There is probably nothing more painful to watch than a dog dealing with a flea infestation. And though the little pooches are not able to articulate it, I am willing to bet that it is more painful and uncomfortable to experience. As a long term dog owner, I have had my fair share of flea fights. I have tried everything from home remedies to strong medicated products. One thing I learnt from all my trial and error is that different methods work for different situations. It depends a lot on factors like the breed coat type, the extent of the infestation and your grooming routine.
There are several remedies that you could try out when it comes to dealing with these infestations. We will discuss 37 of the most effective ones in sections below. They are mainly grouped into 3 categories of techniques to get rid of fleas:
Fleas like to hide in warm and cluttered spaces even when it comes to outdoor setups. One of the best ways to get rid of them in your yard is by limiting the amount of spaces they have to run around and hide in.
You can do this by keeping the plantation trimmed. It could be anything from grass and bushes to small trees and hedge fences so the fleas have no choice but to move.
These bugs also tend to thrive in moist outdoor spaces. They particularly love wet earth after the lawn has been mowed. Completely not watering the grass may not be the best idea. However, keep it to a minimum with just enough for the grass to survive.
That way, the soil does not get waterlogged and end up inviting for the problematic pests that will later on terrorize your furry bestie.
You could also fight pests with pests as a way to control fleas in your outdoor space. This biological form of control is not only effective but also safe for the environment. All you have to do is introduce other creatures that may target the fleas.
The best option here is the Steinerma carpocapsea. They feed on the larvae and eggs that the fleas lay on the ground. The best part is that they are themselves not harmful to the plants or your doggy.
Another highly effective group of agents of biological warfare against fleas in your backyard are flea-repellant plants. These produce chemicals and unique scents that fleas tend to avoid. They are also a fantastic way to spruce up your backyard while helping your pooch enjoy their outdoor time without getting attacked.
Cedar chips are useful in controlling several outdoor pests including fleas. They contain natural fragrances that repel the pests. For the best results, sprinkle them around places where the fleas tend to gravitate to including bases of trees and hedges where there is a lot of shade and moisture.
Once there is any contact between the shavings and moisture the repelling natural oils are released and this discourages settling of the fleas.
When it comes to getting rid of fleas indoors, vacuuming is by far your best weapon. This is one of the few techniques that helps get rid of both the fleas and their eggs. Make sure to focus your efforts on spots in the house where your dog spends a lot of time.
It also helps to switch out vacuum heads for optimum access to spots like corners and under furniture where the pests may hide.
Using a washing machine to clean your dog’s bedding and clothes is another highly effective way of getting rid of fleas inside the house. The heat generated in the cleaning and drying processes helps kill most of the fleas and their eggs.
The tumbling motion also helps them drop off the fabric in case there were any survivors. You should also subject any removable furniture covers to the same cleaning routine to cover all your bases.
This is one of the oldest tricks in the book when it comes to dealing with dog pests, especially fleas. All you have to do is sprinkle baking soda on carpets, upholstery and any other spots inside the home where your furry little buddy likes to hang out.
This works by dehydrating flea eggs and the surfaces where they are laid. For the best results, mix the baking soda with equal parts salt for more effective dehydration.
This comes in particularly handy if you have other pets in the house or you want to get rid of the fleas in the home without having the doggy reintroducing them. By putting on things like dog sweaters and onesies you prevent fleas from jumping on and off the dog’s body.
The Insect Shield Premium Tee is an excellent option in this case. It is comfortable and offers fantastic coverage to minimize exposure to the creatures. Treated with an odorless and potent insect-repellent technology, it can serve as a strong alternative for pooches with sensitive skin.
Spraying flea repellants on upholstery and carpeting is a great way to ensure faster results when it comes to dealing with fleas hiding indoors. They love to hide in fabrics like these because of the warmth and airiness. They also tend to lay most of their eggs on such surfaces.
Investing in a good spray like the PETARMOR Home and Carpet Spray is a wonderful way to deal with the problem as they attack the fleas at all stages of life.
While vacuuming does do a fantastic job of getting rid of adult fleas in the house it is not particularly the best method for complete eradication. This is because different stages of the pest including eggs and larvae tend to stick on to fabric fibers and are therefore not sucked up by the vacuum.
Consider investing in getting your carpets and furniture professionally cleaned. Steam cleaning specifically goes a long way towards ensuring that you get rid not only of the adults but also the eggs and larvae.
Diatomaceous earth is a type of rock sediment that is commonly used to get rid of several household pests from mites and bedbugs to silverfish. It is particularly effective when it comes to dealing with flea infestations indoors. Just sprinkle some on furniture corners, on carpeting and in corners.
It works by dehydrating eggs and also destroying the exoskeleton of adults. It is therefore an excellent alternative for dealing with all life stages of the flea.
Flea traps are an easy and effective way of getting rid of the critters as it is designed to bypass their leaping escape strategies. You could always make one at home by adding dish soap to a bowl of water and leaving it out where they tend to nest. Once they leap in they get coated with the stuff and drown.
