4 Ways to Help Prevent Fleas on Dogs in Boynton Beach, FL
Fleas are not fun! They harbor bacteria and can aid in your dog developing rashes and infections. These little bugs are tiny and typically are shorter than one inch. They hop and jump from one host to another. Fleas not only live in your dog’s skin and coat, but they also feed on your dog’s blood.
Most of the time, fleas are an inconvenience, but not life-threatening. While this is the case, your poor dog suffers because of them. As fleas bite and move around, your dog feels itchy and scratches. Although treating and getting rid of fleas isn’t impossible, it is better to prevent them from finding a home in the first place.
Listed below are 4 ways to help prevent fleas on dogs.
1. Take Precautions Over the Summer
Fleas are especially active during the summer. When they do not have a dog or cat host, they typically lay eggs and live in tall grasses. The humidity and heat help them thrive, but they struggle to find a place to stay out of sight. While walking your dog in the summer, stay away from tall grasses!
In rainy places, the summer is humid and a great time for grass to grow long. The long grass, however, hides fleas and their eggs. If you allow your dog to run through an open field with long grass, then it is possible for the fleas and eggs to attach themselves to your dog’s fur.
Over the summer, you should add treatments to your dog’s coat that makes it hard for fleas to attach themselves. Topical medications in the form of a cream or liquid penetrate your dog’s first layer on skin. The medication spreads throughout your dog’s coat and repels fleas as the chemicals are toxic to them. Topical treatments both kill fleas and prevent them from making a home in your dog’s fur.
2. Frequently Groom Your Dog
Every dog has their own form or grooming. If you have long haired dogs, for instance, you may take them to get their hair cut or trimmed at least once a month. Dogs with short hair do not need haircuts, but they do need to be groomed!
Fleas are common on dogs who receive little to no brushing. If you brush your dog’s fur, then any fleas or eggs are disturbed. They are less likely to stay on their host if there is a hard comb or brush going through the dog’s skin and coat.
The same thing goes for washing. While not all dogs need frequent baths, if your dog goes outside a lot, they need to be washed at least once a month with shampoo. There are a few shampoos out there that use tea tree oil and other ingredients to prevent and get rid of fleas. These little bugs don’t like clean fur and you can drown them.
3. Lawn Care
Fleas are very contagious! They jump from one place to another in just a matter of seconds. If you have a big backyard and let your dog run around, you need to care for your lawn to prevent or get rid of fleas. Since they hide in tall grass, one of the most important things you can do to prevent fleas on your dog is to mow the grass!
Mowing the grass is only part of the battle though. You can also sprinkle diatomaceous earth on your lawn. You can find this in a powder or liquid form. It is a natural substance that interestingly only kills bugs, but not grass or animals. This will kill and prevent more fleas from hiding in your lawn.
If you have any furniture with cloth or fabric, you should also take the necessary steps to clean it! If there are any fleas left, just one can cause an outbreak on your dog’s fur, especially if they are carrying eggs. Wash all cloth with hot water to get rid of any eggs or fleas.
4. Limit Your Dog’s Time Outdoors
Your dog probably loves to play outside! While this may be true, spending too much time outside can lead to exposure. Some dogs are prone to skin infections and are allergic to fleas. If your dog suffers from either condition, you need to be careful and vigilant.
Only schedule puppy play dates with dogs that you know don’t have fleas. This is not always possible, but not impossible either. If you notice dogs scratching themselves harshly when you are at the dog park with your puppy, you may need to reconsider taking them. Since these small bugs jump from host to host quickly, it is hard to prevent your dog from catching the fleas. Limiting your dog’s outside time should be your last resort as dogs need plenty of exercise and socialization to live a long and healthy life.
Contact Your Veterinarian in Boynton Beach if Your Dog Has Fleas
It’s never fun to watch your dog scratch and bite themselves because of leaping fleas. These tiny parasitic bugs make their home in dog’s skin and coat, laying dozens of eggs. They are highly contagious and cause uncomfortable symptoms.
Thankfully, they are easy to kill and treat. Once you get rid of fleas, you should look into preventing your dog from catching them again. It is not always possible to prevent your dog from catching fleas but you can make changes like: taking extra precautions over the summer, caring for your lawn, grooming your dog frequently, and limiting your dog’s outside exposure.
Contact your veterinarian at Colonial Animal Hospital or Colonial Gateway Veterinary Center if you have any additional questions or concerns about fleas on dogs. Our compassionate teams in Boynton Beach, FL. offer the highest quality of care for your pets.