Prevention of fleas, is the best thing. Since you’re looking at this article, you probably forgot flea season was here, or just didn’t know how bad they can become. Be aware, once any dog has fleas, they are 95% guaranteed, to then have worms. You have to treat for both, in sequential order. The treatment for fleas, will be out of the norm for the animal. Never, try to treat for both at the same time, as it would be entirely too traumatic, and unhealthy, for the pet. Wait at least 30 days after your last live flea, to treat for worms.
Flea shampoos bought at your local stores in the pet department, are better than nothing. If there is a heavy infestation, they are just “ok”. You have to follow their instructions religiously. This will include multiple baths, usually 3 to 7 days apart. This is a good thing, as the fleas leave eggs and “flea poop”, that should always be washed away. Many of these drugstore variety shampoos, do not cover the broad spectrum of all stages of a flea. If your pet is repeatedly exposed to a yard, or carpet with the fleas, the shampoos fail to keep the pet, flea free.
You can try the natural route. One of these, is to add Garlic, and Brewer’s Yeast, to their diet. One to three fresh garlic cloves, crushed and added to their water every day will help, if, your animal will drink that water. I have had stubborn dogs, that waited almost two days before they could bring themselves to drink it. Do not wait beyond 15 hours. At that point, give up, dump it, and give them fresh water without the garlic. Better a hydrated pet than one already challenged by pests.
Brewer’s Yeast contains thiamine (Vitamin B). One milligram (1 mg) daily for each five pounds of your pet’s body weight is the aim. For a large dog, 50 to 75 pounds, you might administer one tablespoon of Brewer’s Yeast supplemented with a B-complex vitamin pill. Yeast can also be dusted on the coat, as a flea powder. No harm will be done if your pet licks this.
The Garlic and Yeast worked fabulous for my pets. It carried many dogs through Summers, completely flea and tick free, for years. Another plus, it’s very inexpensive. Then it stopped working. There is the possibility the Garlic and/or Yeast was old when I bought it. Perhaps, in the shared food and water bowls, one or two pets, didn’t get enough.
You can run to your Veterinarian, and pay premium dollars, for flea killing pills and shampoos. I have spent hundreds of dollars in this manner. I followed all instructions, only to have the fleas multiply on the pets, while my bank account depleted. Then there was that creep factor, of, just how many chemicals can I apply to this beloved animal, without poisoning them?
After 20 years of fighting fleas off and on, the best I have found to rid the animal of fleas is three fold.
First, do shampoo the animal with the mild, inexpensive flea shampoos. Follow this up at least every 7 days, for 1 to 2 months, or until you have eliminated the flea area the animal is getting them from.
Second, purchase a product like, Bio Spot Pyrethrin Dip. It is mixed daily, as a spray, and you will liberally, apply to the animal, hopefully with combing afterward, to help pull the fleas off.
Third, when you do have the fleas gone, buy a flea collar, and change them out every 60 days. They advertise they are good for 3 to 7 months. I have never had one hold up that long. They are inexpensive, so you should do all you can to protect your animal.
Through all of these procedures, watch your animal for 2 to 4 hours afterward. If it becomes lethargic, or has seizures, call a Veterinarian immediately. Just like Humans, some animals are allergic to flea treatments.
Some flea collars, dips and shampoos, can kill the animals, because of their sensitivity. This is why it’s better to try to prevent them.
<>
