How to quickly remove fleas from a dog

What to do when fleas are detected

If even one flea is found in a dog, you need to act as follows.

• Do not delay the treatment – fleas multiply at high speed. It will take only a few days for the pet to stop sleeping and eating, and insects have penetrated into all surrounding objects. Getting them out of there will be much more difficult than a dog. In addition, in this case, there is a high risk of re-invasion.
• Apply a comprehensive approach to the destruction of parasites. In addition to the pet, the room in which he lives will have to be processed (in the case of the street, this is an aviary, a booth, everything that is in them). To get rid of bloodsuckers with guarantee, it will be necessary to apply not only folk, but also industrial means of disinsection.
• The preparation for the treatment of a four-legged friend should be selected in accordance with its characteristics, for example, age, attitude to washing, state of health. Ideally, you need to consult with a veterinary specialist, but the advice of people who have already faced such a situation and successfully overcome it is also acceptable.
• At the time of disinsection measures, the dog should be in "quarantine" – it is necessary to restrict it from free range and communication with unfamiliar relatives.

Industrial flea removal products

At the moment, the means by which you can remove fleas from a dog are presented in a huge assortment. However, for all their effectiveness, each of them has only a temporary effect, because these parasites are ubiquitous. As soon as the processing action ends, the flea may reappear. Therefore, you need to know how to prevent an invasion, how to get rid of insects quickly, and how to save the result in the future.

Shampoos

Shampoos help to remove fleas from dogs only if there are a minimum number of them, as insects multiply, this type of treatment completely loses its effectiveness. Means based on insecticides, for example, permethrin, help to get rid of parasites. However, this component can cause an allergic reaction, the signs of which are: excessive saliva and vomiting.

There are also means for disinsection treatment of dogs with natural ingredients. Plant extracts have an antipruritic, anti-inflammatory, healing effect, maintain the pet's hair in a healthy state. After applying flea shampoo to the dog, it should be carefully distributed over the body (avoiding contact with the eyes, nose and mouth), left for a while (according to the instructions), washed off. At the end of drying, it is recommended to comb the dog with a comb with a frequent comb.

Among the most popular flea shampoos in dogs are: Mr. Bruno, Leopard, Phytoelita.

Drops

You can quickly get rid of blood-sucking parasites from a four-legged friend at home with the help of drops. This option is more effective than the previous one, so it enjoys well-deserved popularity. The effect of the contents of the bottle persists for about a month (subject to the instructions of the instructions).

Drops are applied to the dog's skin in a place inaccessible for licking (most often – the back of the neck). The active ingredient is toxic to bloodsuckers; it penetrates into the epidermis and bloodstream of the animal, which leads to getting rid of insects. However, before removing fleas from a dog with drops, you need to consult a veterinarian, since the active ingredients have side effects and contraindications.

Among the drops can be noted: Bars Forte, Celandine, Barrier, Frontline.

Collar

Using a collar to remove fleas from a dog, although convenient, presents certain difficulties. This method is not suitable for puppies of puppy age, awaiting addition and nursing dogs, since insecticides that impregnate the collar can have a negative effect on the puppies' body.

Collars containing natural substances, as well as ultrasonic ones, are safer. At the same time, the latter option is too expensive in terms of cost, and natural ingredients are not effective with abundant flea population. Another disadvantage of anti–flea collars is that toxic compounds are distributed unevenly over the body. In addition, the product is not recommended to be used simultaneously with other methods.

Sprays

You can remove fleas from a dog using a spray. This form of processing has gained popularity due to its ease. It is enough to apply the product to the coat in the area of the pet's neck, after which the parasites will leave the animal for at least 3-4 weeks.

The disadvantage of using the spray in the fight against fleas is the high content of toxic substances in the composition. Contraindications are the same as in the case of a collar. There is also a possibility of licking the drug if it gets to other parts of the body.

The most effective tool in this group is considered to be the Frontline; aerosol Bars and Beafar are no less popular with dog breeders.

