The Battle With Dog Fleas Can Be Won

June 30th, 2009 by Jane A Moore

by Jane A Moore

Fleas have to be the most annoying thing that most pet owners inevitably deal with at one time or another. The hardest part of getting rid of fleas is that they seem to just keep coming back. Most often the reason that fleas "keep coming back" is that you never fully got rid of them in the first place. The second you notice your pet might have fleas, you have to start the flea control process immediately, as time is of the essence when it comes to stopping fleas from multiplying.

Getting rid of fleas is possible, although you need to be prepared for a fair amount of work. It's not enough just to give your dog a bath and think that the fleas will be gone. You have to clean and exterminate just about every place that your dog frequents, and maybe even keep your dog from going to the dog park at peak flea season in order to stop the spread of fleas.

To get rid of the fleas which are actively biting your dog, you have a few different options. Flea medications, such as Frontline for flea control are effective, and are easy to find at your vet or pet supply store. However, chemicals such as these can be harsh on your pet, and if you are conscious of chemicals in your home you may want to look for alternatives. There are natural ways to rid your dog of fleas, including baby powder, olive oil baths, and garlic.

Getting rid of fleas in your house can be difficult. The first step is to wash all bedding that your cat or dog may have come into contact with. Wash everything in hot water and dry it in a tumble dryer if possible. There will be flea larvae in the bedding. The only safe and natural way to kill these is with hot water. Take every mat or area rug outside and don't bring them back in until they have been thoroughly cleaned.

Once everything that you can pick up has been washed, you need to go through the house top to bottom, everywhere your dog has been, and vacuum. Be especially careful to vacuum corners and cracks in floorboards, in closets, under beds, and all your upholstery. Even better, steam clean your carpets and upholstered furniture to get rid of flea eggs and larvae. Throw out your vacuum bag once you have finished the task, which will prevent fleas from escaping, or larvae from hatching and re-infesting your house.

If your dog has fleas, getting rid of them is not a simple task, but it is possible. You have to remember to be consistent with keeping your dog away from new fleas, and cleaning and re-cleaning your house to get rid of any new fleas that were missed in the first round of cleaning. Eventually you will win the battle against fleas and you and your pet will have a much happier summer.

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Read more about dog fleas by checking out flea control.

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