How to get rid of fleas on pets

There are no completely indifferent people in the world, there are inattentive people. Everyone worries about some animal. Almost every person has a little furry friend at home. Also, we have never met people who would pass by small cheerful kittens or puppies indifferently. But even such carefree kids can be bothered by big problems - fleas. It is so pleasant, warm and satisfying for them to live in the fur of such babies.

As soon as the owner finds such parasites in his pets, he immediately looks for a lot of ways to help them. It is necessary not only to remove fleas, but also to ensure that they do not appear again. After all, these parasites bite your little friends painfully, cause unpleasant itching and can infect your pet with some serious viral diseases.

Fleas on dogs

Dogs need to be walked regularly, so the risk of picking up parasites is high. This usually occurs upon contact with a source of spread (basement, entrance) or with a stray dog. Stray animals are carriers of all kinds of parasites and diseases, so do not allow your pet to come into contact with homeless relatives. The easiest way to protect your dog from fleas is to wear a special collar that repels pests with its composition, but this is only a preventive measure.

Prevention of infection

Preventive measures will help to avoid flea infestations and subsequent control of them. Dog owners should inspect and wash their pets more often, as they are outdoors every day and come into contact with other animals. But it is also recommended that owners of domestic cats periodically treat their pets and their resting places with special products.

The house should be wet cleaned regularly - parasitic insects do not like to live in clean areas. It is better not to keep the door to the entrance open, then the fleas will not have time to jump into the apartment. Pet owners should take care of their clothes and shoes and clean them after being outside.

Fleas on cats

Although usually a cat seems to be a peaceful domestic inhabitant who never leaves the apartment, some cats really like to escape into the entrance hall, where they can pick up parasites on their fluffy fur. The consequences of such a walk appear after a few hours; the pet begins to actively itch, but cannot eliminate the cause of the itching. Sometimes traces of scratching become red, six in these places fall out, and occasionally it comes to bleeding scratches. Try not to let your cat into the entrance or onto the street, and make trips to the veterinarian using a carrier.

The danger of advanced cases

Fleas don't just cause trouble for dogs and cats with their bites. They are carriers of more than 20 types of dangerous diseases. These include: hepatitis, pseudotuberculosis, plague, typhoid fever, dermatitis, listeriosis, tularemia. In addition, people can easily contract many diseases from their pets.

In advanced cases, the eyes of a cat or dog begin to water, a rash, small pustules and blisters appear on the skin. Without proper treatment, they burst and turn into ulcers and scabs. Over time, sensitive individuals develop allergic reactions. Incessant itching causes the animal to constantly scratch itself, which leads to the appearance of bald patches and bloody sores.

Advanced flea infestation can lead to anemia. At the same time, the pet becomes lethargic, looks tired and loses weight, and its gums turn pale. Very young and elderly individuals suffer most from anemia. Treatment for this dangerous condition is prescribed by veterinarians.

Symptoms of fleas in an animal

At first, fleas may not show themselves, so it may seem that they appeared “out of nowhere.” If your pet begins to actively and incessantly scratch, this is the first alarming sign. Restlessness, licking and combing fur until bald spots are a clear sign of fleas. Examine the area where you scratched, see if there is any redness or scratches, and treat the affected areas. Spread the fur with your fingers in several places and you can determine the presence of fleas. How to save your pet from suffering?

How to remove parasites

Your dog should be treated for fleas immediately and the treatment should be comprehensive. You should not try to simply eliminate the itching, you need to make efforts to fight the parasites.

Advice . Before purchasing a flea remedy, you need to study the features of the product. Thus, many products are suitable not only for eliminating common dog parasites, but also for preventing the appearance of fleas. And the latter painfully bite not only animals, but also people.

Shampoo

Flea shampoos
are especially popular for bathing young dogs, because not every adult dog approves of water treatments. Most shampoos contain insecticides and natural herbs.

The first option is more toxic and kills parasites much faster and better. The downside of shampoos is possible side effects (stomach upset, vomiting, allergies). The owner must carefully ensure that during bathing the foam from the shampoo does not get on the pet’s eyes or mucous membranes.

