Best Flea Treatment For Dogs: What Are Your Options?
If you are considering the best flea treatment for dogs, you will need to weigh a number of factors: how many dogs you have, whether your dog has an allergy to fleas, how many fleas your dog has, whether you are trying to prevent fleas or get rid of an infestation, and whether your home and yard need to be treated. There are many excellent flea treatments available to do but you do need to choose one that is appropriate for your dog and your situation in order to achieve the best results.
What Are The Options?
When it comes to blest flea treatment for dogs, there are a number of options available to you. They include topical, spot-on treatments which have been introduced to the market in the last few years; flea sprays; flea powders; and flea collars. You can also choose to use natural or herbal flea treatments. In many cases you will need to treat your home and yard at the same time you use one of these treatments for your dog. Your choice of treatment will often depend on whether your dog is already infested with fleas, what part of the country you live in and how bad the flea situation is there, and other factors.
Topical Application
In recent years topical flea preventives have been introduced to the pet market. These products, such as Frontline Flea Preventive and Advantage Flea Treatment, are liquids which are poured on the dog’s skin in a spot such as between the shoulder blades. One dose usually lasts a month (or longer). These products begin acting quickly to kill adult fleas and prevent new fleas from getting on your dog. They are very effective and very popular.
Oral Flea Preventives
There are also some oral flea preventives. These include Capstar and Program. Capstar begins killing fleas immediately and all fleas on your dog are dead within a few hours. It is used in cases of severe flea infestation. However, Capstar must be given daily to continue to work. Program is a growth inhibitor. It is given monthly and prevents fleas from reproducing. It breaks the flea’s life cycle. It does not kill any fleas that are currently on your dog.
Flea Sprays
Flea sprays have been used for a long time. Most of them are pyrethrin-based (pyrethrins are found in some flowers which are natural insecticides). Flea sprays can be effective in controlling fleas but you will need to re-use them regularly. They need to be used in conjunction with flea shampoos and other products to kill fleas on your dog.
Flea Powders
Like flea sprays, flea powders are usually pyrethrin-based. They also can be effective in killing fleas and keeping them off your dog. They need to be used in conjunction with other products to keep your dog free of fleas.
Flea Collars
Flea collars can sometimes be effective in protecting your dog against fleas, but they are not always as effective as other methods.
Environment
If your dog has fleas you will need to treat your dog and his environment. This means that you need to wash his bedding in very hot water. You should vacuum your home to remove fleas and empty the container outside the home. You can use borax or diatomaceous earth on carpeting or hardwood floors to dry out fleas and kill them, then vacuum them up. Use diatomaceous earth (garden grade, not pool grade) sprinkled throughout your yard to dry up and kill fleas. The diatomaceous earth has a rough edge that strips the exoskeleton from the fleas and exposes them.
Natural Flea Treatments
In addition to treating your home and yard, you can use natural flea treatments for your dog if you prefer. You can make a citrus flea spray by slicing a lemon and pouring hot water over it. Place a sprig of rosemary in the water with the lemon and allow it to sit overnight. Remove the lemon and rosemary the next day. This makes an effective natural flea spray.
The best flea treatment for dogs always depends on what’s best for your dog. Consider your situation, your dog, and all of the options and then you can make the best choice.
Related posts:
