Owning a dog can be very fulfilling; the amount of joy he will bring into your life is immeasurable. But living with flea-infested dogs can be a challenge. Other than being a bother, fleas can cause numerous health complications for both you and your furry pal.
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Fleas feed on blood, and they can jump from one mammal to the other, laying eggs. These wingless insects can transmit numerous infections, including myxomatosis and plague. Fleas can also lay their eggs on your carpets and furniture, among other places they can access.
Fortunately, there are several chemical products in the market to help you combat this infestation. But if you are not comfortable with exposing your pooch to all these chemicals, you should opt for more natural methods. So here are some of the best ways to get rid of fleas.
1. Wash Him Using Medicated or Enhance Dog Shampoo
While there are several natural methods of enhancing your dog shampoo out there, nothing beats the tested and proven medicated flea shampoo for dogs. Remember, even though your dog didn’t have sensitive skin before, the infestation can change that. These small insects can bite your dog and leave red bumps all over his skin. Their bites can be very itchy, and excessive itching, licking, and biting can result in bacterial infections.
The best solution for this issue is washing him using medicated or enhanced dog shampoos. Medicated shampoos have the right combination of active ingredients that can help you combat this infestation. They can also disinfect any part of his body that he might have injured while scratching himself. Most of these shampoos have oatmeal, coconut extract, lanolin, and soothing aloe; therefore, they will not irritate his skin. Instead, they will protect his coat from flea larvae and eggs for about 4 weeks.
However, these medicated shampoos are recommended for dogs that are at least 12 weeks old. Therefore you can try and wash your puppies with an enhanced shampoo. All you have to do is add a few drops of lemon or lavender essential oil to your shampoo, and you are good to go.
2. Mix a homemade flea repellent
One of the best natural ways to get rid of fleas is by spraying your dog with a homemade repellent. You can spray his entire body, particularly around the head, under the armpits, and behind his ears. However, you have to be very careful not to spray this repellent on his genitals or eyes. Here are some quick recipes you can try:
Lemon Spray
Slice two lemons into small pieces and put them in your saucepan containing a liter of water and boil for an hour. Remove it from the heat and allow it to cool overnight before pouring this liquid into your spray bottle.
Aromatherapy Spray
Aromatherapy spray can treat flea infestations and prevent future occurrence while soothing your dog’s skin naturally. To prepare this solution, you can use almond oil as the base and then add a few drops of lavender oil, myrrh oil, bay laurel oil, geranium oil, lemon eucalyptus oil, and Atlas cedar oil.
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Ask a Vet Live Now3. Prepare a Rosemary Dip
Even though chemical flea dips are effective, they might not be safe for your furry pal. Therefore, you should use Rosemary dip instead of a chemical one. A Rosemary dip can be a great alternative if your pooch loves playing in the water. All you have to do is steep some rosemary for 30 minutes in boiling water. Strain the solution and mix it with a gallon of warm water.
Once your mixture is lukewarm, you can pour it all over your pooch and rub it on his coat until it reaches his skin. Remove the excess using a towel and allow his coat to air dry. Repeat this process every day until you get rid of this infestation.
4. Use a Natural Flea Collar
If you don’t want to purchase a flea collar, you can make one at home. A homemade collar is the best method of protecting him from flea constantly without having to rub or spray anything on his coat. Just pour some drops of cedar oil or lavender oil in water and apply the mixture on his collar. This natural method will repel flea, but make sure you apply this mixture at least once a week.
5. Use a Flea Comb
Flea combs don’t have any chemicals in them; therefore, they are very safe. These combs were designed to get rid of fleas and eggs, and it’s the best option if the dog is already infested. So, before using any natural remedy on your pooch, make sure you brush his coat using this comb.
If you don’t have a flea comb, you can dip your normal comb into freshly squeezed lemon juice and then brush his coat. Lemon is known and loved for its ability to repel flea, and it is harmless to you and your dog.
6. Sprinkle Diatomaceous Earth All Over Your Carpets
Diatomaceous earth is one of the best solutions for killing all the flea eggs on your carpet. Since vacuuming alone cannot get rid of all the flea eggs on your carpet. You can sprinkle this powder on your carpet and leave it there for two days. Make sure no one walks in that region for 48 hours before you vacuum it. This powder can dry out and kill all flea eggs on your carpet, making sure you will not have another round of flea infestation in your house.
7. Machine Wash Everything
The first thing you should do after noticing fleas on your pooch is washing everything in your house. Start by gathering all the furnishings in the home, particularly where your dog spends most of his time. This includes mats, pillows, towels, and blankets, among others. And put them in your washing machine and wash them. This job can be a tedious task, but it is the first major step to combating this infestation. Another thing you can do is put all the soft furnishings in a tumble dryer for 15 minutes. A tumbler dryer can kill all growth stages of the flea, including adult flea, larvae, and eggs.
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Tom
Tom has always loved to write since he was little - he wanted to be either a writer or a veterinary doctor, but he ended up being a professional writer while most of his works are based on animals. He was born in San Francisco but later moved to Texas to continue his job as a writer. He graduated from the University of San Francisco where he studied biotechnology. He is happily married and a soon to be father!
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