How to remove fleas at home? This was the question asked by a person who has pets at home. Despite the fact that the article primarily answers the question “how to remove fleas from a dog?” Many tips are universal, so they can be applied to other pets.
Fleas can carry diseases, but they rarely spread them. Therefore, if dogs have fleas, this is not a reason to panic. The health of your family, as a rule, is not in danger, but the problem must be dealt with.
Why are fleas dangerous?
So, fleas are parasites that feed on the blood of a person or animal, and they are divided into several types, depending on the carrier:
- Canine. They feed on the blood of dogs, cats and even humans, and can go without food for a long time. The flat body is covered with hairs, and thanks to its long hind legs the parasite can jump far. Most often this joy can be found on the withers and neck of the animal;
- Human. They differ from other species in color and size, and feed on the blood of humans, dogs, cats or pigs. They can carry dangerous diseases such as typhoid, tularemia and others;
- Feline. They are not dangerous for humans, but they torment four-legged pets;
- Rat. The most dangerous species can serve as a carrier of typhus and plague, and this can lead to human deaths.
Although fleas in dogs will not cause death to humans or animals, they do cause many other negative consequences. Your four-legged friend may develop worms, hives, or allergies due to bites. Flea dermatitis in dogs is common. Exhausting itching leads to the dog scratching the skin, purulent abscesses and eczema appear.
Symptoms or first signs that your pet has fleas
First, make sure that the dog really has fleas; perhaps he is tormented by other insects, for example, a tick has clung to him.
The animal is constantly itching, and does it in different places. A sure symptom of the appearance of fleas that multiply and run all over the body.
Give your pet a bath: since fleas are afraid of water, they will climb onto your dog's head or jump into the water. It will be easy to see this process and make sure that these are really fleas.
Brush your dog if he likes this treatment. Some of the parasites will remain on the brush. In addition, white particles may fall off your pet's fur - these are larvae.
External symptoms will also include the following factors:
- Restless sleep of the animal;
- Sudden movements, the dog rushes about for no apparent reason;
- Constant whining.
As soon as - right away: where to start removing fleas
You need to start removing them right away, because parasites multiply quickly. Within a week there will be more of them, much more, so then the removal process will be labor-intensive and expensive.
Important! Do not rush to immediately shake out all the rugs and paths on which the dog lies, and also clean the clothes. First you need to eliminate the problem itself, and then deal with its consequences. Otherwise, the dog, which has parasites on its body, will take a liking to the rug that you just cleaned. There will be no result.
A veterinarian will tell you how to remove fleas from a dog; he will advise you on what medications and what medications to use. During this time, the pet should be isolated, for example, locked in an enclosure or within the same room. You will reduce the radius of infection, let's say.
It is most likely impossible to determine where the fleas came from. Even if your dog rarely walks outside, short contact with a “mongrel” could be the reason. People can be carriers of parasites - fleas could be carried by you personally on clothes or shoes.
Prevention of skin parasite infection in dogs
Without preventive measures, animals will be attacked by blood-sucking insects again and again. The most relevant preventive measures are:
- Inspect animals on a regular basis.
- Regular washing with special anti-flea detergents.
- Cleaning apartments and houses using special cleaning products.
- Constantly wearing anti-flea collars, which are not only impregnated with special chemicals, but also work using ultrasound.
- Minimize contact between pets and homeless people.
- Regular treatment of places where animals sleep and rest: kennels, bedding, rugs, houses, scratching posts, etc.
- Periodic combing of dogs with special sparse combs.
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When should you use powders?
The advantage of this method is that it is safe and will not harm the health of the animal or your family. Powders are often prescribed to puppies, less often to adult dogs. They can be purchased at any pharmacy.
How to use:
- Sprinkle flea powder for dogs on all of your pet's common areas where fleas are suspected of being present.
- Every three or four days, wet clean and add new powder.
- Removing parasites using powders will last about three weeks. The length of the process is a disadvantage.
Powders will affect not only living individuals, but also larvae. All parasites will be destroyed, powders are an effective and cheap, but not always the fastest method.
Anti-flea treatment of premises
To solve the problem of infecting four-legged animals with blood-sucking parasites, it is necessary not only to cure the animal, but also to destroy all the fleas that remain in the house. If this is not done, the reappearance of insects cannot be avoided.
