Getting rid of fleas for good is the ultimate goal. Despite the inevitable set backs it is an achievable goal. However, getting rid of fleas for once and for all requires a multi-pronged attack and diligence on behalf of the pet owner. The pet owner may also want to discuss flea remedy strategies with their vet.
Your vet can provide you with some flea ointment that is very effective in ridding your dog of fleas. This flea ointment is applied to the lower portion of back of your pets neck. As your pet licks and scratches himself the ointment will be spread to other parts of your pets body. The ointment is completely safe for your pet but lethal for fleas. Within a few days of applying this ointment you should notice that your pet is less itchy and more comfortable. When you start to notice that your dog is no longer constantly scratching himself then you know the fleas are gone.
Getting rid of fleas on your dog is just the first step in the process. If your dog had fleas that means that you will definitely have fleas in your house. Fleas and flea eggs will be EVERY WHERE your dog has been. Without completely cleaning your home your dog will get re-infested with fleas within a few days. Every single blanket, pillow, chair, rug, etc that your dog has slept on needs to be thoroughly washed. This task sounds ominous but it really isn't too bad. Depending on the size of your house (and the capacity of your washing machine) it should take less than a half day. After a few loads of laundry and a few hours with a vacuum or steam cleaner your house should be rid of fleas.
Clean everything in hot water. If necessary send out your quilts and duvets to the dry cleaner. Taking short cuts when you try to get rid of fleas in your home is a bad idea. If your vacuum doesn't have a steam cleaning function, then you should consider renting a steam cleaner. Most local grocery stores have steam cleaners available for rent at a reasonable cost. If you don't want to do the steam cleaning yourself, consider hiring a carpet cleaning company to clean your carpets, rugs and upholstered furniture.
Once you are certain that you have rid your dog of fleas and have rid your house of fleas, you need to think about flea prevention. An ounce of flea prevention will save you a lot of work in the future. There are a number of different ways to prevent fleas. There are all natural flea prevention strategies as well as flea prevention strategies from your vet. The manner in which you choose to prevent fleas will be up to you.
It is possible to get rid of fleas for good. It is also possible to lower the risk of a flea infestation. Don't despair. Dog fleas are a hassle and a health problem for your dog but getting rid of fleas is fairly easy and a relatively quick process.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
How to Get Rid of Fleas in Your House
How to get rid of fleas from your pet is just the first question. Once you have gotten rid of the fleas you need to make sure that they don't come back. Or at least make it very difficult for them to come back. Therefore after you have given your dog a good flea bath, it's time to clean your house. Getting rid of fleas from your house is a process.
It is imperative that you wash everything the fleas may have come into contact with. It will be a long arduous day but well worth it in the end. The first thing to do is to strip all of the bedding and get it into the washing machine. Include in these loads everything washable including pillow sham covers, throw cushion covers and blankets or throws that are left on sofas or chairs. Make sure you include all of your children's special blankets and any stuffed toy that was on the bed. Wash everything in hot water. This is the easy part of how to get rid of fleas in your home.
Bag everything mentioned in the above paragraph that is not machine washable and seal it. At the first opportunity take it to the dry cleaner.
The next step is to thoroughly vacuum every floor in your home. Try to be as methodical as possible and pay specific attention to the areas in which your dog may sleep. Once you have vacuumed every floor you must vacuum every upholstered chair, couch or sofa in your home. Again, you need to pay specific attention to your dog's favorite places to sleep. At this point, I would do a quick vacuum of each bed before I re-made the beds.
After you are done vacuuming, you must immediately remove the vacuum bag from the vacuum and either put it into a sealed garbage bag or take it outside to the garbage. Remember, there are live fleas in the vacuum bag that are eager to jump back out and search for your dog. In getting rid of fleas, it's up to you to prevent a repeat flea infestation.
If you have a steam cleaner, it is best to steam clean your carpets and upholstered furniture. Use the hottest setting possible without doing damage to the carpets or furniture.
In my opinion, the hardest part of how to get rid of fleas is the house cleaning part. However, the house cleaning part is also the most important step in getting rid of fleas. If you cheat at this step you are bound to have a more difficult time keeping your pet flea-free and comfortable. Try to think of it as a good spring cleaning and think of the satisfaction you will have afterward.
Getting rid of fleas is a part of being responsible about pet health.