Powder

Insecticidal flea remedy for dogs in powder form has not found significant distribution among dog breeders. This is due to the need to rub the product with your hands into the skin and hair of the animal. In addition, the use of this treatment method increases the risk of poisoning. Powders are not used when it comes to puppies, dogs "in position", nursing and weakened.

Among powdered preparations can be distinguished: Sanal, Insectal.

Pills

The tablet form of flea control also did not take root among dog owners. Chewing tablets slightly reduce the number of parasites, but do not remove them at all. In addition, this method of disinfection is dangerous by poisoning and allergies. The treatment consists in putting the drug into the animal feed.

Veterinary pharmacies offer medications such as Comforts, Capstar.

Folk remedies for fleas in dogs

An alternative to industrial drugs is the removal of fleas from a dog with folk remedies. As a rule, they are effective if insects are present in small numbers. However, as a preventive and auxiliary means, folk methods are irreplaceable.

• Herbs. The most popular and effective plants that can scare away fleas are: wormwood, tansy, eucalyptus, hellebore. The latter option is sold in a pharmacy, it is the most powerful remedy; its use requires caution, since exceeding the recommended dose threatens severe intoxication of the animal's body. Decoctions or infusions used for bathing dogs are prepared from plants. The use of herbs is an excellent and safe way to get rid of fleas of puppies.
• Household soap. To rid the pet of blood-sucking insects, you need to make a solution from household soap. To do this, eucalyptus leaves are boiled in a separate container in advance. After cooling, a little cedar (fir, pine, tea tree) oil and grated soap are added to it. The resulting liquid is used to wash the dog. It can be stored at room temperature.
• Garlic. Fleas cannot stand the smell of garlic, but when processing, you need to carefully monitor your pet – for dogs, this plant is dangerous when ingested (up to death). To prepare a therapeutic solution, 2-3 teeth are crushed, 200 ml of water is poured, and left overnight. The resulting liquid can be applied only to those areas of the trunk that the animal will not be able to lick.
• Onion. It works the same way as garlic. To treat the pet, the head is finely chopped, filled with water, soap is added (preferably tar or household). After stirring, the woolen coat of the animal is treated with a solution.
• Apple cider vinegar. To get rid of bloodsuckers, an aqueous solution of apple cider vinegar is abundantly moistened with the dog's trunk and left for 60 minutes, then washed off and combed the coat well. Cooking will require one part vinegar and three parts water.
• Essential oils. Fleas are afraid of any pungent odors, especially citrus esters, eucalyptus, coniferous, tea tree. Oils are recommended to be used for direct application to the dog's coat or by adding to the water when bathing.

Flea removal in a pregnant dog

To destroy fleas in a pregnant dog, it is best to use folk methods, but if there are a lot of insects, you need to choose a stronger remedy. Pets in a position are contraindicated with a collar, and among the other options, experts recommend drops, for example, a Frontline or a Lawyer (suitable even for nursing bitches). If the dog calmly tolerates bathing, then shampoo can be used for treatment.

How to remove fleas from puppies

It is more difficult to remove fleas from dogs of puppy age than in adults, since most of the products on the market have been shown since six months. Only a few drugs are allowed for use:

• from 1.5 months – Bars and Stronghold in the form of a spray, Celandine and Phytoelita shampoos;
• from 2 months – Celandine and Frontline in the form of drops, Beafar collar.

Before using these drugs, it is necessary to study the instructions to find out how to properly destroy fleas and prevent poisoning of the puppy.

Note: the best option for puppies will be the use of folk methods and remedies: tar soap, wormwood.

Is there a flea vaccination

Many owners would like to vaccinate their pet against fleas. As such, there is no anti-flea vaccine. However, inoculation is often referred to as insecticide injections. The injection acts like drops, but the duration of the effect can reach six months. The mechanism of action of vaccination is as follows: when an insect is bitten, it receives a dose of a toxic substance that causes a violation of the parasite's NS, and then its death.

The positive sides of flea injections in dogs include the simplicity of the method. To protect a pet from bloodsuckers, only a single injection is required. In addition, the possibility of getting the drug into the digestive tract of the animal is completely excluded, which means there is no risk of poisoning. An additional advantage is that the tool is available in different versions, providing for the treatment of dogs of different ages and colors.

