A Small Lesson In Getting Rid Of Fleas

Getting rid of fleas is a burden of pet ownership. Unless you are extraordinarily careful and extraordinarily lucky, all pet owners will be faced with some degree of flea issues. Flea infestations can be minor or can quickly develop into something major. The treatment of the problem differs depending upon on quickly you catch the problem.

The best way to deal with dog fleas is to prevent dog fleas. However, even with the best of intentions and discipline, our pets will at some time come into contact with fleas. The most effective way to deal with fleas is to take a multi-pronged approach. First, you must get rid of the fleas on your pet, Secondly, you must rid the immediate environment of fleas to prevent immediate re-infestation. Lastly, you must re-double your efforts towards flea prevention.

As recently as 10-15 years ago, getting rid of fleas was a tedious and arduous process that involved a lot of combing and picking. Thankfully, the pet health industry has made getting rid of fleas much easier. There are a number of commercially available flea medications that work quickly and effectively. Some of the better known brands include Advantage and Frontline. Your pet will have some relief from fleas within the first 36 hours after taking the medication and the fleas can be totally eliminated within 3-4 days. These solutions are applied topically and are non-toxic to your pet.

As safe as some flea medications may be, there are some people who insist on only using natural methods to get rid of fleas. Whether to use a natural or commercial treatment is a matter of personal taste and lifestyle. The natural methods tend to be more labor intensive and, perhaps, slightly less effective. Two common natural remedies involve using olive oil and talcum powder to rid your pet of fleas. If your dog is not suffering too badly, it would not hurt to try a natural remedy first. If the infestation is sever, then it is wise to start with a remedy obtained from your vet.

As previously mentioned it is critical that you also get rid of any lingering fleas in your house. The extent of house cleaning will depend on the extent of the infestation. At the very least all areas where the animal sleeps must be vacuumed or even stem cleaned. All bedding, blankets, and linens that have come into contact with the animal must be washed.

An ounce of prevention is the best remedy and the same can be said for getting rid of dog fleas. Some dog owners add some crushed garlic to their pet's food and swear this is the best flea prevention method. Other people do not want to give their pet's garlic for health reasons. Speak to your vet about what flea prevention methods might be right for you.

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