Dogs & Fleas

Title: Dogs & Fleas
Author: Miss Debra Rae

Fleas have been around a while now and the chances of them
continuing to be amongst us are very good. Unless you live in
Alaska, Antarctica or some other place where there's extreme
cold, fleas are nasty little blood suckers that must be dealt
with swiftly and severely. Remember, it was the fleas on the
rats that spread the black plague.

Fleas are hardy little insects that live from 6-12 months. In
only 1 year, a pair of fleas can produce millions of offspring
that jump from 15-36 inches. This may not seem so impressive
until you realize that if humans could jump like fleas, we would
be leaping over 100 story buildings in a single bound.

There are 4 stages to a flea's life. The first flea stage,
which is about 50% of the population, is eggs. A female flea
lays 15-20 eggs every day. This means she can lay 600 or more
eggs in her lifetime. Phase II of a fleas life is the "Larvae"
stage where the tiny blood sucker develops. This is about 30% of
the population. In Phase III, they're called "Pupae" or
"pre-adults" making up about 15% of the flea population. Phase
IV is full on adult flea, the remaining 5%, that lives off the
blood of your dog or any other warm blooded animal the flea can
bite into including humans. Yuck!

Fleas are tiny, relentless, disease carrying creatures. If your
dog has fleas and it's left untreated, your baby could end up
with severe skin irritations, nasty infections, anemia or even
tapeworms. Not to mention being horribly uncomfortable from the
little creatures biting all day and night.

If your dog is continually scratching, has scabs or dark specs
on their body (which may be flea dirt), has red splotches, hot
spots or obvious severe irritation, they may have FAD (flea
allergy dermatitis). This can become serious literally
overnight, so please see your Veterinarian and get the
medication your canine needs.

On the other hand, your dog may not be scratching at all, but
still may have fleas. Check your dog every day while you're
petting & loving on them. Give them a good brushing too. Most
dogs love it. This is a great way to keep on top of any
potential problems and reinforces the bond you already have with
your canine family member.

To help get rid of fleas on your dog, first give them a bath
with mild flea shampoo in cool (not cold) water (the cool water
calms down irritated skin). Spray on doggie safe hydrocortisone
(this can be purchased from your local pet store, your
Veterinarian, or online) to help with the really sensitive hot
spots and the general discomfort of having fleas continually
biting and multiplying. After your dog is dry you still need to
prevent any future infestations.

To prevent fleas, it's best to get a once per month topical
flea treatment that repels and kills fleas, tics and mosquitoes.
The topical "Advantix" works like a super star. It's placed on
the skin in a few places every month and within 24-48 hours has
completely covered your dog with a protective shield against
fleas, tics & mosquitoes. It's also waterproof after curing so
it's fine if your dog goes swimming or needs a bath. For those
who prefer a more natural approach, there are many products
available for your dog. The natural approach requires more
diligence on your part but can often work well.

Now that you've treated your dog for fleas, it's time to rid
your house and your dog's house of them. Fleas and their eggs
end up on basically everything. The carpet, rugs, beds,
blankets, clothing. Anything your dog had contact with or was
within flea jumping distance. If you don't rid your house of
them now then you have not broken the cycle of flea infestation.
So, since your dog has on their super shield flea repellent,
then the little buggers are going to start looking elsewhere for
fresh blood; like you, your guests or your children.

Generally a good washing of blankets, bedding and clothing in
warm/hot water does the trick. Get some "20 Mule Team Borax" and
mix it with your detergent (fleas don't like borax). You can
also sprinkle borax on your carpets, rugs & upholstery. Leave
for a few hours and then vacuum really well. Be sure to discard
the bag immediately. If your vacuum is bag less then clean out
the container with bleach water. Be sure to discard the filter
after your flea cleaning spree or the fleas, pupae & eggs you
vacuumed up will continue to flourish.

Remember to clean the car and the dog house too!

An alternative to borax for your furniture, carpets, etc. is
"Demize" which is an insect growth inhibitor (IGI) and can be
purchased at most home and garden supply stores or online. Be
sure to read all the instructions carefully. This is a chemical
and must be handled responsibly.

If your dog had fleas, so does your yard. The best way to rid
your yard of fleas is to destroy them with their natural enemy,
"Nematodes". Nematodes are microscopic worms (the good kind)
that kill flea eggs and larvae. This equals 80% of the flea
population. Nematodes are your friend. If you decide on
Nematodes, start in shaded areas (direct sun kills these
wonderful little creatures). You can buy Nematodes at your local
pet supply store or home & garden store. Whichever method you
choose, be sure to break the cycle of flea infestation.

The bottom line: Fleas are nasty, blood-sucking insects that
not only bite and often carry parasites & disease but they
multiply rapidly and get out of control fast. Kill the fleas
now. Treat your dog for fleas now. Do what's best for you and
all your family members. Especially the furry ones. They count
on you to care for them. Do a good job. The rewards are endless.
.

Note: Always talk with your Veterinarian before giving any oral
or topical medications. This is especially critical if your dog
has special needs or any other health issues.

About The Author: Miss Rae has been a poet & writer since
college at UW, class of 1996. Click on over to her site for all
your dog's needs from training programs to nutrition to choosing
a vet, dental health and books galore. Visit
http://www.goodpoopy.com/index.html.

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