| There is an expectation that if you have a dog, you | | | | 3) House -- second task, vacuum the entire house to |
| must also expect it to have fleas - well, I'm here to | | | | make sure that it is clean and as far as possible free |
| tell you that it is possible to have a flea-less dog! | | | | from flea eggs. Next -- and this is more of an insect |
| We share our home with a total of five dogs -- and I | | | | treatment for the house, rather than the dog -- |
| am pleased to say, that our dogs simply do not have | | | | spray low irritant surface spray around the skirting |
| fleas! We do not use harsh chemicals, nor flea collars, | | | | boards throughout the entire house. Spray the |
| nor applications of pesticides on the dogs (except for | | | | skirtings near to your dogs bed - but do not spray |
| an insecticidal wash in emergencies). So -- how do we | | | | the dogs bed! We do this in our home approximately |
| do this? What I am about to explain to you is very | | | | every two to three months, as a preventative for |
| achievable and; with persistence, you too WILL have | | | | spiders and cockroaches etc, however it will also |
| a flea free dog! | | | | assist with flea control. |
| 1) Short or long coat - it is far easier to manage fleas | | | | 4) Bath the Dog -- third task, now that the house is |
| on a short haired dog than on a long-haired one. Dogs | | | | clean, and the bedding is clean -- it's time to make |
| with short hair, simply have less hiding places for fleas | | | | sure that the dog is clean! Use nothing more than an |
| than long haired dogs. It's also simpler to locate and | | | | insecticidal shampoo, and bath the dog - washing it |
| remove any fleas from a dog with short hair. So if | | | | twice with the shampoo and finally applying a good |
| your dog is short haired, you are already off to a | | | | conditioner. Notice how soft and clean the dog is? |
| good start, whereas if you own a dog with longer | | | | This is how you will need to try and keep the dog, in |
| hair, you will have a little more work to do! | | | | order to get control. A clean dog, bathed every 3 - 5 |
| 2) Inside or Outside? If your dog sleeps outside it will | | | | weeks, is FAR less likely to harbour fleas! |
| be more difficult to control fleas, than if your dog | | | | 5) Minimize exposure to other dogs. This may be |
| sleeps inside! This is because a dog that sleeps | | | | difficult if your neighbours dog has close contact with |
| outside, will invariably be sleeping in an area that has | | | | your dog -- but it is vital to keep your dog flea free! |
| direct or indirect contact with the soil. Fleas lay eggs | | | | Always check your dog after the briefest contact |
| and these eggs survive extremely well in soil, | | | | with other dogs -- and look for fleas that may have |
| awaiting the correct temperature to hatch. If your | | | | jumped ship! If you find fleas, either remove them |
| dog sleeps inside it will be far easier to eliminate flea | | | | one by one -- or else repeat the bathing step! |
| eggs, by treating the house and bedding. | | | | 6) That's it! Now Be Vigilant -- be on the lookout for |
| 2) Bedding -- one of the first tasks, if your dog does | | | | the arrival of any new fleas -- if you find any -- |
| have fleas; is to either discard your dogs bedding and | | | | repeat steps 2 -- 4. Follow these simple steps, and |
| purchase new bedding or at the very least wash it in | | | | you will break the cycle and you are well on the way |
| VERY hot water, to destroy existing fleas and eggs. | | | | to owning just the dog - and no longer his or her |
| A light application of eucalyptus or lavender oil can be | | | | colony of fleas! |
| a good repellent to help prevent fleas returning. | | | | |