Natural shampoos are used for prevention - they help wounds heal easier and make dogs' coat silky and healthy. The result will be more noticeable if other means to get rid of fleas are used along with natural shampoo.

The most popular flea shampoos among dog owners are Bars, Lugovoi, etc.

Spray

They are easy to use - you only need to spray the sprays over your pet’s withers. However, this method of treatment can be potentially dangerous for the animal if the dog begins to lick itself. The result may be adverse reactions: allergies, vomiting, weakness.

The procedure is carried out in a thoroughly ventilated room or outside. It is better for the owner to use rubber gloves during processing. The treated area should not be touched for 24 hours (it is especially important to instill this in children who love to play with their pet). During the treatment period, the owner is strictly prohibited from sleeping in the same bed with the pet.

The most popular flea sprays are “Bars”, “Beaphar”, “Hartz”, “Frontline”, etc. The latter option is suitable for removing fleas even from newborn puppies.

Drops

This product is suitable for both small (for example, Spitz) and large breeds of dogs (shepherd, St. Bernard) and is considered more effective in comparison with shampoo and spray.

Flea drops are distributed on the pet's withers in the amount specified in the instructions.

Important! The dog should not lick the applied drops!

When the active substance in the drops enters the bloodstream, it destroys fleas. During this period, the dog cannot be bathed. As a rule, the result lasts for a month, then the treatment should be done again.

Advice . Not all drops are considered safe and harmless. To prevent poisoning of your pet, it is important to discuss the choice of drops with your veterinarian.

Often dog owners choose “Barrier”, “Insectal”, “Blokhnet”, “Advocate”, “Practik”, “Advantix”, “Bars Forte”, “Clandestine”, “Inspector”, “Frontline” and so on.

Read more in our article: TOP 8 best drops for fleas and ticks in dogs

Collar

A flea collar
is considered the most effective option. Its main advantage is continuous action. At the first sign of fleas, a collar is put on your pet. This product protects the dog from getting the active substance into the bloodstream - the animal can even wash and swim. No additional processing is required.

However, flea collars also have disadvantages:

They are not suitable for puppies under six months of age and dogs over 10 years old.
Some samples are highly toxic, so you cannot wear them all the time.
Accessories are not suitable for pregnant or lactating dogs.
Continuous wearing of a collar in some cases provokes dermatitis.

The most popular options for dog collars are Hartz, Bars, Celandine, Rolf Club, Foresta, etc. Products are also sold that can repel parasites with ultrasound, but they are not recommended for use in combination with other products.

Powder

One of the main advantages of flea powder is its low price. The main disadvantage is the duration of treatment (from 14 days). Before use, you should check the dog's reaction to exclude possible skin reactions.

In some cases, the powder provokes side effects (dermatitis or allergies).

Pills

Chewable flea tablets are not as common as other products. The principle of their action is simple: the tablet is placed in the animal’s food. After some time specified in the instructions, the procedure is repeated.

Many dog owners do not rely on tablets because they believe they do not completely remove fleas, but only reduce their numbers. Side effects from taking the pills may include allergies and stomach upset.

The most popular tablets for dogs with an anti-flea effect: “Sentinel”, “Comfortis”, “Capstar”, etc.

Folk remedies for fleas for pets

To rid your pet of fleas, you can use the following safe folk remedies:

Sagebrush. This product is completely natural and does not contain toxins. To prepare the decoction you will need one tablespoon of wormwood and boiling water. The herb is poured with hot water, after which the decoction should steep for several hours, and, of course, cool. The resulting mixture must be rubbed into the fur and skin of the animal.
Eucalyptus leaves or tansy are suitable for the same method . But plant decoctions are most often used as prophylactic agents. If there are a large number of parasites, then they will not help here.
If the infestation is severe, you can prepare a saline solution . Mix table salt and water in equal parts. The solution should be used to treat the carpets in the house, as well as the pet itself. The mixture should be left overnight and cleaned from the carpets in the morning using a vacuum cleaner. Pets are simply combed well to remove parasites.
Fleas have an extremely negative attitude towards the pine smell . For pets, you can make special beds filled with spruce or pine shavings, and you can add dried wormwood to it.
Using 3% vinegar essence and cologne , you can also get rid of parasites. The mixture is applied to the pet’s fur, and the animal is covered with polyethylene for several hours, excluding the head. After 30 minutes, the fleas need to be combed out over a basin and the contents poured into the toilet.
Salt water may also help. You will need 1 pack of salt per bucket of water; you need to dissolve it well and then bathe the animal. Salt can be replaced with wormwood decoction , but you need to carefully ensure that the liquid does not get into the pet’s mouth.
Along with bathing, you can treat the animal with tar or laundry soap .

