How to Treat Fleas and Ticks For Your Dog

Fleas and ticks can be burdensome and annoying for both the dog and the rest of the family. Fleas can spread quickly and ticks can transfer very dangerous diseases. The best way to treat a dog for fleas or ticks is to prevent the dog from getting them in the first place. But if a dog is just too curious or very unlucky, then here are a few pointers on how to free the dog and the house of these aggravating bugs.

Clean the House

If the dog has got fleas or ticks then the best way to get rid of them is to clean the house first. Fleas have a tendency to jump from the dog to furniture, carpet, and clothing. Owners should thoroughly wash the house, paying special attention to the areas where the dog spends the most time. Vaccum the entire house and wash anything that is cloth including drapes, table cloths, furniture throws, etc. Owners should wash the dogs bedding with hot water. Owners should also keep the dog out of the house while they complete this process or chances are they will not get all of the critters.

Chemically Treat the House

Some owners may consider calling an exterminator or consulting with a veterinarian before choosing how to kill all of the fleas and ticks that may be in their house. No matter what, owners will need to cover dishes and leave the windows open in order to air out the house.

Treat the Dog for Fleas

There are a number of ways to treat the dog for fleas. Some owners feel that the best way to get rid of all of the fleas on a dog is to use an insecticide dip. Insecticide dips should be used with caution as they can be potentially dangerous to both the dog and the owner. Always be sure to follow the directions on the dip and to wash thoroughly after using it.

Another method for getting rid of fleas is to get the dog a flea collar. These are slightly less abrasive than the insecticide dips, but they do not always reach over the entire body of the dog. Also, some dogs may be irritated by the collar or the chemicals on it. Owners should closely monitor their dog if a collar is to be used. Then, be sure that the dog is flea free before letting it back into the house.

Treat the Dog for Ticks

Ticks can be very tricky once they have attached themselves to a dog. First, owners will need to scour the dog for any ticks that have burrowed into the dog's skin. This can be done by slowly combing through the dog's fur in a systematic way. Once a tick has been detected, owners have the tricky responsibility of removing ticks. The theory that claims that placing a match near the tick's rear will force the tick out can be dangerous when working with a dog because of the dog's fur. Fire could seriously injure a dog. The best bet is for the owner to use tweezers and try and pick the tick out from its head. This will prevent burning the dog, and it will ensure that the owner has gotten all of the tick.

Once the dog and house are flea and tick free, owners should begin to apply prevention methods in order to make sure the dog will stay flea and tick free.

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