fleas - search results

Baking soda can dehydrate fleas, but it and other common home remedies doesn't kill them in the numbers needed to deal with even a mild infestation. Lets sort through the myths and find out what home and chemical treatments are an effective flea killing solution.

While a few fleas are unlikely to seriously injure a dog, a severe flea infestation can lead to serious health problems, and in extreme cases, dogs can die from complications. Puppies, senior dogs, and dogs with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to these complications.

Your house is perfect for fleas all year round. Even if the outdoor weather is sufficient to eliminate fleas, every life stage will be nice and cozy in our warm homes that are complete with nooks and crannies to hide and hosts to feed on.

Fleas are among the most irritating and harmful parasites that attack dogs. Fleas are among the most irritating and harmful parasites that attack dogs.

The basic ingredient in any shampoo is soap, and you can use anything from a liquid dish soap (look for sensitive-skin formulas) to baby shampoo or a castile soap containing olive oil, coconut oil, jojoba oil, or other moisturizing oils.

While all dogs are susceptible to flea infestations, puppies less than 8 weeks old are particularly vulnerable to fleas, which can cause intense itching, skin irritation, and even more serious health problems such as anemia due to blood loss.

Despite our best efforts, dogs sometimes end up with fleas and ticks. If your dog has an active flea or tick infestation, knowing what steps to take to get rid of the pests will make the whole ordeal less stressful for you both. Choosing the best flea and tick shampoo for dogs will depend on your dog, whether you have other pets in the home, and your vet’s recommendation.

Today, spot-on flea products are advertised in every sort of media available to animal guardians and veterinarians, and are touted as safe and effective. However, the safety record of these products is not as spotless as the manufacturers would make us believe. After all, they contain pesticides, which are poisons, and they also contain toxic ingredients that are not disclosed to consumers – or even veterinarians – without applying through the Freedom of Information Act. The danger presented by these products is apparent in the hundreds of incident reports that sit in the Environmental Protection Agency's files – not to mention the manufacturer's own animal laboratory studies.

The job of getting rid of fleas in your house or yard really consists of taking on both the adults and all the other flea life stages. One could think of the non-adult phases of the flea as another species of pest, given that each stage has differing life needs and vulnerabilities. Because flea eggs, larvae, and pupae all have the potential for turning into fleas, destroying the insects in the non-adult stages is critical to preventing the population from repeatedly bouncing back into your and your dog's lives.

Nobody thinks fleas are good for dogs. But do you know why they are bad? And that they are bad for you and your...

Many human foods are toxic to dogs, including grapes, raisins, onions, and garlic. But, you say, garlic has health benefits for your dog and...

I was visiting a friend recently, and had brought (with her permission) my adolescent dog Woody along for the ride. Her (quite elderly) mother asked me, as we entered the home, "Does he have fleas?" I assured her he does not, but the brief exchange did bring up memories.

Years ago, I had a Border Collie, Rupert, who was incredibly hypersensitized to flea bites. I've met dogs with more severe flea allergies, but I can't imagine living with one. I, too, grilled my friends at the front door about their dogs' flea-bearing status. If they professed not to know, or were avowed non-users of flea-control products, they could forget coming into MY house. We could go for a walk together instead! I had to protect Rupert at all costs.