Spring, dogs and fleas, find out how to avoid them!

Spring is coming and temperatures are going up, good news, right? For the most part yes… We can go to the beach and take longer walks with our dogs, but it’s also the start of flea season. Fleas aren’t just annoying for our dogs; they can also cause them serious health problems. A flea’s bite can cause irritation in dogs that are allergic to its saliva. A bite can transmit infections, as well as a parasite known as Dipylidium caninum. This parasite affects dogs and humans. It’s recommended to prevent it as much as possible or if it appears to get rid of it as soon as possible.

There are 2000 species of fleas, the most common one is called Ctenocephalides felis, which affects cats and 90% of dogs.

It’s complicated to avoid these insects if we don’t take the appropriate measures. Dogs get contaminated easily, for example by having contact with another animal, walking by a place with little hygiene or by walking by a place that an infected dog walked by.

Once a dog is infected, fleas act fast, especially if it’s a female flea, they can suck up to 15 times their size in blood. Their reproductive cycle is so fast that they lay between 30 and 50 eggs a day, easily reaching 2500 eggs during flea season, which is 50 days. Their capacity to reproduce is truly impressive. Therefore, it’s crucial to keep our dog clean of fleas, especially if we notice that he is scratching himself.

Even though fleas are small we can easily spot them if we look for them. They tend to be around the loin, back and abdomen of dogs, in puppies they tend to be around the neck and head.

If our dog has fleas it means that his bed, blanket, rugs or similar objects have them too, which is why we need to clean them or get rid of them.

Luckily, there are different products in the market that can help us avoid and eliminate fleas, including: soaps, collars, pipettes and medicines.

No matter which product we choose to use we must remember two things: it’s recommended to deworm and to keep our dog’s hair and skin as clean as possible. Bathing our dog will eliminate adult fleas and keep him protected for a while, especially if we use special soap. However, doing it too often can cause irritation.

One of the most popular products is the pipette for fleas. There are different types, with protection that can last between 1 and 3 months. Pipettes are applied around the dog’s neck and attack young and adult fleas, making them a good option to prevent fleas.

Oral medicine works well as well, depending on the type of medicine, it attacks both young and adult fleas. Collars eliminate adult fleas and protect dogs for many months.  

When deciding which product to use it’s important to think about the effects it’s going to have on the dog. Every dog is different, so when in doubt it’s better to get advice from a professional.

Which product do you use to prevent fleas? Does it work?