Symptoms of infection and self-diagnosis

The bites of blood-sucking parasites cause irritation and severe itching of the skin in pets, in some cases accompanied by an allergic reaction. As a result, the animal begins to intensively lick the fur, and some of the fleas are removed. Therefore, it is sometimes difficult to understand that a cat or dog is suffering from fleas - the parasites jump on the animal only while feeding.

If you suspect something is wrong, you need to monitor your pet’s condition. If he is attacked, he begins to itch frequently and sharply, most of all in the area of the head and tail. The animal tries to bite insects, sometimes directly biting into itchy places on the body.

The skin in the affected areas becomes irritated and small red bumps and crusty areas may appear along the back and neck. The hair begins to fall out more intensively, and in advanced cases, bald patches appear. Fleas are carriers of helminths, so the presence of worms in an animal's feces indirectly indicates infection by insects.

Signs of fleas on an animal.

Having appeared in the house, parasites spread throughout its territory - they hide in carpets and other woolen products. The pet cannot hide from them anywhere, and its behavior changes. Owners of a cat or dog can recognize attacks by blood-sucking insects by the following signs:

the animal avoids its usual sleeping place;
becomes irritable and restless;
shakes his head vigorously;
suddenly jumps up;
makes plaintive sounds or growls.

You can detect insects using a white cloth and a special comb, the teeth of which are arranged in such a way that fleas get stuck in them, or a comb with fine teeth. The pet is placed or laid on a cloth and its fur is combed from head to tail.

Increased attention is paid to areas on the inside of the paws, the back of the neck and at the base of the tail, where insects most often hide.

During the procedure, either fleas themselves are found in an infected animal - brown insects with a flattened body 2-4 mm long, or their eggs and excrement, which look like a mixture of white and black grains. A drop of water should be applied to the suspicious material. If it contains flea excrement, then when wet, the black grains will turn dark red because they contain blood cells. If there are no signs of infection, but the symptoms do not disappear, you should consult a veterinarian.

Flea Control Chemicals for Pets

It is not always possible or convenient to use folk remedies, or you need to immediately get rid of annoying parasites, then chemical compounds come to the rescue. They come in different forms and methods of application, they are very effective, but they must be used with great care! We list the main flea remedies for dogs and cats.

Anti-flea collars are suitable as prevention , but it is worth remembering that they have a limited validity period, usually several months. As the expiration date comes to an end, you need to buy a new collar. Cats are harder on collars than dogs, so this method is not suitable for everyone.
There is a remedy similar in action to a collar - drops . They are applied to the animal’s withers, which will prevent it from licking off the active substances that repel and destroy fleas. The drops are quite effective and easy to use.
More gentle means are powders . They contain a minimal amount of insecticides. Treatment with flea powder needs to be carried out several times, and its validity period is minimal, so it is not in great demand among pet lovers.
Spray against fleas contains many insecticides and other harmful substances, so its effect is maximum, pests are eliminated instantly. But don't overdo it! Follow the instructions on the package, spray the required amount from the bottle and rub it into the dog or cat's fur. In order to protect your animal from chemical poisoning, wear a special collar to prevent licking of the fur. Spray the substance carefully, do not inhale its vapors and do not get it in the eyes of yourself or your pet!

Drops "Clandestine" for dogs and cats

This is a product with an insecticidal composition that does not irritate the animal’s skin when applied. Flea celandine is available in the form of dispensing pipettes and is effective immediately after use. Its components are effective for about two months.

Disadvantages of the drug:

Allergic reaction in a pet;
The animal must not lick the product from its fur;
The drug should not be used on puppies or kittens up to eight weeks old, or on sick or pregnant pets.

The rules of use and dosage are clearly indicated in the instructions for use.