Not all dogs can be given flea injections. It is contraindicated to use injections for puppies younger than 2 months of age, weak pets, allergic people. You can not vaccinate yourself – this should be done by a veterinarian after a preliminary examination of the dog. Most often, Lufenuron, Eprimec, and Ivermectin are used as anti-flea vaccinations.

Processing of the room where the dog lives

To remove fleas from a dog, it is not enough to treat only a pet. Insects living next to it will return to the "owner" again as soon as the drug expires. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out a thorough disinfection of the premises (apartments, houses, booths) in which the pet lives in parallel.

Apartment treatment from dog fleas

There are several ways of disinsection treatment of the apartment. You can use one, the most suitable, or you can apply several at once.

• Thermal effects. If the temperature is below zero outside the window, it is enough to take out things in which fleas have settled for a few hours on the street. You can also destroy insects by exposing them to boiling water (sprinkle or boil).
• Chemical attack. Such products as Karbofos, Raid, Phenaxin and the like are used for the treatment of floors, walls, corners, utility rooms, large interior items (for example, upholstered furniture). You can use insecticidal preparations in the form of a spray or powder, which treated the dog. It is important that there is not a single untreated corner left, otherwise processing will have to start again.
• Folk methods. Of the folk methods for treating an apartment from dog fleas, the same means are used as for pet disinfection. These are: wormwood, kerosene, pine sawdust and others. Only kerosene treatment leads to the death of insects, the remaining methods can be used as an addition to the chemical option. Infusions and decoctions are prepared from plants, which are used to wipe all surfaces in the house, preferably several times a day. Alternatively, spread fresh wormwood around the apartment (along the baseboard, in corners, under furniture), and change it as it dries for a month (minimum).
• Professional way. The services of special services for the destruction of fleas in the room are used in difficult situations, with the ineffectiveness of other methods. The essence of professional processing is the artificial creation of fine vapor particles containing insecticide. These particles settle on surfaces, penetrating deep into porous materials, causing the death of insects.

Processing of the dog "house"

When removing fleas from a dog in a booth, you also need to put things in order. To destroy insects, the same methods and preparations are used as in the apartment. The litter is subject to burning, and to prevent the return of bloodsuckers inside the booth and around it, it is necessary to lay out branches of wormwood or tansy (they should be replaced periodically with fresh ones).

Safety rules for processing

Since the destruction of fleas in dogs and indoors involves the use of highly toxic chemical compounds, precautions must be taken.

• do not use drugs and remedies that have ended the period of operation;
• carefully read the instructions for using a particular remedy, especially when it comes to the treatment of puppies, weakened and pregnant animals;
• if it is not possible to contact a specialist when choosing a drug, pay attention to the dosages indicated in the instructions, the peculiarities of the age of the animal, recommendations for further observation;
• if during the procedure the pet became ill, you need to take him urgently to the clinic or call a specialist at home;
• before proceeding to disinsection of the premises with chemical agents, it is necessary to remove all household members, including pets, from there;
• the treatment should be carried out in rubber gloves and a respirator (or medical mask);
• after the disinsection is completed, it is necessary to leave the apartment, wash and wash your hands.

You can return to the treated room after the period specified in the annotation to the tool used.

Anti-flea prevention

It is almost impossible to prevent the appearance of fleas on a dog, but you can significantly reduce the likelihood of infection with parasites. To do this, you need to follow a number of recommendations:

• when going for a walk, put on an anti-flea collar;
• use drugs that are acceptable for prevention (for example, injections);
• regularly treat the place where the pet lives, its litter, with appropriate disinsection agents;
• avoid contact of a pet with unfamiliar relatives;
• keep the dog clean, monitor the condition of the coat;
• do not walk in places known to be inhabited by fleas (basements, abandoned plots).

By what means to remove fleas from a dog – each owner decides by virtue of his capabilities. The main thing is to notice the problem in a timely manner and prevent the reproduction of insects.