How To Deal With Fleas On Dogs Once And For All?

Do you want to treat your dog from fleas for the last time? If so, you can check out the following tips on how to treat your dog and your home.  Later, infestation prevention tips will also be shared to prevent the same problem from coming back.

Treat your dog

The very first step to deal with fleas on dogs is to treat him. You should be able to target the adult fleas and their larvae.

Killing the latter is essential to ensure your pet will become flea-free.

However, you should ensure that the active ingredients in the treatment also include methoprene or pyriproxyfen to kill even the larvae.

NOTE: Do not bathe your pet for five days after the application of the spot- treatment. The reason behind it is that it works by migrating into your pet’s subcutaneous fat so that his body will be resistant to fleas.

Otherwise, his natural body oils carrying the flea treatment won’t be enough if you bathe him right after the application. In short, the medication will just be washed away, rendering it ineffective.

You can also consider applying an over-the-counter medication that can get rid of the fleas in a matter of hours. With flea-killing shampoo, you can bathe your dog a week after the treatment. However, don’t overdo because it might irritate and dry your pet’s skin. After bathing, use a quality dog dryer, which will safely treat your four-legged friend’s fur.

So in all cases, treat him, but be gentle on his skin.

Treat your home

Right after treating your dog, start treating your home because flea infestation can grow and spread quickly. It is also time consuming and a headache to eradicate when the problem worsens. That is why you need to apply several ways on how to get rid of flea infestation in your home. Check out the following to start.

Steam the carpet up

It is one of the best ways to treat your home from fleas because it can reach deep enough the carpet to stimulate the pupae and make them leave their cocoons.

Steaming is also non-toxic and is a non-chemical way of getting rid of fleas. Choose a powerful steam cleaner that can generate up to 200 degrees Fahrenheit, which is strong and effective enough to use for carpets and upholstery.

Vacuum the carpet

Use it to suck flea eggs, larvae and adult.  For the best results, use a flea collar inside the cleaner to kill the eggs that got inside it immediately.

Use flea killers

Some include baking soda and salt (natural flea killer) or insecticides for severe flea infestation.

If using chemicals, you might want to leave it to pest control professionals.  They can make use of a safe and effective pesticide that combines adulticide and insect growth regulators.

IGRs, in particular, can get rid of the larvae effectively.

The pros can come up with a great plan and approach on how to get rid of fleas at home based on the level of infestation. They can also apply the flea killers at the right timings and places.

Nevertheless, they can eliminate fleas because they make use of no guesswork but a streamlined process of pest control.

As flea infestation is hard to eliminate when it becomes worse, pest control should be left to licensed pest professionals who have the tools, experience and knowledge to treat the infestation efficiently and safely.

Protect your pet from future infestations

Once you’ve gotten rid of pest infestation, prevent it from coming back!  It is the best way to keep a flea-free dog and home. Keep reading in the following section to prevent a future infestation.

  • Bring your dog to the vet for a monthly spot-on flea repellant treatment.  Also, consult your vet about a preventative medicine against fleas.
  • Even if your dog is already flea-free, use flea shampoo on him.  You can also make it more natural by adding a few drops of tea tree, lavender or citronella, if the shampoo is a bit harsh.
  • Put a flea collar on your dog while he’s playing outdoors especially if you’re living in a flea-populated area. You can take it off him once he’s indoors.
  • You can also add garlic and brewer’s year to his food.  It may help in repelling fleas.
  • Wash his food bowls, sleeping areas and toys on a regular basis.
  • Brush your pet’s coat thoroughly after playing outside especially in high grasses or wooded areas.

 

Final Thoughts

Follow these tips on how to treat your dog’s fleas finally.  For the best results, consider getting help from pest control services for a comprehensive approach to treat the infestation in your home and pet. Finally, consider the infestation prevention tips to ensure the fleas won’t return to invade your dog and home.

Top 7 Facts about Cockapoos That Will Shock You

Affectionate, friendly and happy, cockapoos are one of the most adorable designer dogs (Cocker Spaniel + Poodle) to meet at the clinic of a holistic veterinary doctor. They even sometimes assist other animals when you take them to a veterinary hospital.

But besides being scruffy-coated and bright-eyed, as we know, cockapoos are as interesting as other dog breeds.  It is why we’ve come up with this list of the most shocking facts you’ve probably not heard about these cute dogs.

Cockapoos Shocking Facts

The Cockapoo is a designer dog that was introduced in the 1960s. It’s easy to train, forgiving and affectionate, and he won’t make you feel alone, ever! To discuss these points further, let’s highlight the surprising facts about him.

They’re Hypoallergenic

Cockapoos won’t harm even the most sensitive people, both adults and children, because they’re hypoallergenic.

But there is an exemption to every rule. Different things can cause allergic reactions for some people, so having a non- or low-moulting dog isn’t a foolproof guarantee that he won’t cause you allergies. For one, some folks are allergic to the fur while others to the saliva.

To figure out yours, you might want to spend some time with one before taking him or her home.

They’re Clever

The Cockapoodles, one of their other names, are an intelligent breed. You can easily train them with positive reinforcement.

Cleverness does not mean just high mental capacity but also superb emotional intelligence. Did you know that Cockapoos can be used as therapy dogs?

They’re trained to provide comfort and affection to patients in hospitals and people in nursing homes, disaster areas, retirement homes and other institutions.

The designer dog is also friendly and sociable to other animals, such as cats and dogs noticeable when taking them to a vet clinic. So do not need to think of what collar to keep your dog in all the time.

They accept everyone – children, adults and other pets.  They have a positive view at life and it shows. They can make every day feel as if a celebration.  Simply put, they have that zest in life – no matter what it brings them.

Coloring

Cockapoos come also in many colors – they are one of the seldon dogs which come in variety of colors – red, golden, brown, black or a mix of these shades. So you can choose the color you prefer!

Variety of Sizes

They are of an easy size, being big enough to walk around with bigger dogs or small enough for you to cuddle. These designer dogs weigh at most 30 pounds.

However, they also come in a wide range of sizes based on the genes that their parents passed on to them.  Choose one based on your preference in size. If giving to a kid, then you might want to opt for a small one.

Always Full of Energy

While they have a moderate activity level, they are full of energy. In fact, they can adapt to your kind of lifestyle. They also need playtime and walk every day. These dogs are also athletic enough to join fly ball, rally and other dog sports and activities.

Hope you learned something from these shocking facts about cockapoos you probably might not knew about before.   Which among these cockapoo facts do you like best? Do you happen to own one and like to share a bit of his story? Tell us in the comment section.

Very Friendly With Children and Other Animals

Cockapoos will always try to cheer you up even in your darkest hours because these happy dogs are affectionate and won’t leave you behind. You might even want to close the bathroom door sometimes.

These dogs also love meeting new people and pets and love being petted and cared for.

They won’t also chase cats because they’re friends with other animals and pets.

As said earlier, they’re also used as therapy dogs, which can supply companionship and comfort to the people in depressed areas or medical institutions. Also, the deaf use them as hearing dogs, but it requires much training.

Overall, the cockapoo is like cocker spaniels, which are friendly and inquisitive. But you should train him well to stop jumping at every person to who you introduced him.

They Don’t Smell

Interestingly, cockapoos do not smell. They don’t leave that dog odor in and around your home or even on your furniture. To keep it this way, make sure that you groom your pet – have his coat trimmed and his tail left plumy and long, for instance.

Also, they need proper and regular brushing and baths in between appointments with a professional groomer.