Help! My Pet Keeps Getting Fleas
Flea prevention in your pet is of the utmost importance. Just as humans are made miserable by mosquito bites, your pet is miserable when they’re battling flea bites. The itching is uncomfortable at best, and it can even be downright painful.
Fleas go beyond being a simple inconvenience; they can also transmit diseases to your pet and to your family. Fleas can get into your carpet and furniture, creating a potentially huge pest problem in your home.
Surprisingly, it’s important to keep up on flea prevention during winter months, when flea activity is relatively tame. Even small breaks in treatment can lead to your pet dealing with the discomfort of fleas.
If you are having trouble getting rid of your beloved pet’s fleas, try some of these tips for keeping your pets flea free all year long.
Flea Tip No. 1: Year Round Monthly Flea Treatment
Don’t skip the flea treatments even during the colder months. Keeping your pet constantly treated will help make sure that eggs that were laid during the late summer and fall months that hatch during the winter do not stay on your pet.
When your pet has fleas, there are many things you need to do, but the number one thing that will ensure the fleas go away (and STAY gone) is to treat your dog with fast acting monthly flea treatment. Be sure that you treat them on the same day of every single month of the year.
Flea Tip No. 2: Treat Your House and Yard
There are many different products on the market that will treat your yard and home for fleas. If your pet has had fleas in the recent past, it is smart to treat both the house and your yard; after all, that’s likely where your pet spends most of their time.
There are foggers you can buy for your house as well as powders. Both take time and patience to use, but while you’re treating your pet with medication, you need to make sure the fleas don’t just hop right back on to them. You also want to make sure you and your family are protected from the complications that can come with flea bites, not the least of which is the awful itching.
Treating the yard for pests is imperative as well. If your pet spends a lot of time in the yard, you’ll want to make sure that is not where the fleas are coming from!
Flea Tip No. 3: Flea Removal On Your Pet
There are a few ways you can get the fleas off your pet. The vet’s office can give them a professional flea bath and brushing, which may be your quickest route to ensure the fleas are completely off of your pet. Professionals also know how to make the flea bath and combing as painless as possible for your furry friend.
You can also use a flea shampoo and/or comb yourself, though it might take a couple of baths and combing. A really good tip to washing your pet yourself is to wet the neck completely and get a good lather on it. This way, the fleas cannot flee to the head and ears to hide.
If you’re still having trouble with flea removal on your pet, call the experts at Academy Animal Hospital for help!