How To Get Rid Of fleas On Dogs In South Africa

How To Get Rid Of fleas On Dogs In South Africa

What a Dog Flea?

The dog flea is a species of flea that lives as an ectoparasite on a wide variety of mammals, particularly the domestic dog and cat. It closely resembles the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis, which can live on a wider range of animals and is generally more prevalent worldwide

How To Get Rid Of fleas On Dogs In South Africa

1. Understand the Flea’s Life Cycle

The first step is understanding the enemy. Fleas go through four life cycle stages:

  1. Egg
  2. Larva
  3. Pupa
  4. Adult

The adults live on animals like your dog, where they digest blood and lay their eggs. One female flea can lay up to 2,000 eggs. These eggs hatch in 1-10 days and spread throughout your home and yard every time your dog scratches, shakes, or lies down.

They then hatch into larvae that can move on the host and feed on blood and flea dirt (digested blood from the adult fleas). During the pupa stage they form cocoons, where they wait for several days or up to one year — preferably for the fleas in the comfort of your carpet, sofa, or bed — until a warm-bodied host appears. Then they hatch, become adults, and infest their animal hosts – such as your dog.

It’s important to know about these stages because different flea treatments for dogs address different parts of the flea’s life cycle, so make sure you read the label of any flea elimination products and follow the directions before use.

2. Prevention and Treatment

The best way to deal with fleas is prevention. Flea and tick preventatives kill fleas that come in contact with your dog, preventing your pup from bringing them home in the first place. There are several options out there, from flea collars to topical liquid applicants and pills. Talk to your vet about the flea preventative that is safest and right for your puppy or dog.

If your dog already has fleas, these preventatives will still kill them, but you may need to take more aggressive action, like a prescription preventative. You can also use a flea shampoo or a fast-acting chemical treatment, such as a flea pill that kills the fleas on your dog within hours. Again, it’s important to ask your dog’s veterinarian for recommendations.

3. Get Fleas Out of Your Home

Killing the fleas on your dog is just one part of the problem. You also need to determine how to get rid of fleas in your home. This requires patience. It can take as long as three-to-four months to get rid of an infestation, as it takes this long for all of the fleas in your home to go through their life stages.

Here are the steps you need to take to eradicate fleas in your home:

  1. Wash all dog beds and soft dog toys in hot, soapy water. Repeat this frequently until the infestation has ended.
  2. Wash your own bedding, throw rugs, bath mats, and any blanket or cushion where your dog likes to sleep in hot water.
  3. Vacuum all carpets, hardwood floors, linoleum, and tiled floors, curtains, and upholstered furniture, and throw away the vacuum bag immediately in an outside garbage bin. You will need to vacuum on a regular basis to be sure all of the stages are addressed.
  4. Choose and apply an environmental flea control spray or fogger that will treat all stages of fleas, or call a local exterminator.
  5. Choose and apply a spray, pellet, or nontoxic flea treatment for your yard. Keeping grass and brush short will also make your yard less inviting to fleas and ticks. Patch fences to discourage raccoons, rabbits and other wildlife that carry fleas from coming into your yard.
  6. If your dog has ridden in your car lately, you should vacuum the seats.
  7. Continue to treat your dog and any other pets with a monthly preventative.
  8. During flea season, don’t let your dog interact with strange dogs and be sure his puppy playmates are free of fleas.

4. Talk to Your Veterinarian

When in doubt, call in the experts. Ask your veterinarian about how to get rid of fleas on dogs, as vets are up-to-date on the latest flea treatments and preventatives and can help you find the best and safest treatment option for you and your dog.

Home Remedies To Get Rid of Fleas on Your Dog

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR AND SALT FLEA SPRAY

The beauty of apple cider vinegar is that it is a way to treat fleas on dogs naturally by balancing a dog’s pH levels, creating an environment that is optimal for your dog’s health yet unsustainable for fleas. Dilute six cups of apple cider vinegar with four cups of water, add a dash of sea salt, then spray directly onto your dog’s coat. Make sure to avoid your dog’s eyes.

LEMON BATH

This lemon bath is simple to make and will keep your pet smelling fresh and noticeably flea free. Simply dilute half a cup of freshly squeezed lemon juice into two cups of water, then add a squeeze of your normal pet-friendly soap or shampoo for a natural way of treating fleas in dogs.

LATHER BATH

Any pet-friendly shampoo that produces a lather will naturally kill existing fleas. When choosing flea remedies natural is always the best choice, so select an organic pet shampoo without any added chemicals. Once your dog is sufficiently lathered, leave the shampoo on for just a couple of minutes while it does its work. This is a great way of killing existing fleas before moving on to flea prevention remedies.

ROSEMARY DIP

If your dog enjoys playing in water, this Rosemary dip will seem like a fun game rather than a flea remedy. Steep fresh rosemary leaves in boiling water, then strain the mixture and dilute it well in warm water. When the water reaches a comfortable temperature, pour the mixture over your dog and let it dry naturally.

MULTI-PURPOSE NEEM OIL

Neem oil is a natural insect repellent and one of the lesser-known flea treatments. If you are able to obtain this oil, native to Burma, Sri Lanka, and parts of India, you can apply it directly to your dog’s coat, add it to your normal natural dog shampoo, or dilute it well to make your own flea spray.

