Flea bites can be very painful to pets, and pets who are bitten enough often develop flea-bite dermatitis. Fleas take a little blood out of the animal when they bite them, which can sometimes cause anemia. They can also transmit tapeworm. Here are some ideas to help you keep fleas away from your pet.
Are Your Pets Scratching? 4 Steps to Keep Them Flea-Fr
Keep Their Living Space Clean
If your pet lives indoors and outdoors, then it is essential to keep their area clean. Wash their bedding once a week to make sure that fleas don’t take up residence there. Vacuum each day and empty the canister immediately. Some may even go to the extent of putting a flea collar in the canister as well. Another step that should be taken is to have your carpets steam-cleaned at the start of summer (when fleas tend to populate). While it may seem like a lot of work, your pet will be more comfortable when it does not have fleas.
Pay Attention to What You Feed Them
Adding brewer’s yeast and garlic to your pet’s diet may help to keep fleas from biting. Pets who eat a raw diet often have fewer sugar spikes that may draw fleas to the pet. A raw diet can even help to reduce their odor—which may act as a natural attractant for fleas. However, depending on your dog’s age, breed, and individual needs, you may need to limit their raw feeding schedule.
Consider Your Landscaping
Keeping the grass mowed short may help to reduce the number of fleas in your environment. Planting citronella, catnip, marigolds, lavender and peppermint may naturally deter fleas. Fleas often look for sugars, so make sure to clean up any soda or other sweet messes immediately. Keeping the area free of debris, leaves and other places that fleas can hide usually helps. Fleas hate sunlight, so allowing as much natural light into your landscaping may help keep them away.
Seek Treatment & Other Options
While you may want to clean all areas where your pet plays and sleeps, you should also talk to your vet to receive treatment for them. If things get out of control, consider having your home and yard treated by a professional exterminator, like Fowler Pest Control. Both should be done at around the same time to help break the flea’s life cycle. Normally, it is a 20-day cycle, but it can be shorter during hot weather. You should also realize that this isn’t a one-time thing. In fact, you may need to treat your home and pets more than once.
Controlling fleas will make your pet healthier and more comfortable. Use these ideas combined with advice from your vet to do just that.
wen budro
Tuesday 24th of April 2018
Thank you for the great tips. I much prefer using a diet preventative to anything chemical. Fleas make my dogs so miserable so I try to prevent them from starting.