You could also go with a professional flea trap which tends to be more effective. In this case, Victor 11 M231 Ultimate Flea Trap is worth looking into.
As with your outdoor space, dealing with clutter will go a long way towards ensuring that you minimize the presence of fleas in your home. It could be anything from dirty laundry and old books to unused boxes. The fleas take advantage of the darkness and warmth to lay their eggs and hide out. By getting rid of this junk the fleas will have nowhere to hide and are therefore easier to deal with.
Like many other household pests associated with dogs, fleas love to hide out in tight spaces. These include cracks, crevices and dark corners. Vacuuming is a really good way to help get rid of them in this hiding spot. However, if you really want to get rid of all remnants including eggs and larvae in cocoons then you will have to deep clean. In this case, steam or hot water are the best choices for an effective job.
You could also employ aromatherapy techniques in your fight against the fleas that call your pooch home. This works great for small spaces like cars, dog crates or their bedrooms. All you need to do is to invest in the right diffuser.
Anjou Essential Oil Diffuser is awesome for use at home. It will offer you up to 15 hours of service releasing flea-repellent fragrances. You will also enjoy the wide base design which prevents the pooch from toppling it over.
This is easily one of the most effective ways to deal with fleas that are on your furry best buddy. These are specially formulated to either kill or simply repel the bugs without causing any harm whatsoever to the dog itself.
Isabella’s Clearly Flea And Tick Repellant is one of the best options on the market in this case. It is organic and features a blend of fragrant essential oils that repel the fleas.
If you want a quick and effective at-home spray to deal with fleas then the apple cider vinegar spray should do the job. Like many other non-chemical sprays, this method does not necessarily kill fleas. It does, however, repel them therefore relieving your dog of the discomfort of hosting the pests. This is because fleas do not like the smell or the taste of apple cider vinegar and will tend to stay away.
Another awesome homemade solution when it comes to flea repellant sprays are herbal mixes. The principle is the same here where the sprays work by releasing fragrances that the fleas do not like. Some of the most effective herbs in this case include mint, rosemary and eucalyptus.
To make these sprays, just get one or more of these and other herbs like it, boil them in water to infuse and let it cool. You can then spray the concoction onto the dog and it will offer great relief.
These are often sold as deodorant sprays for your doggy. The best part is that they are organic and free of harsh chemicals that could aggravate complications of flea infestation including irritated skin. In this case, you have several options on the market to choose from including HONEYDEW Lavender Pet Spray. It features natural ingredients including lavender and primrose which in addition to odor control help by repelling fleas from your doggy.
Proper grooming goes a long way towards ensuring that you effectively deal with flea infestation on your dog. The very act of brushing gets rid of several of the pests and offers relief to the dog. You could rub lemon or vinegar on the grooming brush to spread the fragrance through the coat and repel the fleas.
It is also important in this case to use high quality grooming tools in which case the Freewindo Dog Grooming Kit is one of the best options on the market.
For the best results when it comes to grooming your dog to get rid of fleas, your best chances at great results is to invest in a flea comb. The Safari Flea Comb is worth looking into for its combination of optimum functionality and ease of use. The double sided combs feature fine teeth with narrow spacing. These come in handy when it comes to combing out both the fleas and their eggs.
You could also use the Tick Twister Tick Remover to remove larger fleas clinging on as well as any other pests you may encounter when grooming.
Apple cider to the rescue one more time. This time, you can get fantastic benefits for your pooch by having them drink some of it. The effects on acidity as well as the resulting smell repels the fleas.
Apple cider vinegar is not the tastiest of drinks. In order to get your pooch to actually try it, you could mix it in with their water and maybe throw in a nice treat afterwards for conditioning and motivation.
Brewer’s yeast has an indirect effect on flea control for doggies but it can be very effective. When consumed correctly and consistently, it promotes growth of healthy and glossy hair. The smoother the fur is the harder it will be for fleas to hold on when they attack the dog. This alone will not work but if combined with other techniques we have discussed it will make a huge difference and definitely increase the chances of success.
These are ideal for long term release of the repelling essential oils. That way, even if your dog rubs off the initial layer or sweats it off there will be a consistent supply of the stuff to keep the little bugs at bay.
The SOBAKEN Flea and Tick Prevention for Dogs is a premade dog flea collar that is infused with essential oils and herb extracts including spearmint and clove. These are released slowly onto the dog’s coat as long as it remains on the pooch’s neck.
You could also make your own doggy flea collar at home. All you need is a piece of cloth that can soak up the repellant and tie around your dog’s neck. It could be a bandana, a doggy scarf or even an old cloth leash.
Just soak it in something pungent in which case apple cider vinegar, lemon, or even vodka are the most popular options to help ward off the little bugs.
Coconut oil serves two purposes when it comes to dealing with fleas on dogs. The first is to repel the fleas. It does this through the presence of a compound known as lauric acid. Fleas do not like the smell or taste of this and will stay away from your dog if you rub coconut oil on them.
