Fleas are extremely annoying little itchy things that your poor dog could get from time to time. If you've noticed your dog fiercely scratching and chewing on themselves, there's a chance that he could have fleas. It's important you eliminate the fleas, not just to relive your poor dog of their itching, but also because fleas can cause a variety of other problems if left untreated. Your dog could be hypersensitive to flea saliva and end up having an allergic reaction, experience severe blood loss, get tapeworm, and a whole host of other diseases.
Try washing your dog. Warm water and a mild dish soap can work wonders to kill most of the fleas on your dog if not all of them. However, this treatment is only suitable for mild to moderate flea outbreaks, more severe cases will require more serious treatment. If your dog seems to have a reaction to the soap, stop treatment straight away. Try this for 3 straight days to see if it kills the fleas. This remedy can work wonders for your dog, as soap traps fleas and lives them away. The soap can also disrupt their cell membranes and stop the flea from retaining water – killing them off with dehydration!
Comb your dog with a flea comb. Any fine tooth comb will work for this, or you can purchase a special flea comb. The comb should help to lift the fleas out of your dogs coat, although this will be most effective in conjunction with a wash as mentioned above. Make sure that as you comb your dog, the teeth reach the skin, otherwise fleas could remain. Once you've removed a flea dip the comb in warm, soapy water straight away.
Rub diluted lemon juice into the coat of your dog, as this works well for killing fleas. Mix an equal amount of lemon juice and warm water in a spray bottle for the best results. Repeat this every day for 3 days to see if it has any effect on your dog's fleas!
Try apple cider vinegar mixed with warm water in a spray bottle. Concentrate on the worst areas, such as the head, ears, legs, and tail. Just be careful your dog doesn't have a reaction to the vinegar!
Lavender essential oil can also work well if you carefully work it into your dogs tail and neck after a bath.
When it comes to dogs and flea control, using a medicated flea and tick shampoo can work really well. Make sure you read the instructions properly before beginning!
Try flea spray or powder. These can usually be purchased without a prescription from a vet.
Give your dog a medicated flea bath, recommended by the vet. You'll need to make sure that solution is diluted properly, and you must be careful that the product doesn't enter your dog's eyes.
Once you've treated your dog for fleas, it's wise to continue preventive treatments to stop them from coming back. You should do this even throughout the winter, as many dog owners believe that you don't have to!