Attention:

You can get rid of pests with maximum results if you treat both your pet (especially its place) and the entire room.
Do not bathe the animal for several days after treatment.
Wearing a flea collar and treating with Celandine drops are incompatible.

DIY flea shampoo

If you do not trust the composition of the flea shampoo sold in the pet store, or do not want to overpay, prepare your own anti-flea shampoo. For this you will need:

baby soap;
medium sized onion;
egg yolk;
calendula or chamomile.

The soap is grated using a coarse grater and filled with warm water. The resulting mixture must be brought to a boil to obtain a mass similar in consistency to jelly. You also need to add the grated onion there. Boiled chamomile (can be replaced with calendula) and egg yolk are poured into the finished product and mixed thoroughly. Lather the pet with shampoo, cover it with polyethylene and leave it for half an hour. Then everything is thoroughly washed off.

Risk factors

The fleas that infect cats live in the grass. From there they jump on warm-blooded animals and feed on their blood. These blood-sucking parasites live on all continents, even Antarctica. A cat can become infected with fleas at any time of the year.

It is important to remember the reasons why a cat is at risk of contracting parasites:

A cat that goes outside will definitely become infected with fleas. Therefore, you should not let your pet walk on its own.
Unlike cats, domestic dogs should be walked 2-3 times a day. If a dog brings fleas home, then all other animals will pick them up. All pets should be treated for fleas regularly.
A person can bring fleas into an apartment on his shoes or outerwear. Only regular treatment with anti-flea products will protect your pet.
If the cat already had fleas, but the owner did not treat the pet, then the parasites will soon appear again. Fleas lay eggs in animal fur. New parasites can hatch from these eggs at any time.
Fleas that have already entered the apartment will settle in the thick carpet. All carpets and cat beds should be thoroughly vacuumed.
Fleas multiply especially actively in the heat, so in the summer you will have to treat your cat several times.

Flea infestations often lead to serious complications that are detrimental to the health of cats. Flea bites always cause severe pain and excruciating itching, and also provoke the development of dangerous diseases.

Complications of flea bites:

Anemia is a condition in which a cat does not have enough blood due to a large number of parasites. The level of hemoglobin in the blood is greatly reduced. It develops when cats are not treated for fleas. Street animals are most often affected. Very young kittens, as well as weakened, sick and elderly animals can die from anemia.
Flea dermatitis is an allergic reaction to the saliva of parasites that enters the skin during a bite. The pet experiences severe skin irritation, so the cat constantly licks. Her hair falls out and her skin becomes crusty. Infection easily penetrates damaged skin, which can lead to blood poisoning.
Infectious diseases - fleas can infect pets with bartonellosis or rickettsia.
Tapeworms - by licking, a cat can swallow fleas infected with tapeworms. Because of this, worms will begin to multiply in the intestines, the pet’s well-being will worsen, and then it will have to be treated not only for fleas, but also for worms.

Parasites are especially dangerous for pregnant and lactating cats. Fleas can harm not only the mother, but also the future offspring. But during pregnancy and lactation, you cannot treat your cat with anti-flea agents, because they are toxic. Treatment must be carried out before mating.

Up to 200 fleas can live on one cat. A caring owner should treat pets for parasites 4 times a year - every 3 months. If your cat has fleas, you need to carry out additional treatment.

We recommend the article: What to do if a cat has lichen?

Appearance of parasites

Knowing what fleas look like is necessary to distinguish these parasites from other types of arthropods, such as ticks.

A flea is a wingless, blood-sucking insect that parasitizes animals and feeds on their blood. The body shape is oval, slightly flattened at the sides.

The parasite has 2 pairs of short legs and elongated hind legs, with the help of which the insect can push off, making long jumps. Body color: brown or black, 2-5 mm long.

On the small head there is a sharp proboscis, with which the parasite easily pierces the skin of the victim.

At the moment of the flea bite, it injects an enzyme that prevents blood clotting. The body of the parasite is covered with bristles, which helps to hold the animal's fur.

Upon reaching sexual maturity, the flea begins to lay eggs, from which worm-like larvae hatch after a few days. After several molts, they become adults.

The entire cycle lasts about 2 weeks and can increase under unfavorable living conditions.

