Fleas

Fleas – Pretty Annoying To Both Man And Animal

The summer not only brings torrid heat but also annoying pests like fleas with it. Fleas along with ticks represent the most irritating parasites that you and your pet dog or cat has to contend with each summer. The problem with these parasites is that they not only irritate you but also have the potential to cause health issues. That is a double whammy and that is why it is essential to take flea control steps immediately and arrest the development of the fleas life cycle as early as possible.

Getting rid of fleas by making use of a powder or chemical spray has long been a tried and tested method. Over the years, refinements and research have led to better quality of powders as well as sprays. However, the fact that you would be using these on the body of your pet does open up chances of some harm or side effects arising out of regular use of these chemicals. It is therefore always advisable to look at alternative natural methods to get rid of the fleas on dogs or cats.

It must be remembered here that the chemicals are not only harmful to your pets but also to you and other members of your family. A typical spray would have suspended particulate matter that would remain within your house for a long time and you along with your family members would have no option but to inhale it. Children especially have often reported incidents of nausea and some breathing difficulty.

So how can you get rid of the fleas on cats or dogs or even human fleas using natural methods?

Here too, you have many powders and sprays that you can use except that the ingredients within them are free of harmful chemicals. They can be called organic products as they are mild, do not have any fragrance and can be applied liberally onto the skin of your pet dog or cat. They are extremely potent and succeed in killing the fleas within a short period of time. Much however depends on how quickly you are able to diagnose the fact that your pet is showing signs of irritation due to the fleas on the body. The earlier you can do this, the sooner you will be able to eliminate the fleas on your pets.

How are natural products more effective in getting rid of fleas?

It has to be understood here that just getting fleas eliminated at any cost is not your objective. You need to do that without causing any undue harm to your pet and other people in the house. To cite an example, sometimes, a particular fragrance or scent used to make the product more appealing has been found to be the cause for pets showing irritable behaviour. The unique scent may either irritate the respiratory tract or cause some reaction upon contact with the skin.

Most of the natural or organic products on the other hand do not come scented or carry a very mild fragrance to avoid any possibility of skin irritation to your pets. You are thus able to achieve your objective of getting rid of fleas without putting your pets and other family members under any risk.

In addition to powders and sprays, you have specially designed brushes that do a wonderful job of getting rid of fleas and ticks. You can also make use of a flea collar. These are very effective in repelling fleas as well as other parasites like ticks. These collars can be used on most dog breeds but you will do well to anyway check with the veterinarian prior to fitting your dog with one.

Be careful about buying any medicated collar as well because the chemicals present in it can pass through and may affect the skin of your pet. Here again, check with your veterinarian before buying it and if required carry out sensitivity tests to determine whether it is okay for you to fit that collar.

Prevention is always better than cure for effective flea control

The above proverb is well known to all of us and is very apt when you have pets in the house that are prone to such infections from parasites. Your own personal hygiene as well as that of your pets needs to be of the highest standard. Proper sanitation and regular pet grooming can go a long way in ensuring that no parasites are able to lodge themselves within the skin of your pets.

While no areas are safe as such, if you are particularly living in a place that has a history of harbouring parasites like these fleas and ticks, then you have to be all the more careful and diligent about your pet care. After each outdoor activity, make sure that you are closely examining the body of the pets for any signs of infection.

The hot months of summer provide the right environment for parasites to breed. They quickly seek out recesses within the pet skin and multiply rapidly if you are not able to get rid of them in the initial stages itself. While regularly cleaning and washing your pets is mandatory, you need to ensure that the places where they rest and move about are also regularly vacuumed, steam cleaned and disinfected.

Promote a dry environment as much as you can. The moistness arising out of a humid climate coupled with the heat is what enables parasites to thrive. You can also make use of borax or your detergent in powder form for sprinkling on areas that you know is frequented by your pets. These areas can then be vacuumed. Ensure you dispose off the vacuum promptly.

If you are lucky enough to own a lawn or some patch of greenery outside your house, make sure that the grass is well mowed and all foliaged trimmed appropriately. These are also places where parasites like fleas and ticks find a safe haven and since your pets would be playing a lot in the garden, the chances of them attaching to bodies of your pets are far higher.

Other home based remedies for getting rid of fleas

As mentioned earlier, it is always better to go for natural methods to get rid of these parasites. If you can find solutions at home, it is always better as you can implement those faster and whenever you want.

The use of garlic and yeast has been advocated by people who have experienced a fair degree of success with these items. Every situation is unique though and you can definitely try them out to see if they work in your case as well.

Since dog fleas and cat fleas are typically found within soft furnishing such as carpets, curtain folds, crevices of furniture and so on, ensure that you steam clean or vacuum these on a regular basis. You will be able to interrupt the fleas life cycle when you do this and prevent them from breeding.

You may not able to totally eliminate fleas as your pets will invariably pick them up when they are outside, but you can definitely control them to ensure that they do not breed too rapidly and make the life of your pets miserable.

Tags: irritating parasites, undue harm, chemical spray, mild fragrance, life cycle <BR/>

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