The oil also has soothing properties which help with recovery in case there is serious skin irritation and damage from the flea infestation.
These are way better than many other options for one main reason. This is the fact that they tend to remain on the fur for longer offering a consistent layer of protection from the bugs. The powders are made of different stuff and work differently depending on the contents.
Some are designed to kill the fleas and their eggs through dehydration or poisoning. Others repel them through their fragrances. Whatever the case, they are very effective long-acting options.
Doggy wipes allow you to give your pooch a clean without having to deal with all the drama that comes with full on baths or showers. In addition to helping with odor control and to get rid of general grime, it could help a lot with eradication of fleas.
Vet’s Best Flea and Tick Wipes is one of the best options here. The wipes are infused with flea-repellant essential oils including peppermint and clover extracts. In addition to repelling the fleas, the dog-friendly formulation kills larvae and eggs that may be stuck on the pooch’s coat.
With this technique, the aim is to dry out any eggs or fleas that didn’t manage to jump off during the bathing process. With time, the salt dehydrates them and kills them. It is important to note that this method works best with baths and may not be as effective if you are giving your pooch a shower or cleaning them with something like a water hose.
You could also help reduce flea infestation for your beloved doggy by adding a bit of neem oil into their bath water. This fragrant extract repels fleas that do not like the smell of the stuff. The best part is that the scent sticks on the pooch even after the shower and continues to offer them protection from the pests for a while. You could also rub this on the dog’s coat during shower or hose washing for the same effects.
Fleas do not like the taste or the smell of lemon. Therefore, infusing the dog’s bath water with the stuff definitely works well when it comes to getting rid of the bests. It also has a corrosive and drying effect which helps to get rid of eggs and larvae that may be stuck on the dog’s body. Finally, the lemon water in correct proportions could offer relief to irritated skin after heavy flea infestations.
Rosemary is one of the most effective herbs when it comes to dealing with fleas. Whether it is an essential oil in a diffuser or a plant keeping the fleas out of your yard, it works wonders when it comes to flea control. You could also use it directly on the pooch to get rid of any fleas hiding there. They hate the smell of the pungent herps and will often leap off as soon as the dog is in the bath water infused with rosemary.
Sometimes, all it takes is a good shampoo to help you deal with your dog’s flea problem. The process of lathering and rinsing helps to get rid of most stages of the fleas. It also conditions the fur making it smoother and therefore more difficult for the fleas to hold on to.
When choosing the right shampoo for the job, it is important to remember that you are dealing with incredibly irritated skin. So avoid shampoos with harsh chemicals that will only make matters worse for the pooch.
These come in handy when dealing with serious flea infestations especially when there is major skin irritation and associated infections. A fantastic example in this case would be the Smiling Paws Pets Antibacterial & Antifungal Shampoo. It contains antibacterial and antifungal compounds which help to prevent skin infections as a result of flea bites or scratch marks from heavy infestations. The shampoo itself also kills the fleas and their eggs due to its specific chemical formulation.
Medication is particularly necessary when dealing with heavy infestations of the fleas. Drugs administered orally often work by preventing infections and reducing inflammation as a result of the pest attacks.
Others work by actually killing the fleas. Capstar Oral Flea Treatment is worth looking into in this case. It is popular for its effectiveness as well as quick results as you will notice fleas falling off dead as fast as 30 minutes after administering.
Finally, topical medication is easily the most effective way to deal with fleas. It doesn’t matter whether it is a cream, ointment or even spray. These compounds not only kill the fleas but also offer immediate relief to irritated dog skin in cases of serious dermatological complications.
Here, you have several options but none are as reliable and effective as K9 Advantix Flea Control. This topical treatment kills the fleas in as little as half a day offering your pooch quick relief from the infestation.
What Kills Fleas On Dogs Instantly? The problem with dealing with fleas is that once a flea-killing product on the dog or your household surfaces, they tend to jump away. There are therefore very few, if any, products out there that can kill the little critters instantly. Fortunately, there are several fast-acting options out there who get the job done quick enough. These include chemical products in commercial flea sprays and powders.
Are Fleas Visible? Fleas are not technically invisible. They are just really hard to pick out. This is mainly because of their small size and their brown to red hues that allow them to blend in with most dog coats and furniture upholstery. They also tend to move around quickly by leaping great distances which can make spotting one even harder.
How Do You Know If Your Dog Has Fleas? The most obvious sign that a dog is suffering from flea infestation is insistent scratching. The pests trigger skin irritation which in addition to causing itchiness will result in issues like skin bruising and deteriorating coat health. You may also feel the little bugs jumping around on your feet where the dog spends a lot of its time.
Pete Decker is the Lead Editor at The Goody Pet. He is a passionate wildlife educator and loves to share his experiences on pets. During his free time, you can find him cozying around his 2 adorable Labradors (Tobi & Kobi).
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