flea shampoo:
My dog caught fleas while hiking in California, so I gave him a combination of the “Nexgard” from my vet and bathed him with this “Vet’s Best” dog shampoo. The shampoo has a pleasant, natural smell and was easy to apply. My dog truly hates water, but the shampoo lathered up pretty easy, so it was a breeze to bathe him. The shampoo kills fleas and other insect by contact, which means any remaining fleas or larvae were washed away. Check it out here.
How to get rid of fleas around your home.
1. Wash everything you can!
Fleas cannot only live on your dog but also around your house.
In order to get rid of all larvae and fleas, I recommend to wash blankets, sheets, stuffed toys and dog beds. Anything that can be washed, needs to be washed! Hot water kills the insects, leaving your house fresh and free of fleas.
2. Diatomaceous Earth
For larger items like mattresses or rugs, I use Diatomaceous Earth. It is a fine, flour-like powder made from fossilized organisms. You can sprinkle on it your furniture, let sit for a minimum of 1 hour and then vacuum it up. Make sure to wear a mask, because this stuff is really fine. Turn off any fans and A/C before you sprinkle the powder to prevent dust swirling up in the air.
This stuff is great, because it helps with mosquitos, ants, fleas and all kinds of insects. It is kids and pet friendly, which means your dog and/or cats are save to step on it.
I’ve used it around my deck, to help with mosquitoes and ants around the house. Make sure you get the one that’s food grade. Click here to see the one I’ve been using for my backyard. I got the 5lbs bag and it is pretty big but I’m sure you can find a smaller size at your local home improvement store or just order the 2lbs bag here.
There are many treatments and DIYs out there to help with fleas. These are treatments that work, and that I have used on my dog. The most important thing is to find something that works for you and your dog. Always consult your vet if you are unsure if these treatments are for you!
Good luck!
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