How to Treat Fleas in Puppies and Dogs
 |
| source : Photo by Chevanon Photography: https://www.pexels.com/photo |
Fleas are found in over
2,200 different species around the world, but just a few of them afflict dogs in North America. The most frequent flea that infests dogs is the cat flea, which can cause far more than irritation. To choose the best anti-flea weaponry, you must first comprehend your adversary. The adult flea you found crawling through your puppy's fur could only be the beginning. Fleas can induce allergies, anemia, and tapeworm transmission; they are also the source of cat scratch disease.
Signs of Fleas in Dogs and Puppies
Flea-infested puppies are usually quite itchy, which can affect both your pet's and your own quality of life. Fleas prefer dogs' back ends, forcing them to gnaw on their sides and above their tails. You might see "flea dirt," which looks like small black particles, if you split your pet's fur. This is blood that has been digested and is found in the feces of adult fleas. When placed on a damp cloth or paper towel, flea filth turns crimson.
A single flea bite causes extreme itchiness in pets with flea allergies. The saliva of the flea causes allergies in these puppies. For dogs with flea allergies, products that repel and destroy fleas work best.
Causes of Fleas
Fleas are flightless parasitic insects that infest both birds and mammals. They are around a tenth of an inch long, with flat bodies and sharp claws that allow them to easily attach to a host's skin, fur, or feathers. Fleas have mouthparts that enable them to puncture the skin and consume blood. Fleas may hop a long distance when they're on the go. Adult fleas make up only 5% of the overall flea population; the remaining 95% is made up of flea eggs, larvae, and pupae that live in the environment.
Flea bites cause itching, which can escalate to skin edema, inflammation, ulceration, and hair loss in dogs with flea allergies. Fleas can also spread a variety of diseases, some of which are fatal. Flea-borne diseases have wreaked havoc on human populations, and they can be just as bad for dogs.
Fleas can lay 20 to 40 eggs per day, and 10 female fleas can produce about 250,000 distinct life stages in a month. Pre-emerging fleas (pupae/cocoon stage) may survive six months without feeding while newly emerged flea larvae can survive two weeks without a blood meal.
Treatment
Flea treatment entails removing and destroying adult and young fleas. The egg, larvae, and adult stages of fleas are all addressed by flea products, but the cocoon (pupal) stage is not. You will continue to see fleas until all of the immature fleas in their habitat have hatched out of the pupae, therefore you must wait until it hatches to destroy it. The lifecycle takes between 14 and 21 days to complete.
Non-Chemical Methods
 |
| source : Photo by Adrian Frentescu: https://www.pexels.com/photo |
Many pet owners wish to avoid using chemicals to control fleas. Using a flea comb to physically remove fleas, eggs, and flea filth is the safest and most "natural" flea management method. Vacuuming the carpet on a regular basis can remove up to 90% of flea eggs and 50% of larvae. Pet beds, carriers, blankets, and throw rugs, as well as any sofa cushions or other preferred pet resting areas, must all be washed.
Fleas can be removed by bathing puppies, but this does not guarantee that they will not return. Be wary of so-called "natural" flea treatments, as they may still be harmful to children.
Insect Growth Regulators (IGRs)
While the aforementioned solutions can assist lower flea populations, insect growth regulators (IGRs)-containing products are the best choice for precise control since they prevent young fleas from growing into biting adults. They usually last a long period with a single application, up to seven months in certain cases.
 |
| source : Photo by Simona Kidrič: https://www.pexels.com/photo |
IGRs kill insects but not pets, making them one of the safest flea ingredients available. Methoprene, for example, deceives flea larva into believing it will remain a larva forever, preventing it from maturing into a biting adult flea. Lufenuron (once-monthly pills for your pet) is an early IGR that prevents the formation of the flea's exoskeleton and sterilizes the bug, preventing it from reproducing. Pyriproxyfen (Nylar) is a stronger version of methoprene that kills flea eggs and larvae as well.
A better understanding of flea biology also aided researchers in developing chemicals that target the neurological system of the flea. Imidacloprid (Advantage), fipronil (Frontline), selamectin (Revolution), and nitenpyram are some of them (Capstar.) Once a month, these are used as spot-on treatments. Each of these four active substances takes between 24 and 48 hours to completely activate and provides slightly different advantages.
_Adult fleas are killed with imidacloprid, which has a month-long effect.
_Fipronil also kills adult fleas and ticks for a month.
_Selamectin protects against a variety of parasites for a month, including fleas, ear mites, heartworms, and certain ticks.
_Nitenpyram kills adult fleas that feed on a treated pet in 20 minutes when taken as a pill, however it only lasts 24 hours and isn't effective on flea-allergic animals.
Adulticides and IGRs
Some of the most effective flea and tick solutions on the market today combine an adulticide to kill adult fleas with an insect growth regulator (IGR) to decrease the population of juvenile bugs. Fipronil and methoprene are found in numerous over-the-counter spot-on flea and tick control treatments, as well as etofenprox coupled with pyriproxyfen (Nylar) or methoprene in various over-the-counter spot-on flea and tick control products. There are also products that contain imidacloprid combined with permethrin (K-9 Advantix, for dogs exclusively) or spinosad (Comfortis for dogs).
How to Prevent Fleas
Fleas dislike direct sunshine and prefer to hide in sand, leaves, or other trash in the shadow. As a result, your puppy's risk of exposure is partly determined by their lifestyle. Indoor couch potato puppies are unlikely to require the same level of protection as hunting dogs in the wild. Even leashed dogs who visit the yard get enough exposure to require flea prevention.
To get enough sunshine, keep your lawn's grass short. This is an undesirable habitat for most parasites. Pest populations can be reduced by keeping pets away from trouble areas and treating bug habitats. Lawn and garden supply stores sell nematodes, which are worms that consume young fleas.
 |
| source : Photo by Kelatout: https://www.pexels.com/photo |
The type of product you should purchase is influenced by your age and overall health status. Make sure the flea or tick protection is safe for your pets by reading the label carefully. Some products, for example, are harmful to puppies.
While parasites are most active in the summer and are vulnerable to harsh cold, it's difficult to forecast when fleas will be a problem. As a result, the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) recommends year-round flea and tick protection.
Consult your physician for advice on how to effectively protect your puppy against fleas. Only prescriptions are available for the most effective products. If you choose an over-the-counter product, carefully read the label and follow the product directions to safeguard your pets' health and safety.