Mary Foster
Fleas are perhaps the greatest enemies of a dog. They can make your dog’s life a living hell if they manage to infest it. Hence, it is vital to know the signs of flea infestations. You should also know how to combat ticks and fleas in dogs. At the same time, you should also know how to keep your dog safe from fleas and ticks.
What are the Signs of Fleas in Dogs?
Suppose you took your pup outside for some training. Then you return home and see it scratching itself. You are almost sure that your dog has caught fleas. However, you want to be sure about it before taking further action. How can you be sure?
Scratching and itching are the initial symptoms. When you observe your dog doing all that, you should get a hunch that it has caught fleas. However, this information is not enough. Since you are looking to take proper action against it, you need more evidence. Only then can you confirm that your dog has fleas.
The itching will soon turn intense. Instead of just scratching, you can see your dog rubbing itself against different objects. And apart from scratching, it will also start biting itself. As you observe these stages, you can rest assured that things are getting more intense. That is when you need to intervene and take your dog to a vet.
Upon waiting a little longer, you will notice red patches of skin and scabs. The fleabites will be evident from a distance. You can also feel small bumps around your dog’s neck and belly. Loss of body hair is also a common phenomenon at this stage.
Your dog will develop a skin infection if you let this go on any further. By now, you should rest assured that your dog has fleas. Consult a vet for further information regarding this. However, now is the time to start the flea treatment for your dog. You cannot delay it anymore.
Home Remedies to Deal with Fleas
The first at-home remedy you need to try is a proper shower. Do not just clean your dog with water and be done with it. Make sure you are using a good shampoo. Scrub your dog, but be gentle. Then rinse the body, and wipe with a towel. Let your dog dry properly, and then start combing.
Use a fine-tooth flea comb. That will help get rid of the fleas and groom your dog properly.
Another thing you can do is give your dog a haircut, especially if it has long body hair. Cutting its hair will make it a lot easier for you to deal with the fleas.
Doing all this should help your dog get rid of its fleas. However, do not be surprised if it does not help. Instead, switch to a flea medication as your vet prescribes.
Using Flea Medications for Dogs
The Trifexis flea and heartworm pill for dogs is the best dog flea treatment that you can opt for. Trifexis is super active as it uses two active ingredients to keep the fleas away. The active ingredient spinosad paralyzes adult fleas and then kills them. Milbemycin, on the other hand, acts as a protective shield against further flea infestations.
The Trifexis flea pills start their work in just 30 minutes. You have to administer one chewable tablet every month. Manufacturers and vets suggest that you give the pill with a meal. That way, your dog will not suspect anything and will swallow the pill whole.
Vomiting and diarrhea are common side effects of this drug. Consult your vet if you notice such side effects. Also, Trifexis is a prescription-only drug. Hence, only use it as per your vet’s instructions.
Preventing Further Flea Infestations
Make sure your dog is not mixing with other dogs or cats with fleas. So move your dog away from pets or animals that are scratching themselves vigorously. Try combing or cleaning your dog after you come back from your walk or training. It is also crucial that you destroy any flea infestations that might be present inside the house. Looking for such infestations is rather difficult. Hence, you can always have pest control come in and take a look at it.
Once you do all that, you can successfully prevent flea infestations and keep your dog safe from fleas.
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