Check your pet up close if you see him acting strange lately. If you see any flea or dark specks (flea dirt) in his fur, you have to be alarmed.
Fleas bite your pets and feed on their blood, and they don’t return your pets’ kindness. The hell they don’t! That’s why they’re called pests!
If fleas get too many, they will infest not just your pets but your house as well, spreading diseases not only among animals but also among humans. We’re talking about flea-bite dermatitis, tapeworms in pets (if ingested), dehydration and anemia due to blood loss, and even the deadly bubonic plague (as researches now show). That would truly be a nightmare!
You can examine your pet and count the fleas that your bare eyes can see, but counting them one by one is only interesting to preschoolers. When you notice that there are just too many of them, well, you don’t really have a better option than to run to the veterinarian. But if you can only find five or less, then you can still deal with the problem all by your lonesome.
You might want to try shampoos or detergent perhaps. Any gardener knows soap solution makes a good insecticide. However it sometimes fails when it comes to fleas. It will just feel like a bubble party to them.
What not try the vet-recommended flea dips, which are similar to shampoos but contain chemicals that are proven effective in killing fleas. After bathing, your pet can have a dip or you can apply the formula on your pet’s fur with a sponge. Flea dips work by ‘sealing’ your pet’s skin and fur with flea-killing chemicals.
However, some pet owners prefer the less messy oral medicines. ‘Why do they need flea dips,’ they ask, ‘when oral flea meds promise to do the job well?’
First of all, flea dips do not introduce chemicals into your pet’s body through his digestive system. They are also far less toxic than chemicals contained in flea foggers. That means you don’t risk your pet’s health in trying to get rid of those little health risks in his fur.
However, be aware that certain active ingredients don’t usually work on all pets. Pyrethrin-based flea dips are not really suitable for cats, so never use it with felines. It really pays to check the label.
Secondly, flea dips are easier to apply. You don’t need to hire extra assistants to do the mixing and dipping. You can do it yourself, especially if you and your pets love bathing. Just wear protective clothing and gloves. Remember that dips contain chemicals. They may be harmless, but chemicals are chemicals.
Thirdly, flea dips are vet proven to be effective in line with the use of other flea meds, and are available anywhere. So you can buy anytime of the day. That will lessen the effort than that of visiting the vet.
Flea-dip substances are derived from organic materials that work best for plants as insecticides, targeting not only crop pests but flies, mosquitoes, gnats, ticks, lice and fleas as well. They cause over-stimulation of the muscles if ingested by fleas, leading to muscular fasciculation and tremors and initially followed by paralysis.
Lastly, cost-wise, flea dips are a lot cheaper than other flea products sold at stores and online. Purchasing one won’t strain the household budget.
If somebody tells you to get rid of your cat or your dog in order to get rid of the fleas, that’s probably the silliest and the cruelest thing you’ll ever do. Your pets have rights, and animal rights activists would love to see you put in a slammer for that. So take action right away instead.
Before the flea problem gets worse, treat them straight away. Remember, flea dips are the best aids for early treatment.