How to get rid of dog fleas in an apartment and private house
Disinsection of premises is carried out in one of four ways or a combination of them:
Permethrin-based insecticides affect only adults and larvae, while organophosphates also kill flea eggs.
Photo gallery: chemical and folk remedies for controlling fleas in the home
Spray insecticidal aerosols in areas where parasites are most concentrated
Phenaxin powder is scattered in corners, under baseboards, behind furniture and in other places where fleas may live.
Karbofos is one of the most effective means for combating fleas
Garlic repels fleas and other blood-sucking parasites from the home
Rub soda and salt on floors and carpets to get rid of fleas
A decoction of tansy is used to wash surfaces in a house infested with fleas.
How to treat the booth
If a dog lives in a country house or in a private house, its house is also treated for fleas. For this purpose, the same means are used as for human habitation. Replace the litter, as pest larvae often live in it. To prevent them from infesting, scatter pine sawdust around the booth or plant wormwood bushes nearby. This will repel insects.
Sprays: which ones to choose
The most popular drugs among dog breeders are: Bars, Hartz, Celandine and Frontline.
Flea sprays for dogs are easy to work with and effective in controlling parasites. There are no side effects observed, they are safe for animals. Still, consult your veterinarian before starting disinfection.
"Bars" is a truly powerful tool. The spray contains fipronil, this substance is the active one. After application, Fipronil accumulates in the epidermis and hair follicles, so it has a long-lasting effect. Strictly speaking, this product is positioned as an anti-tick spray, but it will also cope with fleas. Some dog breeders claimed that they also poisoned cockroaches with Bars.
After application, make sure that the dog does not lick the drug from its body; to do this, put on a collar. Spraying is best done outdoors or in a well-ventilated room.
Hartz is a well-known manufacturer; you will see sprays, drops and shampoos of this brand. The advantage of the drug is its rapid action. If you go outdoors, it’s hard to imagine a better tool than Hartz.
Attention! You should not use several drugs at once, for example, combine sprays, powders and shampoos if the dog is old or sick. Individual intolerance to the components of flea products should be taken into account.
How to remove fleas with veterinary means?
Poisoning parasites is not very difficult, but you will need calmness and some knowledge. The main condition is to choose the right product. They need to treat the dog and the room where it lives. If fleas are noticed on clothing, it will need to be washed and treated with a hot iron. Use a vacuum cleaner to go over carpets and soft toys.
If parasites are detected in a pregnant dog, you should consult a doctor. He will tell you the safest way to get rid of them.
Before purchasing a product, you need to study the features of each type. Many brands are suitable for the prevention of fleas carried by animals. Grass fleas feed primarily on human blood. Therapy must be comprehensive and immediate. Trying to simply relieve the itching is pointless; efforts must be made to eliminate the parasites. Let's look at how to rid your pet of fleas at home.
Shampoo
Shampoo is considered a common anti-flea remedy. It is usually used for washing babies, because not every adult likes water procedures. Effective products are brands such as “Lugovoi” and “Bars”.
Shampoos are usually based on natural herbs and insecticides. The latter option is more toxic, but copes with the pathology quickly and efficiently. Sometimes side effects such as allergies, vomiting, and drooling occur. It is important to ensure that when washing the foam does not end up on the pet’s mucous membranes or eyes. Information on the recommended processing frequency is in the instructions.
Natural brands are used as prevention. They promote wound healing and make the coat silky and healthy. The shampoo is applied to the coat, foams well and lasts for five minutes, then rinsed off. When the dog is dry, you need to comb out the dead fleas. A good result will be obtained when using shampoo together with other anti-parasite agents.
Spray
The spray is also considered an effective remedy. It is quite easy to use. You will need to spray it on the dog's withers. Treating the body completely is dangerous, as the pet will begin to lick itself. Because of this, adverse reactions such as stomach upset, weakness, vomiting, breathing problems, and allergies appear.
It is better to carry out the procedure outside or in a ventilated room. For work you will need rubber gloves. It is important to prohibit children from touching the treated area for 24 hours. Owners are prohibited from sleeping with their dog. Such drugs as “Bars”, “Frontline”, “Beaphar”, “Harts” are widespread. Frontline will help remove fleas even from newborn puppies.