Turn on the vacuum cleaner

If you don't use a vacuum cleaner often, the fleas that appear on you will force you to change this habit.

Regular vacuuming of carpets and upholstered furniture reduces the number of fleas and their eggs, as well as cracks in wooden floors, curtains and upholstered furniture. He also catches them under furniture.

Be sure to vacuum all areas where your pets sleep and eat. Throw away vacuum cleaner bags immediately to prevent fleas from getting back into your home or apartment.

Vacuum frequently in the areas of your home or apartment where you and your pets spend the most time, such as the living room, kitchen, and bedrooms. Otherwise, do this once a week.

If a regular vacuum cleaner isn't enough, try sprinkling salt or baking soda on your carpet or furniture first. Salt and baking soda can harm fleas by cutting them and drying them out. Some people use them together. Leave it for 24 hours or up to a week before vacuuming.

If you have a serious flea infestation, steam clean your carpets. The heat will kill the insects, but not all the eggs. They may survive this attack and hatch later, and you may have to steam clean everything again.

In very severe cases, you may want to consider calling an exterminator. Just make sure whatever you do to get rid of fleas is safe for you and your pets.

Anti-flea solutions

Flea solutions are used if pets are infected with fleas. A certain amount of the product is diluted in water, and then the solution is applied to the animal’s fur. These products are very potent, and this is their advantage, because fleas will not have a chance to survive on the animal’s body after such an “attack”, but there is also a huge disadvantage - if used incorrectly, the animal can be poisoned.

It is important to observe all proportions depending on the age, size and weight of the animal; you should not increase the dosage for greater results, this can lead to dire consequences.

Do not use if the pet is too small, sick or pregnant.

Herbal remedies

Sagebrush

Silver wormwood is used against fleas. Thanks to the leaves and stems of a silvery color, this species is distinguished from common wormwood, which does not act on fleas. But it is worth considering that wormwood slightly stains white fur with a greenish tint.

Chopped grass (1 tbsp) is poured with vodka (1 glass). After 2 weeks of infusion with periodic shaking, the tincture is rubbed into the dog’s skin. It is also added to water when washing floors, and sprayed on areas where parasites accumulate.

Garlic

Wormwood and garlic are effective against fleas. 20 grams of dry herb (or 40 g of fresh) are poured with boiling water (0.5 l) and boiled for 15 minutes. Cool.

Chop a couple of cloves of garlic, add 0.5 liters of cold water and leave overnight to infuse. In the morning, a decoction of wormwood and garlic tincture are combined. The resulting product is used to wipe the dog's fur. Garlic is toxic to her, so her attempts to lick the fur should be stopped.

Garlic infusion can be used to separately wipe the head and neck area so that the dog cannot lick off the substance that is harmful to it. Two finely chopped garlic cloves are poured with a glass of water and left for 8 hours.

Onion

Dissolve laundry soap shavings in a glass of water, add finely chopped onion. The mixture is kept on the dog’s body for 5 to 10 minutes and washed off. If necessary, the process is repeated.

Salt

This simple remedy will help you get rid of fleas in carpets at home. Salt is famous for its dehydration properties. In contact with salt, the outer coverings of fleas are destroyed, the insects lose vital moisture and, as a result, die. To use this folk remedy you will need:

Table salt or sea salt (the amount of salt depends on the area to be treated)
Salt shaker or spice jar with holes

The procedure is as follows:

If the salt is coarse, grind it before use.
Pour the salt from the bag into a jar, leaving enough space up to the lid with holes so that the salt spills freely
Sprinkle salt on the carpets in each room, rubbing lightly so that the crystals penetrate into the base of the pile where the larvae and pupae hide.
Leave for 1-3 days
Then vacuum the carpets thoroughly

Anti-flea shampoos

The most popular remedy for fighting fleas on an animal’s body is special shampoos. This product is inexpensive, easy to use, its effectiveness is quite high, and the chance of poisoning an animal is negligible (when compared with solutions). But with all the advantages, there is also a significant disadvantage - the effect of shampoos is short-lived, so if there were a lot of fleas, then you need to wash the animal with this product at least once every 2 weeks. And this is a big problem for those owners whose animals absolutely do not like to wash themselves.