The biggest enemy of dogs are parasites, both internal and external. Within the latter, one of the most common are fleas. When we see our dog scratching energetically, we raise our hands to our heads, putting ourselves in the worst: the fleas have sunk their teeth.
These insects, although they are tiny – they measure a maximum of 3.5 millimeters – wreak havoc on the well-being of your four-legged best friend. They feed on his blood and cause intense itching, sometimes even pain. In addition, they can cause your pet an allergic reaction, dermatitis, infections or hair loss in the areas where they scratch the most. In the most serious cases, your dog could suffer from anemia from the fleas.
As if this were not enough, fleas infest your home, they roam freely looking for hosts to feed on, both animals and humans. So prevention is key to reduce the risk of suffering from your unwanted visit. However, despite our efforts to repel them, sometimes they attack our dog and it is time to know how to get rid of them.
You will know that your dog has fleas because he scratches constantly and has small pimples on his skin, some of which are white, which are flea eggs; and others of black color, with the feces of these. At the slightest suspicion of infestation by this parasite, it is best to go to the vet as soon as possible so that he can tell you the best way to proceed. And it is that not only do you have to eradicate the flea that bites your dog, but also the eggs and larvae that they lay, as well as thoroughly disinfect your home.
First of all, you must administer to your dog some deworming method, be it the collar, the pipette or a pill. The vet will tell you what is most convenient depending on the severity of your pet’s infestation. In fact, it may be necessary to combine more than one of these methods. You can also use a repellent spray that, distributed throughout the animal’s fur, helps keep fleas at bay. Find out about the range of action of each dewormer, as some only act against the adult flea, while others also prevent the hatching of the eggs.
On the other hand, you should bathe your dog with a deworming shampoo. Next, it will be necessary to comb it with a special comb to remove fleas and eggs. The best thing is that you brush it on an extended towel and wash it with very hot water afterwards, to prevent what you remove from your dog from spreading through your home.
Finally, disinfection and cleaning of the house is key, since fleas and their eggs inhabit any nook and cranny. Spray an insecticide with action against fleas around the house, clean the dust well, vacuum and scrub the floors and textiles to make sure that there are no parasites waiting for another opportunity to climb on the back of your pet.
