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Thanks to Guest Author Claire Trent for this article.
Pet care is not only about providing for an animal’s basic needs. The animal must also be loved, and he must be given a good home and a healthy life. Your pet’s health should be one of your priorities, and this includes bringing it to the vet for vaccinations and ensuring that it is protected from pests that can undermine its health. One example of a pest that can be detrimental to a pet’s health is the flea. It feeds on blood, and an infestation can cause all sorts of animal and even human health problems.
Greyscale picture of Robert Hooke’s drawing of a flea in his Micrographia. Magyar: Robert Hooke rajza egy bolháról (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
There are all sorts of pet products that help in killing fleas, such as soaps, powders and sprays. Before you buy one, consult your vet first. Find out which product will be best considering the level of flea infestation that your pet is suffering. More importantly, always follow package instructions. Do not douse your pet with chemicals thinking that this will quickly eradicate all those nasty fleas. This can have a serious effect on your animal. Furthermore, only use products on the species recommended. Do not use a flea formula for a dog on a cat because it might kill or cause serious health problems on the feline.
So, what sort of chemicals can you use to treat a flea infestation? Here are two examples.
- Flea soap or shampoo
Washing a dog in a bath tub (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
A flea soap or shampoo can be used to quickly reduce the number of fleas on a pet. When you see fleas crawling all over your animal, give your furry friend a bath using medicated soap or shampoo. You’ll notice that this will get rid of a lot of fleas upon rinsing. However, this method does not offer lasting relief. Usually, the effects only last for about a day or two. So, it’s essential to employ other methods that will help keep away the fleas for a longer period.
- Flea dip
The term “flea dip†can either refer to the process or the product used for getting rid of fleas. The process, as the term implies, involves dipping or immersing an animal in water that contains a “flea dip†or an insecticide. The main difference between a flea dip and a shampoo is that the former isn’t rinsed. The medicated solution from where the animal was dipped is allowed to dry on the creature’s fur or skin. Flea dip products usually have the same ingredients as shampoos, which can include limonene and pyrethrins. Flea dips are best for dogs because it is doubly hard to bath let alone “dip†a cat in water.
The effect of a flea dip can last to up to two weeks. This means that a lot of chemicals do stay on your pet’s coat or skin. Is this harmful? High exposure can cause serious side effects, such as cell death in primary organs. Hence, use as recommended. If you want to lessen your pet’s and your exposure to harmful chemicals, you can also use organic substances to create your own natural flea dip, such as those that use lemon and rosemary. In addition, never use a flea dip on puppies or kittens without consulting a vet.
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 License: Creative Commons image source
Claire Trent is a full-time freelancer who often blogs about pest control in Baltimore. Her topics are usually about bed bugs, rodents, and termites. She hopes that her articles will give people more information about their pest control options.
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