Fleas on Dogs
We love to keep pets – the companionship and the enjoyment we get from caring for a cat or dog is something that cannot be found elsewhere – yet fleas on dogs are an almost ubiquitous problem, just as the tiny parasites affect cats to such a great degree, too.
Fleas are everywhere; these microscopic and very resilient creatures are said to affect every single dog and cat at some point during its lifetime (and in most cases more than once) and treating them is made more difficult still by the absolutely minute size.
The problem with fleas on dogs is that the creatures feed on the animal’s blood; in young dogs especially this can lead to added infection as the fleas cause blood problems and other infections which can lead to serious illness and even death in very young animals.
Dogs that associate with others are likely to contract fleas by contact; fleas cannot fly yet they have an amazing ability to jump more than 200 times the length of their body, a feat that is not matched by any other creature. This means they can easily transfer between hosts, and that they spread very quickly indeed.
One problem that is prevalent in flea infestations on dogs – and in fleas on humans, too – is that some can be subject to allergenic reactions to the presence of the creatures. This is another way in which the parasites can cause greater problems if they are left untreated.
Fleas are not just a minor problem, therefore, but one that should be treated with a serious intent. If you have more than one dog then the fleas will undoubtedly spread between the animals, making successful treatment ever more important.
Getting rid of fleas is best done by way of one of the many insecticide treatments available from vets and pharmacies widely, and these are known to have very successful results. Further help can be given by frequent and thorough vacuuming and keeping the animals washed, while combing through the hair of the pet can allow you to see fleas as they fall off onto a carefully placed sheet of white paper.
Any animals that are suspected of having fleas should be kept away from others until the infestation is known to have been destroyed, while any suspected cases of fleas need to be diagnosed quickly and correctly, and the very best possible treatment administered as quickly as possible.