Drops
You can get rid of parasites with the help of drops. They can be used for large and small breeds. This product is more effective than shampoo.
Apply drops to the pet’s withers in the amount indicated in the instructions. It is important to prevent your dog from licking them off. The active substance, when it enters the blood and skin, destroys fleas. It is necessary to limit bathing at this time. Basically, the result remains for a month, then it should be processed again.
Not all drops are safe. To prevent poisoning, it is important to consult a specialist before purchasing. Typically, owners choose brands such as Barrier, Praktik, Blokhnet, Frontline, Advocate, Advantix, Bars Forte, Celandine, Insectal, and Inspector.
Collar
A collar is considered the most effective option. Its main advantage is continuous action. If parasites appear, you should put a collar on your pet. It will be possible to protect the dog from getting the active substance inside, it will be able to swim and wash itself. No special processing is needed.
In addition to the advantages, there are also disadvantages:
- Some collars are highly toxic, so they cannot be worn on a regular basis.
- They are prohibited for puppies under six months of age and adults after ten years of age.
- The accessory should not be used during lactation, pregnancy or illness.
- Continuous use may cause dermatitis.
The best options are considered to be “Rolf Club”, “Hartz”, “Clandestine”, “Bars”, “Forest”. There is an accessory with an ultrasonic repeller, but it is better to use it in combination with other products. Many people are interested in the question at what age can puppies wear a flea collar. Mostly from six months, but you need to read the instructions carefully.
Powder
You can get rid of parasites using a powder based on Butox. It can be purchased at a pet pharmacy. It is not dangerous to use, but you should try it several times to check your dog's reaction before using it. Sometimes side effects such as allergies or dermatitis occur.
The advantage of the product is its low price. Disadvantages – duration of treatment (it takes 14 days).
Tablets
Chewable parasite tablets are less common. They do not completely eliminate fleas, but only reduce their number. The principle of use is simple - put the tablet in the dog's food. Repeat after the time specified in the instructions. Side effects: stomach upsets, allergies. You can purchase the product at a pet pharmacy. Usually they buy brands such as “Comfortis”, “Sentnel”, “Capstar”.
Shampoos: what is their effectiveness
The undeniable advantage of using flea shampoos for dogs is their gentle effect. Gentle on the animal, but effective against parasites. Many shampoos can be used to control biting insects in puppies, sick and old pets.
Popular shampoos:
- Phytoelite. An effective drug whose active ingredient is permethin. Permethine has no toxic effects and is safe for animals and people.
- Doctor Zoo is a popular product that does not contain synthetic insecticides. The antiparasitic effect is achieved due to the essential oils of chamomile, thyme, and sage, which are contained in the preparation. Compared to other shampoos, Doctor Zoo is less effective, but absolutely safe. It will help control fleas, but ticks and lice are a different story.
- Celandine. The shampoo, which does not differ in its composition and properties from Phytoelite, is popular among dog breeders due to its widespread use.
Important! When you bathe an animal with this shampoo, be careful not to get it into the animal's eyes, ears, or mouth. Do not use more than 60 ml of product in one bath.
The disadvantage of using shampoos is the lack of residual effect, so shampoos must be combined with collars. We will tell you further about how to choose a good collar.
Drops will help get rid of fleas
The drops will help disinfect; the manufacturers are the same as those for shampoos and sprays. We should remember the same Hartz, Celandine, Bars and others.
The drops are applied to the dog’s withers using a pipette and then rubbed into the skin. The effectiveness is beyond doubt; there is a long residual effect.
Many people choose drops because:
- This is a simple and fast way. Putting a few drops on the withers is much easier than bathing and then brushing your dog.
- This is an effective method. Drops are different from parasites, not only from fleas, but also from ticks and lice.
- A safe method that will not harm your pet. Everything is individual, as we wrote above, but flea drops from these manufacturers do not have strong side effects.
Drops
Flea drops for dogs are the most effective and easy-to-use remedy for killing fleas on animals. To produce drops, “shock” dosages of active substances are used that destroy or expel parasitic insects. The drops are applied to the dogs' withers, after spreading the fur.
