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When it comes to fleas, they are annoying pests that can infest your home, yard as well as your dog. As it can be difficult to get rid of this kind of infestation once it spreads, experts suggest taking preventative measures as being the most effective. Fleas are not just annoying – they can cause serious health issues related to your dog.
There are several ways to prevent fleas from attacking your dog as well from laying eggs and spreading in your yard and home, and they can be store-bought or homemade. Of course, there are also measures you can take if your dog is already infested by fleas.
As far as preventative measures are concerned, you can apply treatments to your dog’s skin, you can put a special collar on your dog, you can use a special powder on soil and carpets, you can give your dog oral flea treatments and you can also make a DIY version of a preventative flea comb.
Apply treatments to your dog’s skin
You can use any of the available topical flea treatments and apply them to your dog’s skin in order to prevent fleas from hurting your dog. This treatment is usually in form of a thick liquid or cream that is applied on your dog’s back, between its shoulder blades, so your dog wouldn’t be able to reach it until it dries. You should check with your vet which one would be the best for your dog. They come in different packaging, and you dose them according to your dog’s size. Alternatively, a few drops of lavender oil do the same for your dog.
Put a special collar on your dog
Another popular way of preventing fleas to make a home on your dog is to put a flea collar on it. These collars need to be put in the right way in order to be effective. This implies that when you put the collar on your dog, you should be able to put two fingers between the collar and your dog’s neck. In that way, it’s not too loose nor too tight. Remember to cut off the excess portion of the collar as they tend to be slightly longer than necessary. You can also make a DIY flea collar using a mixture of water and cedar or lavender oil.
Use a special powder on soil and carpets
When it comes to preventing or destroying fleas on areas where your dog resides typically, you can use a special powder to get rid of these annoying pests. Namely, a powder called diatomaceous earth is calcium dust, ground from single-cell ocean organisms and it can be used on soil in the yard or the carpet in the house. You can mix it with water and sprinkle the area in question. You should keep your dog away from it. Remember to vacuum your carpet after 48 hours. You can also use this powder as an addition to your dog’s food to prevent fleas and other parasites from attacking your dog from the inside out.
Give your dog oral flea treatments
There are also oral flea treatments intended for dogs. If you decide to go for this way of flea control, remember to pay attention to dosing as some of them should be given daily, some weekly and some, monthly.
Make a DIY version of a preventative flea comb
To make this effective flea prevention comb, all you need is a comb and some simple ingredients including slices of one fresh lemon, one pot of fresh water. Mix lemon slices with water in a pot and boil it. Cover the pot and leave it overnight, together with the slices. Take the comb, dip it and apply it to your dog’s fur the next day. It’s that simple.
As our pets become important members of our family, we need to do everything we can in order to protect them from pests as well as diseases. So, keep your dog flea-free with these useful tips.