Best flea treatment for dogs

Cats are funny :)

2014-07-03T14:07:00.001-07:00

What is the best flea treatment for cats?

2014-06-15T17:51:00.003-07:00

Hi!
There is a lot of time since my last post - sorry for that. I have one question to you. Would you like to read a article about best flea treatment for cats? Many people ask me on face to face life about it. But I dont know what do you think about it? It is good material for article in this blog?

Please write your opinions on comments. I would be helpful like hell!

Where would you spend your holiday? I am searching a nice please in eastern Europe for 2 weeks.

Best flea treatment for dogs

2013-06-27T23:56:00.000-07:00

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Fleas are a huge problem for animal owners. What we can do to prevent flea infestation and how does one get rid of these insects?

First of all, let's see what we know about fleas.

A flea is an insect which sucks blood. It can carry many diseases (eg. Typhus) or parasites (eg. Tapeworms). Fleas usually feed on an animal host. Female fleas can lay up to 200 eggs a day. The flea lifespan lasts from one to three months.

There are many methods of proving possible flea invasion. For example, the so-called flea comb will help you determine if your dog has fleas. These combs are an excellent way to both confirm flea presence and, at the same time, get rid of these pesky insects.

Special flea collars are another method. They kill adult fleas and, which is something most flea laymen forget about, also make flea eggs sterile. It is vital that you make sure you have got rid of the the eggs; you most certainly don't want to re-experience another flea invasion once the larvae grow up. Finally, special shampoos also kill fleas and lessen the itchiness your dog is feeling.

What is the best flea medicine for dogs? With so many products available on the market, you can get easily confused. Best medicines kill fleas within few hours but may, and often do, pose a threat to the health and life of your pet. Before you apply any kind of medicine, make sure it is safe and that your dog is old enough to take it.

There are many ways to prevent and treat flea infestation on your dogs. You can use combs, shampoos or medicines. Naturally, it's up to you to decide what is best for your pet, but it is still advisable that you do extensive research or, better still, consult a vet.

New flea treatment products for dogs

2013-05-26T07:45:00.001-07:00

Unfortunately for our pupils season for tick and flea is about to start. Ticks have the highest activity between spring and autumn, during the day they have two activity times: morning and afternoon. Protecting methods before tick and flea aren't change that much during time - still the best are old checked methods such as special collars, preparations (like frontline, advantage for dogs).

However sometimes show up new products on market. Interesting new treatment for dogs is special electronic repellents which you are able to attach to the pupil's collar. But, we need to remember to keep it charged and then tick won't be dangerous any more. If you have any natural flea treatment methods to share with us then please send them by mail, and we would be honoured to present them on this blog.

We would like to increase interactions with users to make that blog to be creating by you as well.
That’s why we would like to accept every interesting article about best flea treatment for dogs or cats. Also please feel free to add a comment.

A few words about blog

2013-05-14T10:31:00.000-07:00

We didn't update blog for so long, but we ensure you that we will fix it as soon as possible. If you have any ideas for an article about tick and flea treatment please fell free to let us know using comment option.We will try to meet yours request and write something really interesting about that. Feel free to add any comment.

We are planning to expand this blog subject and if you have any good ideas about that please feel free to let us know, we ensure that we will consider every ieda.

Flea treatment for dogs

2012-09-12T16:40:00.000-07:00

If you have a dog that seems to be suffering from flea infestation - be quick. The sooner you rid your dog of fleas, the better, both for you and for your pet. In this article you will find everything you need to know to combat these parasites.

SYMPTOMS

If your dog scratches itself excessively, bites its rear, tail end or thighs, loses hair, has skin lesions and/or red bumps and, on top of that, you find flea excrement (tiny black fecal matter; if you add water to it and smear it using toilet paper it gets red in colour) - there's a pretty good chance that your dog has been infested with fleas. Don't hesitate to act; flea infestation may have a bad influence on the health of your pet. Apart from the obvious discomfort, many animals suffer from FAD, i. e., Flea Allergic Dermatitis, which can be tough on your dog.

TREATMENT

How do you get about treating your pet, then? Well, first and foremost, remember that chemicals are the last resort.
It has been scientifically proven that chemicals may have, and often do, severe side effects and it is recommended that unless the natural methods of treatment fail, you should not apply artificial drugs to your animal. Luckily, there are many natural remedies easy to use.

