If you've been scratching your head trying to figure out how to get rid of fleas on dogs, we have the solution for you. One of the most common dog problems that pet owners face is fleas. These pesky little pests can cause a lot of discomfort for you and your furry friend, and they're notoriously hard to get rid of. But don't worry, we've got you covered! Follow our simple steps below and enjoy life without worrying about those pesky critters again!
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Before you get started, begin by gathering everything you will need. In our guide, you will be using a flea comb, small bowl, Dawn soap, paper towels, flea shampoo for dogs, topical treatment, soothing cream, flea repellent, and a flea collar.
The flea comb is an effective tool to help remove fleas from your dog. It's an efficient step to take when working on removing all the fleas on your dog. A good quality one will have fine teeth that work through your pet's fur to remove any eggs or larvae from the surface of the dog's fur.
Before you start to comb, it's important to have a small bowl with soapy water handy with some paper towels to remove any fur excess as you comb your dog. When you begin to comb your dog for fleas, do it in a downward motion, start at the head, work your way through sections of the dog's body until you get to the dog's tail.
Make sure that after each stroke, you submerge the comb into the small bowl with soapy water. This ensures that any fleas caught in the comb drown and don't go back into the environment.
After you have entirely comb your dog, you will have an idea of how bad of an infestation you might have to deal with.
If you only see one, it might be a wandering flea. If you see less than five fleas, you need to act quickly before they multiply. If you see more, you have a problem and need to disinfect your home fast.
Bathing your dog is the most important step you can take to remove all the fleas. Dogs have sensitive skin, and using a flea shampoo that's made for them will not only be kinder on their pores but will also ensure to remove all of the fleas.
When you are ready to begin, start by creating a ring of soap around your dog's neck, this will help keep any fleas from their body traveling towards their head. Next, as you apply the shampoo on your pet, don't forget to care and avoid sensitive areas, like the eyes and inner of the ears. Then work the flea shampoo into a lather and add water as necessary; work it very well all over the dog's body and leave it for about five minutes, also be sure to follow the product's instructions for maximum effectiveness depending on the product you choose.
If possible, something that might help the bath be more effective is by using a basin, bucket, or tub where your dog can fit. Then you can safely submerge the dog's body up to their neck (not their head) and keep them submerged for at least one to two minutes. While submerged, massage their body; this will help drown any fleas that would have survived the initial bath.
Finally, after rinsing off your dog, you'll want to make sure that your dog is completely dry before applying any other treatment. After you have bathed your dog, there will still be a few fleas left that managed to hide and survive, but with the next few steps, you will make sure that they die off in a couple of days after applying the treatment.
After you bathe your dog and he is completely dry, you'll need to apply a topical flea treatment. Topical flea treatment for dogs is an effective way to protect your pet from fleas because it helps break the flea life cycle.
Applying a topical treatment is very easy but depending on the brand you get, follow the directions provided with the product.
Usually, you apply a topical flea treatment in between the dog's shoulder blades, just behind the neck; Part your dog's hair and place the applicator tip just above the skin, and squeeze the entire contents of the applicator in a single spot directly into the dog's skin, and avoid contact on the treated area until it's dry.
Topical treatment are available in different sizes depending on your dogs weight. Make sure to choose the correct one for your pup.
Depending on how severe the flea infestation on your dog might be, your dog might have developed some sores, red patches, or scabs on their skin; in case your dog is having some of these symptoms and signs, it's important to apply a soothing cream where the sores or reddish patches are located on the pet's skin. It will soothe your pup and help them heal faster from flea bites.
Now that your dog is clean of fleas, it's a good idea to try to keep the fleas off for as much as possible by applying some flea repellent on your dog's coat. A flea Repellent works best when massaged into the dog's coat to reach the skin of the animal.
A good habit to develop is that every time you take your dog out to a walk or any outdoor activity spray your dog with some Flea Repellent, it's not 100% guaranteed that it will keep fleas off, but it will deter most of them from jumping into your pup.
Lastly, apply a flea collar to your dog. A flea collar is very effective in killing fleas. It will also help kill any new fleas that jump into your pet, increasing the effectiveness of stopping any future flea infestation in your home.
Regardless with a note of caution: Using a flea collar is something you have to do with a lot of care. Just like people, all dogs are different and have different reactions to chemicals.
When you first put a collar on your dog, make sure it is not too tight and that you can fit two to three fingers in between your dog and the collar. Also, please pay close attention that your dog is not scratching the collar with his paws at all because later, they might lick their paws and self poison in doing so. Finally, Keep checking your dog's behavior, and around the neck where the collar touches just in case they don't react well to it. If they don't react well to it, remove it right away and take them to your vet. All it requires is a little attention to keep your dog safe.
Flea Collars depending on your dog size:
Dogs are a very important part of many people's lives, and it is heartbreaking when they get infested with fleas. The good news is that there are several ways to deal with this problem and if you follow the steps above, you are surely on your way to getting rid of fleas for good.
Take your time at each step in the process, remembering not to overlook anything else that may be going on, such as an allergic reaction or other skin condition.
Whatever steps you take, don't forget to treat your entire home and yard. Remember that no matter how long it takes - getting rid of those pesky pests is worth every minute! Now, Since your dog had fleas, the next thing you need to do is to remove the fleas off your home, learn how to do it here How to Get Rid of Fleas in the House.
Do you have some other tips and tricks for getting rid of fleas? Let us know in the comments below.
