How to remove fleas from a puppy?
Flea treatment is recommended throughout the year: as often as indicated in the instructions for the selected product. If it is winter outside, if the puppy is completely healthy and does not communicate with other animals, there is still a risk of infection. Even during severe frosts, fleas feel great near heating mains. In addition, they live not only on the street, but also in the entrances of residential buildings, and you can bring them into the apartment on your own shoes. One last thing: you can never be sure if another dog on the playground is free of fleas. Do not rely on the assurances of the owner: perhaps he himself does not know about the infection, because. in the early stages, it goes unnoticed. If you do not take all this into account and do not provide your pet with regular reliable protection, fleas will not be slow to give you trouble!
Fleas are the most common parasites in dogs and cats. Adult individuals settle on the animal and feed on its blood. Bites give the dog great discomfort: they hurt and itch, and the pet tears them into blood. Wounds open the gate for the penetration of infections. In addition, fleas themselves are potential sources of dangerous diseases.
If adults feed on blood, then their larvae feed on various contaminants, dust and waste products of adult fleas. They can grow and develop outside the dog’s body, for example, on his bed or furniture in the apartment. Having passed this phase, they join their parents, i.e. besiege the body of the unfortunate animal, bringing with it new bites and risks.
Flea infestation is easier to prevent than eliminate. But what if the pet is still infected? How to remove fleas from a puppy at home?
- Make sure your puppy has fleas
Before removing fleas, you need to make sure that the problem is in them. To do this, it is enough to examine the puppy’s skin. Fleas reproduce very quickly, and chances are you’ll spot at least one parasite. Another clue is black “grains” on the skin. It is nothing but flea excrement. If you did not find either, but the dog itches, most likely, we are talking about dermatological problems. Contact your veterinarian.
- Analyze the situation
Think about the possible causes of infection and try to prevent them in the future. Very often, fleas appear due to poor-quality or untimely updated protection. Evaluate the effectiveness of your product and follow the treatment plan. If the puppy lives with the mother, the fleas may have passed from her.
Flea treatment is carried out for all pets in the house!
- Bathe the puppy
A good anti-parasitic shampoo will help rid your puppy of fleas at home. Before making a purchase, make sure that the product is suitable for the age of the pet. Many antiparasitic lines are designed for adult dogs, they are contraindicated for babies!
Choose gentle shampoos that are safe for small puppies and kittens (such as Bio-groom flea&tick). To achieve the effect, follow the instructions for use. On our portal you can read,.
Treat for parasites 2 days before bathing or 2 days after!
- Treat your puppy for parasites
Bathing a puppy is half the battle. Shampoos do not guarantee 100% destruction of fleas. Therefore, two days after bathing, treat your pet for parasites.
Choose the protection that suits your pet. Very effective and easy to use drops on the withers. The dog cannot lick them. When applied, the drops gradually spread throughout the body, concentrate in the sebaceous glands and, together with the secret, are evenly distributed over the skin and coat of the puppy. A flea that lives on a dog treated in this way dies.
Other methods of protection: special sprays, collars and tablets. Be careful. Collars, for example, repel fleas, but do not destroy existing ones. Before buying, make sure that the drug meets your task and suits the puppy.
One flea remedy is usually sufficient. Combining different drugs is dangerous, especially for a fragile puppy. In order not to make a mistake, carefully study the instructions.
- Replace or treat the couch
After bathing the puppy, it is better to wash or replace the bed: most likely, flea larvae live on it. Alternatively, treat it with a special antiparasitic agent. Furniture and carpets are also desirable to process.
- Treat all animals in the house
If you have other dogs or cats at home, they should also be treated for fleas. Choose products that are appropriate for their age and weight.
Antiparasitics must be suitable for the age and weight of your puppy!
- Stick to the instructions
Even the most reliable protection will not help if used incorrectly. Strictly follow the instructions for use and follow the period of action. As soon as the protection period expires, repeat the processing.
- Deworming
Misfortune never comes alone! So fleas “attract” helminths behind them. Having dealt with external parasites, do not forget about internal ones. If you haven’t dewormed your puppy yet, now is the time to do so. More about this in the article: “”.
- Maintaining immunity
The puppy’s body is growing all the time and needs a huge amount of energy. Infestation with parasites (both external and internal) hits him and weakens the health of the puppy. To prevent this from happening, take care of the correct balanced nutrition of the baby and, if possible, introduce prebiotic drinks (Viyo) into his diet. They regulate metabolism and strengthen the immune system.
That’s all the basic steps. At first glance, they may seem complicated, but in practice you will quickly learn them.
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