NATURAL METHODS

You need to check your dog for fleas every day. To do that effectively, buy a special flea comb and, having applied petroleum jelly to it, comb you dog thoroughly. Remember to place your pet on a light-coloured cloth; then you will see how many fleas fall from your dog's fur. Also, it may be a good idea to use a cotton ball dipped in alcohol and dab it on your pet's body before combing.

HYGIENE

Your dog needs to be bathed every week, best in gentle shampoos containing pyrethrin, or citrus oil. Fleas and bugs are repelled by several smells and tastes, such as: cider vinegar, lavender, lemongrass, peppermint or citronella, so we advise you to use these oils regularly.

FOOD SUPPLEMENTATION

If the above natural methods fail, then it may become essential that you consult a vet who will prescribe medication and suggest changes to your pet's diet. The most popular and effective dietary supplements are Omega 3 and 6 fatty acid supplements and vitamin B complex capsules. You can also try adding a crushed clove of garlic to your dog's food or safflower or seaweed. But remember: you must not make any dietary changes until you have consulted a vet.

HOUSE PROTECTION

Once your pet is flea-free, then the time has come to rid your house and garden of these pesky insects. There is a wide selection of flea sprays and flea bombs available on the market. Having used them, hoover and clean your house thoroughly so that the flea infestation will never occur again and all your effort will not be in vain.

BEST FLEA SHAMPOO FOR DOGS

2012-09-12T04:24:00.000-07:00

Whether you need to rid your pet of fleas or just use it as a precaution, flea shampoo for dogs is definitely a good idea. There are, however, several things you must keep in mind when buying one.

As you will invariably notice, there’s a difference between what you can apply to an adult dog, and what product you should apply to a puppy. You will find both puppy shampoos and dog shampoos. Before picking one, you had better consult a vet and their opinion on your pet’s immune system. Some shampoos could be extremely dangerous (even lethal) for puppies.

When choosing a shampoo pay special attention to ingredients. While it is ok to buy a shampoo consisting of pyrethin (the most common insecticide ingredient) for a perfectly healthy adult dog that lives outside the house, it will definitely not be ok to buy it for a puppy or a fragile lap dog. The latter group of pets need herbal insecticides, look for shampoos which include oatmeal or tea tree oil.

It may also be a good idea to use a coat conditioner to make sure your pet’s skin won’t stay dry. Be careful about any scent shampoos; scents may further irritate the skin of your flea-infested animal.

Best flea treatment for cats

2012-08-24T07:02:00.000-07:00

Getting rid of fleas

2012-07-20T18:40:00.000-07:00

Many wonder what the big problem about the flea removal is. After all, once you realise there are fleas in your house and on your dog, you just buy some nice flea bomb and use it, wash your dog in some anti-flea shampoo and the problem's done with.

Well, don't be so hasty. If you act this way, you are quite sure to have your house and pet re-infested with these pesky creatures. Why?

Firstly, you did not make sure you actually got rid of all the fleas, both the adult ones and the larvae. Fleas have different developmental stages and therefore different substances are needed to kill adult fleas and, say, eggs. Even if you wipe out all the adult fleas in your house, fleas will soon reappear.

First and foremost, make sure you get rid of all the flea eggs. This you will achieve by thoroughly washing carpets and bedding with a strong detergent and vacuuming the entire house. Also, try to dehumidify your house, eg. by turning on air conditioning. To kill larvae, you could wash carpets with an insecticide, or have them steam-washed.

Then you ought to take care of yourself and your dog. For starters, try NOT to use any chemicals. They can, and often do, pose a threat to your and your pet's health, which is obviously what we aim to avoid. What's more, don't make any changes to your dog's diet until you have consulted a vet. Flea extermination process may get out of hand if you act hastily.

You can start with taking greater care of your pet's hygiene. Bath it once a week using gentle (remember that your dog's skin is very tender when the animal is slowly being devoured by little insects) shampoos and comb it regularly, observing how many fleas fall out of the pet's fur. Fleas and bugs are repelled by several smells and tastes, such as: cider vinegar, lavender, lemongrass, peppermint or citronella, so we advise you to use these oils regularly. However, if these methods fail, you ought to have your dog examined by a vet who will probably prescribe medication and suggest dietary changes.

