Guarding against fleas
If you keep a dog, it is almost inevitable that at some stage you will have to face the problem of those small wingless insects known as fleas.
An adult flea lives for about three to four months, and during its adult life, the female lays tiny white eggs on the dog. When the eggs hatch out, the larvae live in carpets, crevices, cracks, bedding, in fact anywhere they can live uninterrupted, and they feed on any organic material that happens to be around. After one or two weeks they pupate, and a week or so later the young flea hatches out and looks for a suitable furry animal to live on. There are different species of flea adapted to different species of animal, so a dog flea will prefer dogs, a cat flea will prefer cats, and so on.
Because the larvae live not on the animal, but in quiet undisturbed places in the vicinity of the animal, it is important that as well as treating the pet, you make sure that the areas of the house that your dog uses, such as around her basket, the carpets, and so on, are thoroughly clean, so that those larvae cannot grow and develop to re-infest your pet. All your dogs favorite areas need to be regularly cleaned, particularly the area where your dog rests and sleeps, as this the most popular hangout for those nasty little things.
The fleas will irritate your dog causing her to scratch, and possibly break her skin and bleed, which, in itself, becomes a health hazard.
For a specific flea treatment for your dog, consult your pharmacist or your veterinarian, who will be happy to advise you.
Filed under: Parasites, General health, Dog Care Basics
