subject: Keeping Your Dog Flea Free [print this page] Fleas are so small that chances are you never gave them a second thought until you got a pet. Now that you have one, fleas might be constantly on your mind! It's important that you do all you can to learn about these pests and to get rid of them right away.
Fleas are extremely irritating. They can even become a major problem and cause your pet to constantly itch. These fleas crawl around and cause many different problems. They also bite at will. When fleas bite they are trying to feed and cause a lot of irritation and itching. They can bite your pet as well as you.
Though those things are bad enough, fleas can also cause dangerous medical problems. One is Dermatitis, which is a very common reason that pets end up in the vet's office. It occurs because of excessive scratching or even because of fleabite allergies. Dermatitis can get so bad that it leads to more infection.
Another reason why it's best to keep fleas at bay is because they carry worms from one animal to another. One example is cat fleas, which transmit dog tapeworms. While people are not susceptible it is a big threat to our animals.
Fleas need blood to survive so they hop from one host to another. If you want to examine history, it's important to note that fleas were largely responsible for transmitting the black plague. In fact, fleas are still spreading plague throughout some remote areas of Africa.
So, it's important to never ignore fleas if your pet has them. It is especially important to pay close attention in the warm months because that is when fleas are at their worse.
If you think there are fleas you must inspect your pets fur. Try taking a comb through to look closely. Be careful, fleas are fast movers so you'll need to move fast as well. Additionally, you can look at where your pet sleeps as fleas are often left behind at this location.
If you do find some you need to make sure there are no other areas of your home that are affected. It's important to treat any areas where you do find them. If you're still not sure you have them all you should walk around your house with white socks pulled over your shoes. The fleas will gather on the while part so you can see where they are.
Another trick is to put a dish of water on the floor where you think there is a flea infestation. Then, put a light bulb six inches away from the water and leave the light on in the nighttime. Fleas will be drawn to the light and may drown.
Finding fleas on your pet is a sign that you need to do something fast. Fleas in your home require even more care. Taking action now can help prevent disease in you and your pet later down the road.
