If dogs could talk, I’m betting they would have some choice words to say about fleas. On the other hand, veterinarians can talk and most say their relationship with the biting devils is definitely a love-hate one. They hate the pesky, bloodsucking insects for the agony they cause to pets. But while they sympathize with the pets, some veterinarians will admit that, being one of the leading problems with many pets, the horrible creatures certainly do bring in a lot of money.
Flea bites cause severe itching and scratching that leads to what is known as bald or “hot” spots. These areas typically are raw, painful, and often lead to infections.
In order to establish proper preventative measures for your puppy, it’s important to understand exactly what fleas are, what they can do to your puppy, and what the options for dealing with them are.
Remember, if your new puppy suffers, so do you. Whether buying over-the-counter flea-fighting products or getting them from a veterinarian, it can be expensive. Consider the case of a puppy that is allergic to the bite of the evil flea. One bite – yes, one tiny bite – and you’re off to the vet. One bite translates to an office visit, various creams, ointments, antibiotics, sprays to go on the dog and others to treat and fog the house, shampoos, coat conditioners, dog baths and lots of laundry to do because all bedding must be washed and treated.
To top it off, you are not immune to those crawling, bloodsucking fleas! Man, mammals, and birds are all in the war on fleas together.
However, there is good news. Your veterinarian has many different options to treat your puppy. This means if one doesn’t work, there are is still hope of finding a solution. There are some very good before and after medications and a host of natural and chemical pet and household remedies that are available to use in your declaration to do battle with the common flea.
Wingless insects, a flea’s mouthparts are honed to be adept at piercing skin and sucking blood. They are external parasites that most folks can’t begin to fathom why they take up space on this earth. We just have to accept there always will be bad times to go with the good and any confrontation with a live flea will fall into the unpleasant zone.
One cannot be weak of heart when battling the nasty little buggers that can jump up to 200 times their own body length. This makes fleas one of the best jumpers of all known animal species.
To make matters worse, the flea sort of has built-in armor. Their bodies are hard and covered with spines and hairs to help them navigate along the victim’s body. In short, they are a curse that we must continue to do battle against.
Fleas are blind and prefer dark places like bedding and cracks and crevices, making hand-to-hand (or should that be hand-to-flea?) combat impossible.
A few methods of killing the bloodsucking enemy include drowning, capturing them with a sticky tape (anything from adhesive to duct tape works), crushing between two hard surfaces or burning, which can be a lot harder than it sounds. Fleas are fast, and remember, expert jumpers.
The most important thing in the battle against the fleas is to remember the old adage, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Regularly bathe your pets and use one of many fine preventative medications available. There are many types and you should consult your veterinarian for a recommendation suited to your puppy. This conversation typically happens on your puppy’s first visit to the vet.
Regular washing of the animal’s bedding is a must. You’ll definitely lose the war if you don’t establish preventative measures for fleas during all stages of their lives. Spraying the carpets or fogging the whole house may be necessary if the problem escalates.
At times, it may look like you’re losing the battle, but promoting a healthy living environment and staying vigilant with keeping your puppy clean will give you an edge over these nasty little critters. I can safely say, your puppy thanks you for all you do to relieve them of the tiny bloodsuckers.
Related posts:
- Does My Dog Have Fleas?
- How to Treat Your Lawn for Fleas
- Puppy Tails – Oliver Gets Fleas
- Discussing Flea Preventatives
- Natural Flea Remedies
