How to Control Fleas

Fleas are pesky little insects that can attach themselves to a dog's fur. Once the insect has jumped onto a dog, it will then jump from the dog onto furniture, carpet, or humans. They will also reproduce very quickly. The best way to keep from having a house full of fleas is by controlling fleas in the first place. Here are a few insights into how to control fleas.

Control Dog's Environment

Fleas generally live in tall grass or on plants. If an owner wishes to control the flea population, they must control where their dog is able to explore. By restricting the dog from entering wooded areas or fields with tall grasses, owners will help to control how many fleas the dog is able to attract.

Owners should also be sure to understand their climate. If they live in a warm, moist climate, then it is likely they will have a higher flea population in their area. Also, if their geographic location does not experience many periods of frost, then fleas will be even more prevalent. Owners should vary the types of treatment according to the climate in which they live.

The next step to controlling the dog's environment is to treat the areas where the dog spends the most time in order to keep the flea population down in those areas. For example, owners should treat the house, yard, dog house, dog kennel, and the dog's bed. There are a variety of products that can control fleas effectively. Some come in the form of a liquid and others are in the form of powder. Owners should be sure to check each product to make sure that it is safe for their dog. They should also ensure that the product is not harmful to children or other pets that the owner may have.

Protect the Dog

Another measure owners can take to control fleas is to protect their dog. This can be done in a number of ways. Dogs are very curious, and despite the owner's best efforts to control the dog's environment, the dog will discover areas where fleas live. Owners should consider a weekly or monthly treatment that is applied to the dog. This will help to kill fleas that do try and jump onto the dog. By speaking with a veterinarian, owners will be able to identify the best products for their pet and climate.

Owners should also be sure to give their dog a bath at least weekly. This will not only keep the dog from attracting other kids of ailments, it will allow the owner to do a check for fleas. There are many different types of pet shampoos, but some people find that Head and Shoulders works just fine.

Once the dog has been washed, owners should consider doing a comb check. This is where the owner combs the dog slowly while watching for fleas. Fleas are small black insects that will generally jump when the hair they are hiding in is disrupted. If owners find these sneaky bugs, they should know it is time to turn to more aggressive flea treatments.

Owners that are trying to keep their pets from attracting fleas have a huge job cut out for them, especially if they live in a warm climate. But by combining some of the methods included above, owners should be able to control fleas in an effective manner.

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