Dog Flea Control - Protect your dog from fleas, ticks and heartworm!

[?] Subscribe To This Site

Dog Flea Control:
Stamp out dog fleas, ticks and heartworm!

Parasites On The Loose

A dog flea control program, coupled with an aggressive tick removal and heartworm prevention regimen,should be an important aspect of any dog lover's regular pet careand grooming regimen. Just like your dog needs food, love and regular checkups, he needs a method of dog flea control to protect him from the irritation and disease that fleas, and other bugs like ticks and mosquitoes, can wreak.

Mosquitoes, which bite dogs AND people, can transmit heartworm disease which can be fatal in dogs.In addition, their bites are itchy and when your dog scratches at them, he irritates his skin,opening it up to a host of other potential problems.

Fleas and ticks are other blood-sucking parasites which crawl and jump (rather than fly). They are known for living on the surface of animals' skin, and can use dogs, cats, deer and people as a host!You'll need a good dog flea control program to keep fleas and ticks off your dog and off of you!

Fleas hide in your dog's fur and can multiply rapidly, spreadingfrom your dog or cat, to his blankets, bedding and carpet inside the house.These unpleasant insects can quickly infest yourentire home and they are just as happy to bite people as dogs. Because fleas and, to a greater extent ticks, can transmitdangerous, debilitating illnesses like Lyme disease, this is to be avoided at all costs. A strictdog flea control regimen is the solution. Knock out fleas and ticks before they have a chanceto establish themselves. Reduce the chance of infection from mosquitoes by protecting your dogwith heartworm medication.

Reducing Parasite Habitat

Mosquito control can be performed by eliminating mosquito breeding environment. Mosquitos reproduce in pools ofstill water, so eliminate areas in your yard where water is likely to puddle, such as overturnedflower pots, garbage cans, downspouts and clogged outdoor drains. Encourage beneficial insectslike dragonflies, who are voracious mosquito-eaters, to visit your yard. You can also usechemical sprays or homeopathic citronella candles to repel mosquitos. Unfortunately, all of these remediescan be costly, potentially dangerous in the case of a massive insecticide campaign, and ultimatelyineffective if you live close to neighbors, woods, or in areas where mosquitos tend to congregate(which is practically everywhere in the summer!).

Eliminating an environment that fosters fleas and ticks is a great first step in anydog flea control program. Fleas and ticks tend to live in shrubby, forested or grassy areas. If you live in an urban apartment,you will probably not have much call to be concerned about fleas and ticks. However, if you live in a more rural area, or you take your dog out to the woods or the park on the weekends, he has a high probabilityof being exposed to fleas. These dog fleas and ticks which will cling to your dog ashe passes by a bush or stalk wherethey've been hiding, or they may drop down on him from above. To minimize the risk of exposure for your dog while he's around the house, keep your lawn mowed short and keep yourdog out of ungroomed brushy areas. It is always a good idea to inspect your dog's skin on a regular basis for the presence of parasites, pay special attention when he is coming back from an outdoor adventure. Physical removal of fleas and ticks is also a validdog flea control technique.

Stop Heartworm In Its Tracks

The good news is that even if you are not able to completely eliminate your dog's exposure to nasty parasites like fleas, ticks and mosquitos, you can at least minimize their potential to affect hishealth.

The best way to reduce the risk of heartworm is to give your dog a monthly heartworm preventative pill.One such brand is HeartGard.These pills can be given orally once a month and your dog will lovethem and eat them up like candy. This is the single best way to reduce your dog's risk of contractingheartworm if he is bitten by a "carrier" mosquito. Your dog should have heartworm pills given on a year-roundbasis for the best protection. Vaccinations for Lyme disease are also available for dogs... consultyour veterinarian to learn if they are recommended in your area.

Keep Fleas and Ticks Off Your Dog and Out of Your Home!

Fortunately, in addition to making environmental changes to protect your dog from fleas, you can alsoeffectively control these non-flying insects topically by making yourdog's skin an inhospitable environment.