It is imperative that you wash everything the fleas may have come into contact with. It will be a long arduous day but well worth it in the end. The first thing to do is to strip all of the bedding and get it into the washing machine. Include in these loads everything washable including pillow sham covers, throw cushion covers and blankets or throws that are left on sofas or chairs. Make sure you include all of your children's special blankets and any stuffed toy that was on the bed. Wash everything in hot water. This is the easy part of how to get rid of fleas in your home.
Bag everything mentioned in the above paragraph that is not machine washable and seal it. At the first opportunity take it to the dry cleaner.
The next step is to thoroughly vacuum every floor in your home. Try to be as methodical as possible and pay specific attention to the areas in which your dog may sleep. Once you have vacuumed every floor you must vacuum every upholstered chair, couch or sofa in your home. Again, you need to pay specific attention to your dog's favorite places to sleep. At this point, I would do a quick vacuum of each bed before I re-made the beds.
After you are done vacuuming, you must immediately remove the vacuum bag from the vacuum and either put it into a sealed garbage bag or take it outside to the garbage. Remember, there are live fleas in the vacuum bag that are eager to jump back out and search for your dog. In getting rid of fleas, it's up to you to prevent a repeat flea infestation.
If you have a steam cleaner, it is best to steam clean your carpets and upholstered furniture. Use the hottest setting possible without doing damage to the carpets or furniture.
In my opinion, the hardest part of how to get rid of fleas is the house cleaning part. However, the house cleaning part is also the most important step in getting rid of fleas. If you cheat at this step you are bound to have a more difficult time keeping your pet flea-free and comfortable. Try to think of it as a good spring cleaning and think of the satisfaction you will have afterward.
Getting rid of fleas is a part of being responsible about pet health.
Friday, January 23, 2009
How to Get Rid of Fleas When It's Not a Flea
Getting rid of fleas naturally is tough enough. It get's tougher when the flea isn't a flea. There are a variety of other parasites that can torment pet health and can easily be confused with a flea infestation.
Sarcoptic mites can pose as a terrible problem to pet health and can only really be solved under the close care of your veterinarian and with the administration of pet medication. These pests are also called scabies or red mange. Sarcoptic mites create intensely itchy skin, hair loss, and inflamed skin with multiple small scabs. Sarcoptic mite infestation, more than any other pest infestation, is frequently misdiagnosed as an allergies. This misdiagnosis is really unfortunate as it delaies proper treatment.
Cheyletiella mites are also called "Walking Dandruff" because upon close inspection of your pet's coat it seems like little flakes of dry skin are actually walking about. Thankfully, these mites are easy to treat. You can get rid of Cheyletiella mities easily by using any common flea shampoo. Generally no further pet medication will be required.
There are also Demodex mites which is also called mange. These annoying parasites live just under the surface of your dog's skin. They reside in the tiny hair follicles and oil glands of your dog's skin. Demodex mites can only be seen on a skin scraping viewed under the microscope. Demodex mites are most commonly seen in young dogs. An older dog with these mites might have a different and more serious health problem.
Remember whether it's getting rid of fleas or getting rid of another parasite: don't delay. Parasites multiply rapidly and greatly interfere with pet health.
Sarcoptic mites can pose as a terrible problem to pet health and can only really be solved under the close care of your veterinarian and with the administration of pet medication. These pests are also called scabies or red mange. Sarcoptic mites create intensely itchy skin, hair loss, and inflamed skin with multiple small scabs. Sarcoptic mite infestation, more than any other pest infestation, is frequently misdiagnosed as an allergies. This misdiagnosis is really unfortunate as it delaies proper treatment.
Cheyletiella mites are also called "Walking Dandruff" because upon close inspection of your pet's coat it seems like little flakes of dry skin are actually walking about. Thankfully, these mites are easy to treat. You can get rid of Cheyletiella mities easily by using any common flea shampoo. Generally no further pet medication will be required.
There are also Demodex mites which is also called mange. These annoying parasites live just under the surface of your dog's skin. They reside in the tiny hair follicles and oil glands of your dog's skin. Demodex mites can only be seen on a skin scraping viewed under the microscope. Demodex mites are most commonly seen in young dogs. An older dog with these mites might have a different and more serious health problem.
Remember whether it's getting rid of fleas or getting rid of another parasite: don't delay. Parasites multiply rapidly and greatly interfere with pet health.
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