The duration of action depends on the concentration of the active substance. To avoid re-infestation, the drug must be applied again as soon as the period of exposure to the drops after the previous application has expired. This is especially important for dogs that are often free-range.
Pet owners should remember that the amount of flea medication for dogs is calculated based on the weight of the animal being treated. An overdose can result in severe intoxication of the body.
Drops that have been successfully tested and are popular among dog breeders and recommended by veterinarians:
Many anti-flea drops have been developed; it is impossible to list them in one article. You can choose the best option for your dog experimentally or by consulting a veterinarian.
Collars: which one to choose
Opinions are divided regarding the use of collars. Some people are sure that they can’t do without them, while others think that it’s a waste of money.
There are several facts about how to make the most effective use of a collar.
There are three types of collars: chemical, biological and ultrasonic. Chemicals contain strong substances, the smell and action of which repel parasites. Collars must be used after disinfection, otherwise fleas can move to the dog’s back and tail, where the collar’s action is not enough.
Article on the topic: Flea and tick collar for dogs
Biological collars do not have a strong and repulsive odor; the positive effect is caused by medicines and essential oils. Recommended for sick or old dogs and puppies.
Ultrasonic collars are considered universal; the operating principle is that ultrasonic waves create an uncomfortable atmosphere for parasites. An expensive pleasure, the effectiveness of which is questioned.
Folk remedies: where would we be without them?
In addition to all the methods listed above, you can turn to traditional medicine. You can remove fleas from a dog at home without much expense using improvised means.
An effective way is to bathe the dog using tar soap. It will successfully replace any flea shampoo. Unassuming in appearance, with an unpleasant odor, tar soap contains 10% tar.
It is known for its anti-inflammatory, healing and antimicrobial effects, so it will serve as a good remedy for removing parasites.
Wormwood will also help. The grass has a characteristic and strong odor that will repel unwanted insects. Prepare a decoction of wormwood and wash your dog with it. Use 2-3 stems of fresh or dried wormwood per 3 liters of water.
You can spread wormwood around the house, wash the floors and places where the dog lies with the decoction. The effectiveness of this method is that it can be used even if you have a small puppy.
An infusion of tansy is prepared using a similar principle. The effectiveness is high, but tansy does not have such a noticeable smell.
Garlic will help expel fleas in this way: 3-4 cloves are crushed and poured with boiling water, then the mixture is infused and cooled. Apply this mixture or decoction to your dog's fur.
Attention! Make sure that your dog cannot lick garlic from its fur, as a large amount of it in the diet will lead to digestive problems.
Pine sawdust has an odor that repels biting insects. If the dog lives in a kennel, lay sawdust on the floor of the enclosure or kennel. The same effect is achieved using citrus peels. Combining the two methods will bring greater effect.
Folk remedies for fleas on dogs
Folk remedies are best suited if the dog is pregnant, nursing puppies, or needs to cure a small pet. But in some cases, at an early stage of infection, they can also help an adult dog.
Herbs
The most effective plants are tansy, wormwood, and eucalyptus. You can make decoctions and infusions from them - you can bathe your dog in them. Considered a safe option for puppies and pregnant bitches.
Garlic
Parasites cannot stand the smell of garlic. However, it is worth remembering that garlic is very dangerous for dogs - if ingested, it can cause severe poisoning, even death. A solution is prepared from it: finely chop 3 cloves, add a glass of water, and leave to steep overnight.
The liquid can only be used on that part of the body that the dog cannot reach with its tongue.
Onion
It works similarly to garlic: finely chop the onion, add a glass of water, add a little soap, stir - after a day you can use it.
Laundry soap
A soap-based solution is also popular: mix 1 tsp. fir and tea tree oil with grated soap. It is enough to add the composition to the water when washing dogs.
Essential oils
Parasites are afraid of any essential oil. Therefore, it is enough to add a few drops to the water when washing your dog. But you can also apply a small amount of liquid directly to the withers.
Needles
The smell of pine needles will repel the pest. It is best to place it in your pet's house or on its bedding.
Vinegar
A solution of water and apple cider vinegar in a ratio of 1:3 works well against fleas. You need to lubricate the animal with the resulting composition and wash it off after half an hour.
