Effective Flea Control: Beyond Just Deworming Dogs!

Every day, as dogs venture out to play, they are constantly exposed to complex environments and other animals, which significantly increases their chances of picking up fleas or other parasites. This is especially true for dogs that are not regularly dewormed. However, when a dog is infested with fleas, relying solely on deworming to solve the problem is not sufficient. But why is that?

What Symptoms Indicate That a Dog Has Fleas?

1. Constant scratching: Dogs may repeatedly scratch at their bodies, particularly in areas like the neck, ears, abdomen, base of the tail, and inner legs, which are favorite haunts for fleas.

2. Red spots or rashes: Bites from fleas can cause redness or rashes due to an allergic reaction to the anticoagulant substances in their saliva.

3. Numerous black spots: Adult fleas feed on blood and then excrete black, tarlike granules in the fur. When these granules come into contact with water, they turn red.

4. Localized hair loss: Persistent scratching and biting can lead to hair loss in certain areas, exposing the skin and potentially causing dermatitis and scabs.

5. Restlessness: Fleabitten dogs may appear restless and anxious, constantly rubbing their bodies on the ground and biting at their skin in an attempt to relieve itching.

Why Deworming Alone Is Not Enough to Eliminate Fleas?

Although fleas primarily live in a dog's fur and do not easily drop off, they can fall into the environment for several reasons:

1. When a dog is bitten and itches, it may scratch and shake its fur, causing some fleas to accidentally drop off and hide in places like carpets, sofa crevices, and dog beds.

2. Fleas lay eggs on the dog, and some of these eggs fall to the ground and hatch, leading to an infestation. Female fleas can produce up to 50 eggs per day, and these eggs can hatch in as little as 2 to 15 days. Therefore, if you find one flea on your dog, there could already be hundreds or even thousands of eggs and fleas in your home!

● While deworming medications can kill fleas on the dog, they do not address the fleas and eggs in the environment. Once the eggs hatch, they can reinfect the dog.

How to Permanently Eliminate Fleas?

1. Timely Deworming: Fleas are common carriers of tapeworms, so it's not enough to just deworm externally. It's recommended to use deworming medication containing pyrantel pamoate, which acts on the central nervous system of parasites, causing paralysis and death. This treatment is effective, longlasting, and particularly effective against fleas, lice, and ticks. Moxidectin is a macrolide antiparasitic drug that has a high efficacy against nematodes and arthropods and is highly safe.

2. Environmental Disinfection: Mix 84 disinfectant with water and mop the floors, then thoroughly clean items like sofa covers, bedding, and curtains. Unwashed items can be sprayed with hypochlorous acid disinfectant, which is nonirritating to the respiratory system and safe, even if the dog licks it. After disinfection, spray some permethrin for better flea control. Keep the windows closed for 30 minutes, during which time no people or animals should be inside. After ventilation, enter the room only when there is no lingering odor.

● Note: One round of disinfection may not completely eliminate fleas in the environment. It is recommended to repeat this process for at least a week.

3. HighTemperature Exposure: Wash items like dog beds, blankets, sheets, and pillows thoroughly before placing them in direct sunlight to kill fleas with UV rays. If items are too expensive to wash, they can be discarded. After washing, expose them to the sun to eliminate fleas.

In conclusion, dealing with fleas on dogs requires a comprehensive and ongoing strategy. This includes pet deworming, environmental management, and preventive measures to effectively control and prevent flea infestations.