Fleas are small insects that feed off of animal or human blood. You can often tell if your pet has fleas if they’re biting themselves. They could bite themselves on their rear as if trying to bite the base of their tail. You can test to see if your pet has fleas by using a flea comb and brushing from their mid back towards their bottom. When you pick up the flea comb, you may see little black specks or a resemblance of black pepper. This may be flea dirt or regular dirt.
How To Test For Flea Dirt
Flea dirt is a mixture of blood meal and flea waste. To test, clean the flea comb on a wet white paper towel, fold the paper in half then rub the side with the specks with the other side of the paper towel. If it is flea dirt, you will see a blood streak from where the black speck was brushed.
How To Get Rid Of Fleas and Flea Dirt
Getting rid of fleas will take a lot of time and commitment. It’s not going to go away overnight or just by applying flea prevention. If your pet has fleas, that means they are also in your home. In carpets, your pet’s bed, in areas where they mostly sleep. Everything should be washed in hot water. This means, pillows, blankets, and bedding. Also, vacuum your home. Once everything is vacuumed, it’s best to empty the vacuum outside. You may apply the flea prevention beforehand, so the medication starts going into effect. If you’d like to give your pet a flea bath, you may speak with your veterinarian to see what flea shampoo they recommend.
Different Types Of Flea Prevention
Most flea prevention are also tick prevention. Some may be a topical solution that you apply in between your pet’s shoulder blades, there are others that are chewable tablets that can be given once a month, and then there are flea collars. Lots of flea prevention medication also get rid of a number of insects and parasites.
Bravecto is a chewable tablet that should be given every 12 weeks. It protects against:
- Fleas
- Black-legged ticks
- American dog ticks
- Brown dog Ticks
- Lone star ticks for 8 weeks
Frontline is a topical ointment that is given once monthly. Frontline protects against:
- Adult fleas
- Flea eggs
- Flea larvae
- Chewing lice
- Sarcoptic mange
- Brown dog ticks
- American dog ticks
- Lone star ticks
Nexgard is a chewable tablet that is given once monthly. It protects against:
- Fleas
- Black-legged ticks
- American dog ticks
- Lone star ticks
- Brown dog ticks
Seresto is a collar. It has coverage for 8 months. It is odorless and non-greasy. Seresto protects against:
- Fleas
- Deer ticks
- American dog ticks
- Brown dog ticks
- Lone star ticks
- Lice
- Sarcoptic mange
These are just a few preventatives to help protect your pet against fleas and ticks.
Please call your veterinarian if your pet has fleas to assist with any recommendations.