Fleas are the worst. In fact, they’re so bad that they are actually the number one source of allergies in dogs. Fleas can cause a lot of health issues for your dog, including itching and scratching. They also come with a lot of bloodsucking and bite marks all over your dog’s body! Not only do they look unsightly, but they can also make your dog sick if left untreated.
Are Fleas on Dogs Dangerous?
Fleas can be dangerous if they cause an allergic reaction in your dog. The most common symptoms of an allergic reaction to flea bites are itching and scratching. In some cases, if the reaction is severe enough, it can lead to vomiting and diarrhea. Your vet will be able to tell you if your dog has an allergy to flea bites or not.
Fleas on dogs are dangerous to both your pet and you. They can cause skin infections which can lead to other problems if left untreated. They can also transmit tapeworms and other parasites through their bites.
Fleas carry tapeworms that can infect your dog’s intestines, causing bloody diarrhea and dehydration. These tapeworms can also pass onto humans and cause a rash in humans too.
There are several ways to get rid of fleas on dogs, but which flea treatment is safer for dogs? Here are five that we recommend:
Flea Comb
A flea comb is a very useful tool for getting rid of fleas on your pet. A flea comb is basically a small brush that has fine teeth, which you can use to comb through your pet’s fur and remove any ticks or fleas that are crawling around.
When using a flea comb, make sure you start at the head and work your way down—this way, if there are any ticks on your pet’s body, they will fall off into the bowl or container that you have underneath them as they move down their body.
Once you are done grooming, throw away all of the hair (including fleas and ticks into an outside garbage can so that it doesn’t attract more pests back inside!
Flea & Tick Defense Chews
These Flea + Tick Defense soft chews have been vet-reviewed and formulated by experts using natural ingredients like coconut oil, flaxseed, garlic, and brewer’s yeast (all within the safe limits for dogs) to provide natural defense without chemicals and toxins that are potentially harmful to your dog.
Flea Shampoo for Dogs
Fleas will be drowned in any natural pet shampoo during bathing. It is not necessary to apply flea shampoo. During flea season, bathing your dog regularly is a safe, effective way to get rid of fleas (be sure not to bathe your dog too frequently with any type of soap, though, as this could result in poor oil distribution and skin conditions).
The Lemon Rinse
Lemons can be used to treat skin problems and repel fleas in dogs in a safe and simple manner. To help repel fleas and soothe the skin of dogs and cats, make an easy lemon rinse (recipe below) in a spray bottle and spritz your pup.
- 1 finely sliced whole lemon
- 2 quarts of hot water
Fill a mason jar halfway with lemon slices. Boiling water should be poured over it. Cover and set aside for 24 hours at room temperature. Put it in a spray bottle and spritz it on your dog’s fur.
Variation Replace the water with herbal teas like chamomile, lavender, calendula, or lemon balm to make it more relaxing to the skin or antibacterial and antifungal.
Vinegar Rinse
Vinegar is a natural flea repellent. It also has antibacterial properties, which can be helpful in combating any skin infections caused by fleas. You can use vinegar to rinse your dog’s bedding, coat, and other fur accessories like collars and leashes.
Vinegar is a great option if you’re looking for something inexpensive that’s easy to find at the grocery store. However, make sure you have enough ventilation while using it because vinegar will give off strong odors!
Diatomaceous Earth for Dogs
Diatomaceous earth for dogs is a natural powder created from the fossilized remains of diatoms, which are a type of plankton. These relics have settled into lake bottoms and have been collected and powdered. This powder contains a lot of silica, which is an extremely drying substance. Fleas and flea larvae die when they come into contact with the powder.
It’s safe to use on your dogs, on their bedding, in your home, and even in your yard.
Regular Vacuuming
Vacuuming on a regular basis is a simple way to prevent fleas from breeding in your home. The vacuum not only takes up fleas but also flea eggs, which are difficult to kill. After each cleaning, make sure to empty the canister or toss the bag outside. To help dehydrate fleas, add diatomaceous earth or baking soda to the carpets and leave them overnight, then vacuum them up the next morning.
Watch for Flea Allergy Dermatitis
Flea allergy dermatitis is a skin condition characterized by itching, redness, and hair loss. It can affect both dogs and cats, but it is more common in dogs.
The flea allergy dermatitis cycle begins when fleas bite the animal. They then bite the animal, again and again, sucking blood from their host.
As they feed on blood, fleas also inject saliva into their hosts in order to prevent blood clotting. This saliva contains an allergen that causes an allergic reaction when injected into the skin of susceptible pets.
A dog with flea allergy dermatitis will scratch their skin frequently and vigorously. This scratching damages the skin’s protective outer layer, allowing bacteria to enter the wound and cause infection.
A high-quality, full-spectrum hemp extract can significantly reduce inflammation in your dog’s body from flea bites.
If your dog has flea allergy dermatitis, a trip to your holistic veterinarian may be necessary to bring your dog’s body back to balance.
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