Frontline plus for dogs

2012-07-19T16:41:00.001-07:00

Although is is generally argued that natural methods are better, they may sometimes fail. Then you must resort to what some call “toxic methods”. Don't be too upset, however. Most non-natural products on the market are there for you to use - you just have to make 100% sure that you have read and understood the recommendations and, better still, consulted a reliable vet. The thing is, toxic products may have a detrimental impact not only on your flowerbed but also may pose a threat to your dog's health and life, and even your family's. Better safe than sorry, they say, and in this case this saying hits the nail on the head.

Now that you have decided that there's absolutely no other other way for you to approach the flea problem apart from applying some monstrous toxic methods of flea extermination, you can have a quick look at our list of - if used properly - safe products.

Frontline Plus for dogs is among the most popular preventatives. It kills all existing adult fleas on your pet within 12 hours and all ticks and chewing lice within 48 hours. One application ensures a full month protection. Another advantage of Frontline is that it's waterproof, which is great for water-loving dogs (you still need to keep your dog away from water for the application to become dry, which usually takes about 24 hours). You need to remember that it must not be applied to pets younger than 8 weeks!

Though customers are not universally satisfied with this Frontline treatment (there are usually complaints about poor results in combating ticks), the odds are that it will work for your pet.

Another popular choice of flea-fighters is a product called Advantage II. It kills adult fleas, larvae and eggs, and also treats, prevents, and controls lice on dogs. This product, unlike Frontline, does not exterminate ticks; to combat these parasites the Preventic Tick Collar is recommended to be used along with Advantage II. It has slightly better reviews than Frontline.

Should any side effects occur, the treatment ought to be stopped and you should consult a veterinarian immediately. Also, while applying either of the products, make sure it does not get into the animal's eyes, mouth, or nose.

Dog illnesses

2012-07-13T14:43:00.001-07:00

Fleas are potential illness bringers. However, sickness doesn't have to be connected with parasites, which may make it more difficult for you to notice that something's up with your pet. To make things more tricky, it's in animals' nature to deny the fact that they're under the weather (to mislead any predators). It's up to the owners to be alert enough to notice any illness symptoms.

These may include may types of behaviour. The pet is usually somewhat sluggish and apathetic. It fails to exert enthusiasm about the daily walk or a new ball or whatever that normally makes is jump on cloud nine. This is usually what we notice first. The second thing to check is how well-hydrated our dog is, and whether it urinates normally. If something about this makes us suspicious, don't hesitate to call the vet immediately. Many serious and lethal diseases have no other symptoms and if you fail to notice the above, you may have to say goodbye to your pet sooner than you thought you would have to. Eating habits, too, change during an illness. The animal may suddenly start to devour huge amounts of food and beg for more or, on the contrary, start skipping meals. It is also unnatural for dogs to vomit, sneeze, gag and cough repeatedly. If any of the eating anomalies last longer than two days, call a doctor.

Drooling, tooth and gum problems also indicate health problems. Take a look into your pet's eyes; cloudy or red eyes mean trouble, just as fever and rough and dull coat do.

It is easier, of course, to notice the symptoms of more serious illnesses, most popular of which include: dehydration, inability to urinate, fainting, collapsing, or inability to use its hind legs. These symptoms should alarm you and vet should be called immediately.

However healthy you think your pet is, do not let yourself be blinded by complacency. You can never tell what particular symptoms mean and sometimes it is a matter of minutes if your animal makes it through to the next day.

Symptoms of heartworms in dogs

2012-06-18T08:01:00.001-07:00

It is fairly simple to notice flea infestation on your dog. What is more, once you get about it and are conscientious, it is fairly easy to get rid of it, too. However, there are other different parasites your pet may be infested with, which can lead to severe health problems and which, alas, are not that easily noticeable.

One of such parasites is heartworm. It is transmitted by parasites and, once it has invaded a pet's body, it may take it up to two years before any symptoms are visible. To make things worse, over the first six months no symptoms whatsoever are detectable, even in the vet's lab. Most often, the larvae settles in the heart and only once it has matured will any signs be noticeable. If, although rarely, the larvae end up in unusual areas, such as the eye, brain, or an artery in the leg, different results may be spotted, eg. blindness, seizures or lameness.

Symptoms of heartworms in dogs

Usually, however, the only symptoms that there are are difficult to notice, especially in dogs leading a sedentary lifestyle. One of the earlier symptoms is coughing (particularly after and during exercise), later weigh loss, fainting, counghing up blood and, finally, congestive heart failure.

