Fleas ride into your homes on the backs of your pet. They burrow into their fur and begin laying eggs. They can lay up to 50 eggs a day! A problem is that these eggs don’t necessarily stick to their backs. They can slide off your pet and right into your home.
You’ve come here because you’re looking for the best way to keep fleas away from your furbabies. Fleas are most commonly known to infect animals of a canine nature but in reality, they’re attracted to any pet that has blood, skin, or hair to hide in.
How Do Fleas Work?
Female fleas will lay eggs that hatch into worm-like larvae. Those larvae will create a cocoon in which an adult flea will emerge from the cocoon. Female fleas can lay up to 500 eggs in their lifetime! And they lay about 20 at a time. This is why its important to kill these fleas before any reproduction begins. Not catching an infestation early will multiply the flea problem. Female fleas can only lay eggs after having a meal. Their meal, of course, is your pet's blood. An adult flea will die if it can’t find blood once it breaks free of the egg.
Just like with most eggs, flea eggs require a warm and humid environment to thrive. The incubation period for fleas is about 12 days. This is why it might be difficult to eradicate some of these bloodsuckers. We all know by now that there is a plethora of methods and products on the market.
Which Type of Flea Product Should I Use?
There are several different application methods for flea removal and prevention. It’s important to get the right stuff for your pet. It’s always best practice to consult your vet before using any products but most of these are pretty self-explanatory. Remember to read all the labels, directions, and warnings before applying any product to your animal.
Flea killing Pills
There are several different brands of pills on the market. This is possibly one of the easiest methods so long as you can get your dogger to swallow a pill. If you struggle to get your pet to chomp down on pills, try hiding it in a pill pocket. Pill pockets are affordable and usually made of peanut butter. So doggos LOVE THEM! After your pet swallows the pill, any flea that feeds on their blood will begin to die. After a certain period, it is recommended that you thoroughly comb through your pet's fur with a specialty comb designed for flea removal.
Flea Collar
Possibly one of the most cost-effective flea removal methods. A flea collar will create an unwelcomed environment for unwanted pests. Flea collars do usually contain toxic chemicals and shouldn’t be used in conjunction with other flea medicine. Just like other flea medicine, collars come in different types based on the size of your pet. Again, it is recommended that you comb out the dead or still alive fleas from your pet's fur.
Topical flea treatment
Another very commonly used and effective method is to apply a topical treatment to your pet. These generally come in liquid form, and per directions, are applied between the shoulder blades of your pet. If this is being applied as removal and not just prevention, you will want to comb your pet to remove any dead fleas.
Flea Shampoo
And finally, the last method for removing fleas from your loved one is to bathe them with special shampoo. These special shampoos are formulated specifically for killing fleas. This method does take a little more effort on the owner. Especially if your pet does not like bath time! If your pet hates bath time then grab yourself a distraction mat for your doggy. They’re cheap, can suction to your bath wall, and can be filled with something like peanut butter.
Your life is now flea-free! And your fur child can get back to their playful lives. Eradicating and preventing flea on your pet is essential to their health. It is recommended that you continue prevention methods every couple of months.
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About the Author
River Rose
Hi! I'm River Rose. I was born in Tennessee and I love to nap and chew up toys. I'm a female German Shepherd. I hope you're enjoying my blog!
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