With a simple monthly treatment of a dog flea control product, such as FrontLine,or Advantage,during flea and tick season, you can dramatically reduce the likelihood of fleas and ticks calling your dog their home. The dog flea control solution comes in alittle sealed dropper. Each application is measured and concentrated specifically for the size/weight ofyour dog. If you have more than one dog, you should get a separate box of flea control for each one ifthey are different sizes. You should also get separate flea control formula for your cats.

These dog flea control preparations are made from strong insecticidal chemicals, so it is importantto follow the application directions and keep the repellant away from children and other pets.

Applying Dog Flea Control Solutions

Generally, when it is applied, you put the dog flea and tick repelant on the skin (part the fur so youcan apply directly to the skin) along your dog's spine, from neck to tail. From there, it is conductedthrough the skin, to the rest of the dog's body. I use FrontLineFlea and Tick control, which is whatis recommended for my dog Kera by SouthEastern GuideDogs and have found it to be very effective.

Inspecting Your Pet For Fleas and Ticks

However, even if you are applying dog flea control products to your pet, I would still recommend performing a quick general inspection for evidence of fleas and tickswhen coming in from a grassy or wooded area likely to shelter the creatures.

Also, check your dog's skin if you notice she is biting or scratching herself a lot, and toward the end of the month whenthe remedy's effectiveness may be reduced.

I find that it is easiest to see fleas on Kera's belly, where the fur is thinner. Fleas tend to congregatearound the feathers on the back of her legs and the base of her tail. It is much easier to detectfleas on light-colored dogs, since they tend to be black and small, about the size of the head on a smallstraight-pin. If you find a flea on your dog, remove it quickly (it may try to run away) and douseit in a cup of soapy water so it will die.

You may also find flea droppings (which won't run or jump away from you when you locate them)which are small and black, they may turn red if you squish them or drop them in water, as theyconsist of digested blood. If you find flea droppings, that is strong evidence that fleas are livingon your dog somewhere. It may be time for a flea bath or to begin a program of dog flea control.

Ticks are much easier to detect. They bury their heads under the dog's skin and their bodiesstretch into little brown balloons as they engorge themselves with blood. (I know this is gross, sorry.)If you find a tick on your dog, make your best effort to remove all of it, including the head, withtweezers. Sterilize the tweezers afterwards and sterilize the wound with alcohol or peroxide.

Rub-a-Dub-Dub, Wash Fleas Down the Tub

If you notice evidence of fleas or ticks on your dog, you should bathe her, either with a special dog fleashampoo or with regular people shampoo. If you leave her sudsed up for five minutes before you rinse her,the soap should kill any live bugs on your dog. Afterward would be a great time to applya dog flea control treatment, like FrontLine,or Advantage,if it has been at least 30 days since flea and tickrepellant was last applied.

Bug Off!

The bottom line is that for the health of your pet and your family, you need to make sure thatyou practice regular dog flea control so your dog does not become infested with fleas and ticks. A year-round heartworm prevention programis also the best way to protect your dog from this deadly mosquito-borne disease.

To get the best pricing on dog flea and tick repellant, it makes sense to buy packages containing 3-6doses, to protect your dog for the duration of the season in your area. Be sure you get the properdosage for your dog's weight. If your dog is a puppy and still growing, buy flea and tick repellantbased on his current weight (3 months worth). Don't get the amount he will need when he is fullgrown or you may risk over-dosing him which can lead to negative health consequences. It is betterto err on the side of giving him a bit too little, than a bit too much.

Explore the Resources Below to quickly and easily by dog flea and tick control products online. Don'tforget to pick up some Heartgard, too to keep your dog safe!

Pick up your dog flea controlat 1-800-PetMeds - Get the *Guaranteed Lowest Prices* and Free Shipping for all your Pet's Health Care needs! Frontline, Advantage, Heartgard, and more!

Dog Flea Control:Stamp out dog fleas, ticks and heartworm!