If you suspect your pet has gone down with heartworms, call the vet immediately. The sooner you get about fighting these parasites, the better. Before any treatment is administered, your dog will have to be evaluated for heart, liver, and kidney function. All this is necessary to determine if the animal is strong enough for treatment.

Once your dog has finished treatment, it needs to rest a great deal for several weeks. This is essential so as to make sure no dead worms break lose and travel to the lungs, where they can cause respiratory failure and the animal's death.

To cheer you up a bit, there is a wide variety of drugs available which successfully prevent heartworm infestation. These include oral pill or tablet (ivermectin, milbemycin oxime) or topical liquid that the owner squeezes from a tube onto the pet's back (selamectin, moxidectin). However, before you start using any medicines, you had better have your dog tested for heartworm and consult a vet.

Flea and tick control for dogs

2012-06-14T16:46:00.000-07:00

Flea and tick control is vital for anyone who wants to lead a bug-free life. You may not be aware of how easy it is for your dog to get fleas. Be it a stray cat, a neighbour's new puppy, a racoon, whatever that walks over your yard and spills one female flea that later recklessly reproduces in your garden, and you have a flea problem at your door.

Naturally, fleas need proper conditions to develop. They like heat, so no wonder that we suffer from flea infestation mostly in the summer months. It does not mean, however, that you need not worry about fleas or ticks in winter. Actually, according to specialists, there are only about 40-45 days in the year cycle when we can totally forget about these pesky creatures. And these days vary dramatically as far as the region is concerned, so you'd better be on your guard.

Fleas and tick like humid, warm places. This means that flea/tick invasions can't be solely blamed on the weather. If there are many moist, darkish places in on your porch, or if your garden is dramatically overgrown and pleasantly humid, in all probability, sooner or later, you will experience flea/tick infestation. It is your task to make your environment as flea/tick-unfriendly as possible.

Still, if you find fleas or ticks on your fluffy pet, do not despair. Actually, ugly and possibly dangerous though they can be, it is in fact fairly simple to get rid of them. You just need to stick to a certain plan and fulfill it in detail.

How to get rid of fleas in your house

2012-05-23T15:57:00.003-07:00

Once you have got rid of the fleas on your dog, then the time is come to rid your house of them. Don't underestimate this stage of the flea removal process. After all, if you fail to clear your surroundings of these insects, they are bound to strike back and you will have to start the whole flea treatment from scratch.

Step 1. Wash everything your pet likes to sleep on and/or spend time regularly. This includes bedding as well as rugs, the throw on the sofa, bathroom rug etc. If these objects are past the power of the washing machine (e.g. are full of accumulated dirt inside, where fleas happily reproduce), just throw them away.

Step 2. Use sprays containing insect growth regulator (IGR) (eg. methoprene or pyriproxyfen), which will prevent the larvae from developing into full-grown blood-thirsty fleas. Room foggers will not be as effective as sprays unless they contain IGR.

Step 3. Vacuum like crazy. Focus on the humid and cool spots which are not exposed to the sun, anywhere that you find dried blood and feces, upholstered furniture and crevices around baseboards and cabinets. After vacuuming, make sure that you seal the vacuum bag and put it in a covered trash container outside so that the parasites won't sneak back to your house. Also, while vacuuming, get your pet out of way to prevent the fleas that are still on your pets from jumping back to where you have just vacuumed.

Step 4. Clear you garden of fleas. Prune foliage and trim grass. In this way you will expose flea larvae to sunlight and leave them to die in pain. Move your dog's kennel, clean and clear all moist places, where fleas may find a place to nest, such as: patios, porches, sheds, stairs and dog houses. Do it all before you start applying stronger substances. When you want to use pesticides, rely on those which you can find in pet stores or at the vet's; give up on any pesticides of unknown origin.
Be particularly careful about any flea-killing treatment with Diazinon. It was banned for use in 2004, yet there are still places where you could purchase it. It is poisonous for humans so before any purchase, read the ingredient list.
Still, there is a vast array of yard anti-flea products available. They're easy to use; attach the product to your garden hose and spray all affected areas. Mind you, never spray toxic substances near flowers or vegetables! As for more natural flea repellents, try scattering slices of lemon, whose smell is a natural deterrent for fleas. There are also flea-repelling plants you could grow (eg. Fleabane Daisy Plant) but you had better consult a veterinarian first.

