How To Diagnose Flea Bites on Dogs

Your dog has an odd behavior and it constantly scratching and tries to bite its tail. These are the first symptoms of dog flea bites. If you look closer on your pet’s skin you would find some tiny red wounds. That is nothing more than flea bites on dogs.

DO FLEA BITES ITCH?

The flea’s bites cause itch and appearing of great number of red spots on the dog’s skin. Actually flea’s saliva releases anticoagulants and it prevents the blood from coagulating. In this manner it has constant supply of flowing blood. Flea’s saliva causes irritation, itch, inflammation and swelling to the skin. The bites of this insects lead to the allergic dermatitis, secondary bacterial infections and, in more serious cases, to severe anemia. The fleas are even able to transfer tapeworm eggs into the digestive system of dogs. Actually it can make the dog weak so that the dog will suffer from many health problems.

FLEA BITE SYMPTOMS ON DOGS

The dog constantly scratches, bites, nibbles and licks its body, especially in the tail end area
You can find tiny red blisters or bumps on the dog’s skin.
You can observe the hair loss in patches.
The intense itch causes the pain and discomfort to the animal.
Secondary bacterial skin infections appear due to excessive biting and scratching

HOW TO TREAT DOG FLEA BITES

First thing to do is to give to your dog a nice bath with cold water. Actually not very cold water just normal water from the tap will do. It will reduce the itch and inflammation.You can also use anti-flea shampoos and soaps, which you can easily get in the pet shops, to rid out of fleas. And of course you can visit a veterinarian, who will prescribe to your dog the medicines from the inflammation and itch. Besides, the wounds can be treated by steroid ointments or hydrocortisone creams.

Now, when you helped your pet to get rid of itch and inflammation, it’s high time to give him a hand with extermination of fleas on its skin. Pay a visit to the veterinarian and him for a flea collar. He will give you advice which collar is more suitable for your pet. It will help to keep the fleas away from your dog. But be careful, because such collars contain many harsh chemicals. Use only those collars, which your veterinarian recommended you, otherwise your pet can have nervous system damage. Moreover, it is highly possible that the vet may recommend some ointments or drops from fleas. Besides, there are oral medicines too, that are very effective. You may also use flea shampoos, flea powders and flea combs to get these nasty insects out of your dogs’ fur.

Keep your lovely pets healthy!

Natural Flea Control – Non-Toxic Alternatives for Cats

If your cat has ever had fleas then you will know it is very uncomfortable for them. Your cat may even itch themselves all day long, which is not nice to watch. Some animals are even allergic to the bites of fleas, so it is vital to get them treated as quickly as possible before it turns into an infection.

There are many options on the pet care market these days of ways to manage your pets fleas, or even completely eliminate them. Natural flea treatments are always at the top of my list, because they do not contain toxic ingredients that may contribute to causing chronic disease in your beloved cat companion.

Tackling fleas head on requires a two-step plan:

Step 1: Tackling Fleas Naturally on your Cat

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Improve Diet & Strengthen their Immune System – At the beginning of any flea treatment routine, just like when looking into other problems your pet may be having, it is always good to look at first supporting the immune system. Having a strong immune system increases your cats chances of being able to fight off any nasties such as fleas and parasites wishing to live off him or her. The best way to do this is to ensure your cats immune system is strong by ensuring their diet is rich in natural foods he or she would eat in the wild. For your cat this should be at least 40% organic protein and the remainder being organic vegetables. Remember fleas are an external parasite, and if your cat can host external parasites there’s a strong chance they have some internal ones too so addressing diet will have a positive effect inside and out.

Foods that can promote a strong immune system for cats are:

Spirulina – A blue green algae from the ocean, that contains a very long list of vital vitamins, minerals and omega’s that may be lacking from your cats diet

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Pet Probiotics – The first part of the immune system actually starts in the gut, from where the food has left the stomach and hits the bowels. So it is vital the bowels are lined with plenty of good bacteria to take care of any bad bacteria that can cause disease or weaken your cats immune system.

Milk Thistle & Dandelion – Two great herbs that promote correct cleansing to take place in the body. The better your cat can cleanse itself of toxins on a daily basis the better its body (and mind) can function for many years to come.

Healthy Weight & Exercise – If your cat is overweight, then your cats body will not be able to cope with the amount of work it has to do on a daily basis, let alone work on cleansing the body of toxins and parasites such as fleas. So, by ensuring your cat gets out enough, or walked and played with daily will go a long way to helping your pet reach its optimal weight. Plus, although exercising itself does not build immune system cells it can help circulate them to where they need to go!

Buy a Flea Comb – Sounds simple enough but not enough people tackle the eggs which are buried right at the root of the animals fur. It is the eggs that are the biggest problem not the adult fleas you see so much. The flea comb can be used dry or at the same time as washing your cat – I would suggest both for best results.

Natural Flea Shampoo – This can help soothe your pets skin and help remove some of the adult fleas.It won’t help much to get rid of the eggs as they seem to cling really well to hair. But you will remove a lot of adults will which stop your pet from being bitten so much.

Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth (DE) – This is a fine flour-like powder, the microscopic remains of fossilized diatoms, a type of algae. It works by dehydrating the flea so no need to use any type of chemical poison on your cat. It should be noted that you MUST buy the FOOD GRADE version of this product as this is the safe and non-toxic version to animals. For best results rub this powder into the pet’s coat after they are bathed and dry, and DE will kill fleas and other pests. Be careful not to breathe in too much of the DE yourself, as breathing in large amounts could cause problems. Available in most countries, simply check your search engine and your area for details of where to find it closest to you. I also like this product because it not only works very quickly, but it is pretty cheap.

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Step 2: Natural Flea Control for your Home

When it comes to fleas, I have found personally that the quicker you act, and the more techniques you use the quicker you will beat the flea problem – for your cats sake and your sanity. Some of these techniques may sound simple and too good to be true, but believe me I have had results with all the above techniques when I was living out in South Africa where fleas are rampant!

Wash Bedding Regularly on HOT – This step alone can make a massive difference to reducing the amount of fleas you have in your house, and therefore how many live off your cat. In the pets bedding will be the flea egg. By washing the bedding several times a week on a really hot wash (i.e. 60 degrees centigrade at least), you will kill off the eggs, and any adult fleas living there.

Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth – As well as applying this to your pet, it should be applied to all clean cat bedding, and around the floors and edges of your home daily to prevent flea eggs hatching. It should also be applied outside in your garden where the fleas will be breeding in the dirt daily also.

Vacuum Regularly – Again, get rid of those eggs before they hatch is the key to this flea ridding process. Remember to empty and rinse the vacuum bag (or change it if it is not a reusable bag) every time you use it else the fleas will simply breed in your vacuum and get out again! We need to contain these bad boys ASAP. Remove any rugs or carpets that you can in the process of getting rid of fleas. These areas are a fantastic breeding ground for fleas.

Feel free to leave a comment and to let us know what worked for you from our selection of natural flea control techniques. Best of luck to you in beating the fleas!

how to get rid of fleas on dogs

Discovering that your pet is infested with fleas could be troubling, a lot of pet owners find it really worry and usually associate flea infestation with inadequate housekeeping. Some other owners find it disturbing that these pests reside in their carpets, beds, floors and furniture. It is important you swing into action immediately after you notice a flea infestation.

Proceed with discovering the “Flea Dirt.”

The first thing you have to do is to be sure whether you have a flea problem or not. Adult fleas can be seen by the human eyes, but they are very small and move around rapidly. In the early stages of infestation, you may not see adult fleas on a dog. However, you could see faeces which are commonly referred to as “flea dirt”. This is an indicator that your dog might be infested. The fleas tend to feed on animal blood which explains why their faeces may contain ingested blood.

Flea dirt can easily be identified on light coloured dogs, for dark dog coloured dogs, it could be more difficult to identify. Using a flea comb on your dog could help to pick out flea dirt particles, including adult fleas on the body of your pet.

Flea dirt looks a lot like ground pepper and sometime could be mistaken for normal dirt. You differentiate flea dirt from real dirt by placing the dirt on a mildly wet white tissue or toilet paper. Flea dirt when in contact with moisture will leave reddish rust like the colour on the tissue or toilet paper which shows the blood of the pet that has been taken in by the flea.

Rule Out Other Types of Bites

Discovering fleas or flea dirt on your pet is a clear indicator that your dog has been infested or has been bitten by a flea. You should also be cautious if you notice that your dog is scratching or biting. There are dogs that suffer from flea allergies and as such get very itching when bitten by a flea or two. In such situation you might not be to see the flea or flea dirt as constant biting, scratching and licking can distort the signs that there are fleas present on your pet.

There is a common notion that dogs scratch as a result of fleas present on their skin, however, this isn’t entirely true. The main cause for allergies from a flea bite is due to the saliva from the flea which is absorbed by the skin of the dog when a flea is taking in the dog’s blood.

Itching could occur anywhere on the dog’s body. However, the most common parts include; the groin, the hind legs, on the skin between the ribcage and the tail. It should also be pointed out that not all dogs have an allergy to fleas, as such lack of itching isn’t an indicator to determine the absence of fleas.

For dogs with thick fur coats, it is quite difficult to notice flea bites. To inspect your dog, make sure to check areas on the skin that aren’t covered with plenty furs like the armpit, and groin for feel bite indicators like raised areas of redness.

Differentiating between a flea bite and mosquito bites or bites from other insects isn’t a walk in the park as most insect bites display the same symptoms. Nevertheless, mosquito bites are singular and can be found at any location on the body, usually take longer to treat and are prevalent in warm climates.

The easiest way to differentiate a flea bite from a tick bite is by discovering a tick on the skin of your dog. Tick bites are a lot similar to flea bites on dogs; they typically have the same appearance and same reaction as flea and mosquito bites. Tick bites tend to develop a raised sore or a scab, whereas scabs develop on flea and mosquito bites as a result of secondary actions like scratching and biting.

