Friday, November 6, 2009

At Home Pet Flea Control

By Jeff Conner

Let's face it, your dog will eventually be infested with fleas. It might not happen today, it might not happen tomorrow, but it will always happen at some point. Here's a few tips to keep in mind for when that day does come.

How do you know if your dog has fleas? You'll be able to see them! They tend to swarm in the same locations - behind the ears, on the belly and at the base of the tail. You'll also probably notice the grit-like droppings that the fleas will leave behind. They'll typically be found stuck to your dogs fur around the stomach area.

Even though there are a large number of different types of flea prevention products available from your VET I would suggest you to use a natural or "over the counter" flea product. A recent ASPCA warning has been issued to pet owners regarding the type of flea and tick treatment currently being used. There have been an alarming number of dogs becoming ill and dying! This leads to the entire industry being investigatedscrutinized, and rightfully so. Bear in mind that not only are the over-the-counter products safe but they usually are much cheaper as well!

Now that you've successfully rid your pet of their little 'flea problem', you now need to turn your attention towards preventing a re-infestation of those little pests. Even though your dog may be flea-free, that doesn't mean they didn't already plant flea larvae around your house or even your car. Make sure to clean under any rugs you might have and around the base of any car-seats where your pet may have been close to. This will make sure that you don't suffer from a second attack months down the road.

Fleas love all pets. Really, they do. Whether you're a stray mutt that escaped from the pound or a prize-winning pedigree poodle, they'll eagerly attack either with the same ferocity. To a flea, your pet is just another meal-ticket. To your pet, the flea is a painful unwelcome visitor. The worst part about any flea infestation is that it raises the risk of tapeworms.

At one time flea infestations were confined to the summer months but nowadays with more and more homes being centrally heated this is no longer the case. Fleas like warmth and will lay their eggs in the gap between the skirting board and the carpet, between the floorboards, in the pile of fitted carpets and in the dogs bedding and basket.

Flea larvae can stay alive for almost up to a year as long as the temperature is warm enough. Even after being dormant for a year they will still awaken with only one thing on their minds: Dinner. In this example, your pet and maybe even you happen to be what's on the menu for this season. Fleas will hide their larvae in knocks and crannies all around your car and home. I cannot stress this enough, "Keep A Clean Home To Prevent Fleas."

So now that you know everything there is to know about fleas and their intentions, what should you be doing to safeguard your pet's wellbeing? Its easy, just keep a clean house and you will not have to worry about any little bugs lurking around the next bedroom corner.

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