ORGANIC SOAPS

By swapping out your usual dog shampoo for organic soaps such as organic peppermint soap or organic Rose soap, you can wash your dog as normal and get a flea-free and great smelling dog at the end of it.

AROMATHERAPY SPRAY

If you’re familiar with aromatherapy, you can make up a batch of aromatherapy that will not only treat a flea infestation but also prevent future occurrences, whilst acting as a natural soother for your dog. Try sweet almond oil as the base oil, and add drops of Atlas cedar oil, lemon eucalyptus oil, geranium oil, bay laurel oil, common myrrh oil, and lavender oil.

COCONUT OIL RUB

Is there anything that coconut oil can’t do? Coconut oil can help in a number of ways when treating fleas. Rubbing a teaspoon of coconut oil directly into your dog’s coat will not only repel fleas but will make the coat shiny and reduce body odor. If added to your dog’s normal food, coconut oil can even help treat intestinal parasites due to its antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What kills fleas on dogs instantly?

The most common product used to kill fleas on dogs instantly is Nitenpyram, more commonly known as Capstar. This single-use tablet is administered orally and kills fleas within 30 minutes.

What kills fleas on dogs instantly naturally?

Baking Soda and Salt. Much like diatomaceous earth, baking soda and salt dehydrate fleas and their eggs. Liberally sprinkle the mixture around your house and use a broom to work it into carpet fibers or under furniture. Leave for a day or two and vacuum thoroughly.

Does vinegar kill fleas on dogs?

In short: using vinegar solution or white vinegar on your pet’s fur or in their drinking water will not kill fleas. There is a chance ACV could repel fleas because they don’t like the taste, but it is only a mild detergent and is not the best flea remedy. ACV should not be your first choice for natural flea treatment.

What do fleas hate the most?

Citronella, eucalyptus, peppermint, tea tree, and rosemary will all naturally repel fleas. If your dog doesn’t mind a spray bottle, dilute a few drops of your chosen essential oil into a 300ml-400ml of water and spray directly onto your dog’s coat.

How long does it take to get rid of fleas on a dog?

In most cases, it takes three to four months to completely get rid of a flea infestation because it takes fleas this long to go through their life stages, according to the American Kennel Club — even more reason to practice preventive measures regularly.

Can my dog sleep in my bed with fleas?

Although fleas tend to prefer dogs, they can hop around and bite you sometimes too. So yes, if your dog has fleas and sleeps in your bed, this could lead to a flea problem that sneaks up on you in your sleep, leaving you with lots of itchy bites in the morning.

Can fleas live in human hair?

First, is it possible for fleas to live in human hair? The short answer is no. There are more than 2000 types of fleas around the globe. However, there is no evidence that these insects can live on the human body or scalp.

Can I rub baking soda on my dog to kill fleas?

Baking soda does not kill adult fleas and will do nothing to protect your pets. It is excellent at absorbing smells and has been suggested by some online pet sites for use as a flea killer because it “may” dry out flea eggs and larvae. But there is no evidence that using baking soda to kill fleas is effective at all.

Will soapy water kill fleas?

“Dawn (and other soaps like it) creates a kind of surfactant, or surface tension, that will compromise the exoskeleton and make adult fleas sink,” he says. So essentially, the soap drowns the fleas.

What kills fleas in carpet naturally?

Much like baking soda, salt is a great natural flea home remedy when accompanied by vacuuming. Salt acts as a dehydration agent, helping to get rid of adult fleas. To treat fleas with this natural remedy take some salt (finely ground works best) and sprinkle it all over your carpets in each room.

Can humans get fleas from dogs?

Yes, humans can get fleas from their dogs and other pets. If you’ve ever walked across the carpet and noticed a dark speck on white socks that suddenly appears then vanishes, that speck probably was a flea

Can I rub garlic on my dog?

According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, garlic and other members of the allium family, including onions, contain thiosulfate, which is toxic to dogs but not to humans. Thiosulfate causes oxidative damage to red blood cells, resulting in hemolytic anemia.

Will fleas go away on their own?

Will Fleas Go Away on Their Own? The short answer is no, they won’t! Fleas feed and reproduce on dogs, cats, and other pets with substantial hair, fur, or feathers. They are parasites that need blood hosts to survive, so they will jump around all the potential hosts in your home to find one.

How many fleas on a dog is considered an infestation?

As few as 20 fleas might mean your pet is infested, while the most could be between 200 to 300. Ignoring a few fleas can quickly lead to an infestation on your dog and in your home,2 because two adult fleas could lead to hundreds of eggs and pupae. Fleas start feeding on blood within minutes of landing on your pet.

How do you know when fleas are gone?

You are looking for and fleas that fall or jump off. Once you see one, it is safe to assume there are more. Apply petroleum jelly to the flea comb and brush your dog a second time. If your dog has fleas, they will get stuck to the jelly and you will be able to see them.

Will lemon juice kill fleas on dog?

Citrus juice will kill fleas and repel new fleas. To make a mix to get rid of fleas, poke small holes in a lemon and then slice it, but do not peel. Set the lemon slices in a bowl, pour a cup of boiling water over the slices, and allow to sit over night.