Step 5. To make sure you have got rid of fleas for good, apply flea control products on your pets at least once a month for the next 60 to 90 days. The flea problem should disappear - unless you keep bringing more fleas into the house, of course.

Fleas on dogs

2012-05-22T16:26:00.003-07:00

The question: “Does my dog have fleas?” has been asked millions of times. Indeed, flea infestation raises a lot of questions. Firstly, how does one figure out that the animal has fleas? Secondly, how does one get about exterminating fleas? And finally: what should be done to ensure that these pesky insects will never come back to haunt us? Well, to find the answers to these questions, just read on.

The species of flea that, as a dog owner, you are most likely to face is the so-called dog flea, Ctenocephalides canis. It feeds on dog and cat blood, though sometimes bites humans, too. Its life cycle consists of 4 stages, whose lengths may differ, depending on the temperature. The cooler it is, the longer it takes for the flea to develop; that is why you most often discover fleas on your pet in the summer.

Ok, you have a funny impression that there's someone else living there on your fluffy friend's skin. What proves your suspicion? If you see your pet scratching and biting itself excessively (especially in areas such as: the head, neck, rear, tail, where fleas particularly like to reside), there's a pretty good chance the beast is flea-infested. Skin lesion, red bumps (from flea biting) and flea excrement will further prove it. As for humans, they usually develop an itching rash with small bumps that bleed. The rash can be found on the armpit or fold of a joint (eg. Elbow, knee, ankle), which, when pressed, turns white.

It is of paramount importance that you combat these parasites as soon as possible because not only are they irksome and ugly, but also pose a threat to your and your dog's health. Problems caused by fleas may range from mild to severe itching and discomfort, flea allergy dermatitis (then the above symptoms are more pronounced + the dog loses hair and its skin gets smelly), even anaemia. What's more, fleas can transmit tapeworms to pets.

Scary though it may sound, flea control is in fact easy to achieve, and if you take the following steps, the ultimate aim of flea-free environment is within your reach.

Natural flea treatment for dogs

2011-05-10T07:14:00.000-07:00

To start with, give your dog a nice bath in a delicate shampoo. Hygiene at this stage is vital, so make sure your dog is washed once a week. You should equip yourself with a special flea comb (a fine toothed one) and comb your pet regularly. It is advisable that you apply petroleum jelly to it so that fleas will stick to the substance on the comb. To see how many fleas are pestering your dog, place the animal on a light-coloured piece of cloth and you will have the dubious pleasure of seeing the fleas falling out of the animal's fur. Sometimes, it is also advisable to use a cotton ball dipped in alcohol and dab it on your pet's body before combing. Fleas and bugs are repelled by several smells and tastes, such as: cider vinegar, lavender, lemongrass, peppermint or citronella, so we advise you to use these oils regularly.

As for natural agents, there are three organic flea killers on the market today. The first group consists mainly of pyrethrin, whose pesticidal properties have been made use of for centuries. Another type is called d-Limonene and is described as a “by-product of the citrus industry” and has a characteristic, grapefruitlike smell, which repells bugs and fleas. The safest of the natural pesticides, however, is Diatomaceousearth, a type of fossilized algae that resembles chalk dust. It penetrates the coating on a flea and causes this nasty parasite to dehydrate and die. It, unlike the first two of the natural agents, is absolutely safe for humans and you don't need so much caution as with the former two.

A different natural approach to removing fleas is through dietary changes. Fleas loathe the smell of garlic, so you can add it to your dog's food (one to three fresh garlic cloves a day mixed with food. You will have to put up with the characteristic smell from your pet's muzzle, though; garlic works there the same way as it does for humans).

Other dietary changes may include giving your pet omega 3 and 6 fatty acid supplements and vitamin B complex capsules. Chelated zinc, which often dogs' diets lack, is essential for healthy skin. Small dogs and cats should get 10 mg of it daily; larger canines - 20 mg. However, you are advised not to make any drastic changes to your pet's diet until you have done careful research and/or consulted a vet.

Bear in mind, too, that these natural methods usually take longer than aggressive pesticides. On average, for these methods to be effective they need to be applied for about a month. By using them, however, you can be sure you are not doing any harm to either your pet or your family.