Nobody likes fleas. Fleas are pests. They spread disease and make everyone in your household uncomfortable. Here are some tips to help you choose the best times for dipping your dog.First, you will want to verify that your dog actually has fleas. Every itchy pet does not mean fleas. Dry skin, rashes, and other skin irritations can also cause your dog to scratch. To inspect for fleas you will need to visually inspect your dog. With a flea comb, gently comb through a section of your dog’s hair starting at the root. In the shed hair that comes away, you might see live fleas or a black, dirt looking substance. The black stuff, known as flea dirt, is actually flea droppings. To distinguish between flea dirt and regular, garden-variety dirt, put some on a white paper towel. Moisten with a few drops of water. Flea dirt turns reddish-brown while no change will be observed in regular dirt. If you do not see flea dirt or fleas, and your dog still seems to be itchy, visit a vet prior to dipping. Your dog may have an underlying problem that needs to be addressed.
Next, consider your dog. Always read product labels carefully for warnings. Commercial flea dips should not be used on very young or invalid animals. Some people believe that if you have cats in the household you should not use dips for the dog, especially if the two animals spend a lot of time together. The chemical used in a lot of the dips marketed for dogs only is highly toxic to cats. In such cases, you might want to consider using a less harsh herbal flea dip or an alternative flea preventative.
Another thing to consider is how your pet is picking up the fleas in the first place. If this was from a one-time visit to the kennel and your dog has never had fleas in his life, then a one-time dip may be the solution for you. On the opposite side of things, if he constantly has fleas and appears to be picking them up somewhere in your own back yard then you will also want to consider some sort of preventative. Dips will kill all of the fleas that are on your pet within 48 hours or so, but remain effective limitedly after that (anywhere from 10 to 30 days, depending on the product). During this time, you will also want to follow standard procedures for removing fleas from your home to prevent re-infection.
To prevent getting fleas again, you will want to take a few steps towards getting rid of them permanently. This means not only treating your pet, but treating your house as well. Flea eggs can fall off your dog and live in carpet, bedding, draperies, etc. As soon as a suitable host walks by, the fleas hatch, and jump right on.
To get rid of fleas in your home, pay particular attention to the areas that your pet frequents. Wash all bedding and draperies. For items that cannot be washed, vacuum the areas and immediately take the vacuum bag outside to prevent the fleas from jumping out again. In severe cases, you may want to consider having your home sprayed. Sprays, however, can be toxic for both people and pets, so you will have to make arrangements to be away from home during that time. Make sure animals that cannot leave (such as aquariums) and food items are covered. Make sure that your home has completely aired out and chemicals have dispersed before you and your pet return.
After you have ensured that all of the fleas in your home are gone, you will want to start a regime of prevention. This could include a regular cycle of dips, approximately once a month or so, used alone or combined with another flea treatment, such as Frontline or Advantage, which are also applied once a month. All pets in your home need to be treated to prevent fleas from hopping from one host to another. Take care in combining flea treatments to prevent overdosing. Always wait a minimum of 48 hours after a dip before applying an additional topical treatment.
With a little work, both you and your pet can enjoy a flea-free lifestyle.