What to Do Once You’ve Confirmed Your Dog Has Fleas

Once the presence of a flea infestation has been ascertained, it is essential you take serious steps to address this menace before it escalates. The first step should involve bathing your pet with the aim of removing adult fleas and flea dirt from your dog’ skin. This step does not prevent fleas from re-infesting your dog if they are fleas present in your environment.

If you intend to apply shampoo and other topical flea products, always ensure to take a look at the product instructions as some products should not be applied within two days after bathing your pet.

There are several natural flea remedies for dogs, in addition to home remedies for fleas on dogs that will effectively get rid of fleas on dogs. It is recommended that you consult a qualified veterinary doctor for the best flea treatment for dogs. If you have other pets like cats it also advisable you make use of treatments ideal for cats. Some flea treatment applied for dogs could be harmful to cats. To completely get rid of fleas on dogs you need to effectively treat any pet that is infested.

Asides treating your pet from flea infestation, home remedies to get rid of fleas on your dog should not be left out. One such home remedy involves vacuuming your home and surrounding environment regularly, either weekly or every other day. In addition to vacuuming, you should also endeavour to wash your beddings if your dog usually sleeps on your bed regularly. Engaging the service of an exterminator is also another to go if you require further help. It is important you provide the exterminator with information about all the kinds of pets in your house including birds, fish and reptiles.

Treating your pets carefully in the first instance is the first step to flea control, this approach goes a long way to ensure major flea infestation issues are prevented from occurring in the first place. If for any reason your flea control measures are not effective or adequate to prevent flea infestation, it becomes imperative that you seek ways of adequately dealing with the problem. Consulting your veterinary doctor for advice and guidance on the right products to use should be the next step to take. Making use of sub-standard products could be harmful and a time-wasting venture, making use of the right product and treatment would go a long way to enhancing your chances of getting rid of fleas on your dog.

Protect Your Cat and Home from Fleas

Some common sign to tell if a cat is infested with fleas include restlessness, frequent itching and chewing of the skin. Being able to identify and provide the best flea treatment for your cat would go a long way to eliminating fleas from your cat.

How to tell if a cat has fleas

It is important you carry out a flea check before you proceed with cat flea treatments. The list of guidelines below would assist you in determining if a cat has fleas;

Be on the look-out for any form of movement on your cat’s fur. If you notice tiny bugs coming off her furs. Then there is every possibility your cat might be infested.
Use a flea comb to comb your cat. If there are fleas on your cat, the cat fleas and flea eggs will fall off her body.
Remember to dip your comb in soapy water to kill the cat fleas found on your cat.

How to Prevent/Avoid Fleas

You could use a flea barrier to prevent fleas from settling on your cat’s furry coat. I am sure you are thinking, what is a flea barrier? Flea barriers are products that you put on your cat to prevent fleas from infesting on your car. There are different types of flea barrier, some of which include sprays, traditional dust and shampoos. These products can be purchased from a veterinary doctor or an online store. You could also consult your veterinary doctor, or read through the product label instruction for guidance on how to apply flea barriers on your cat. Most flea barrier products are made with substances that include;

Imidcaclopid
Fipronil
Selamectin

A flea collar that contains both imidacloprid (Seresto) and flumethrin can function properly as a flea barrier.

Cat flea medicines like Nitenpyram (Capstar) which is usually consumed by a cat can kill adult fleas in about 30minutes after consumption without any known side effects. Spinosad (Comfortis) offers 30-day flea protection to help stop the future spread of fleas. This is mainly because it kills the fleas before they begin to produce eggs.

Eliminating Fleas from your Home

A flea can produce as much as 50 eggs daily. These eggs can move from your cat to your couch, carpet or any other place in your house. If the eggs are allowed to hatch, you find yourself with a serious flea infestation at home. Below are some steps that can be taken to get rid of fleas from your home;

Cleaning and vacuuming the house:

Thorough house cleaning and vacuuming is one of the tried and tested home remedies for fleas on cats. Ensure you vacuum your home every day, from your carpet to furniture with cushions down to crevices and cracks found on the floors to take up any egg before they hatch. Vacuuming can also help to eliminate adult cat fleas. It is also important that you remember to dispose of the vacuum’s bag properly and thoroughly wash the container with warm water and detergent when you are done.

In addition to vacuuming daily, ensure you wash your bedspreads, sofa and other fabrics daily immediately they have contact with your cat. Also, ensure you wash with warm water.

Getting rid of difficult Fleas:

If the necessary flea treatment steps have been taken and your cat is still infested with fleas, then it’s time to adopt a more stringent measure like;

Vacate your house, ensure that all inhabitants are taken out of the house, once this has been accomplished, then coat the entire surface in your house with a flea spray. The recommended flea sprays are the ones that contain either pyriproxyfen or methoprene. If you are sceptical about using chemical substances at homey, you could try using a citrus spray. Ensure your house is completely vacant until all surfaces are completely dry.
Ensure all your pets that is if you have more than one are treated for fleas.
Employ the service of a flea professional to help deal with the issue.

Dealing with fleas isn’t difficult as they are quite easy to exterminate irrespective of their quantity. Using the methods listed above should get you free from fleas in no time.