We all dislike to think that we have insects feeding and living off us. Mosquitoes are bad enough, but fleas, ticks and lice are even worse. They do not simply come over for dinner, they actually move in. Dogs and cats are usually responsible for bringing fleas into our homes, but ticks and lice we can bring ourselves as well.
If you suspect an infestation or an immanent infestation of fleas or other bugs in your home, you should do something about it right away. The first thing to do is chain the dog up in the yard and clean up the house. Place your bedding and any loose covers, like cushion or chair covers, on a boil wash. Then get out the vacuum cleaner, put a large dose of flea powder into the bag and vacuum the whole house – even the chairs and the curtains.
Then take a large can of insecticide containing 0.5% permethrin and spray every textile that you can see. This will kill all bugs and will keep your house insect free for about six months. Think twice if you have fish or cats as permethrin will kill them too, although it is wholly safe for humans and dogs.
So, now you can turn your attention to Fido. Fleas are by far the most common problem, but some areas where there are deer, may have a lot of ticks too. If you dog has ticks, make certain that you keep your grass short. Ticks prefer long grass.
Fleas and ticks often produce an allergic reaction in dogs which drives them mad. They bite and scratch themselves until their fur falls out and their skin bleeds.
If you dog has a condition like this, you should wash him with a medicated shampoo, dust him with flea powder, put a flea collar on him and put a little oil on his sore skin. If he still will not leave it alone, you may have to get him a ruff for a few days until his skin heals over. For maintenance, a regular bath and a dusting should be sufficient.
Worms are another horrible thought. Imagine having worms living inside you. I know that we do all have parasites inside us, but they are supposed to be there. I am talking about the ones that are not supposed to be in there like: tape worms, round worms, hook worms and whip worms. A bad hook infection can even render your dog anaemic.
Hook worm larvae can enter through the skin, so when you are bathing or grooming him, be on the look out for what looks like small cuts. Often the dogs stools will be runny and tinged with blood. These are serious pests and need to be treated immediately.
The other worms are less dangerous and all puppies have round worms. Round worms and pieces of dead tape worm in the stools are a sign of infection. A pot belly in a puppy is also a call to action. Worms are not difficult to treat and you should worm your dog every six months with a tablet. Not all of these worming tablets are appropriate for puppies though.
Owen Jones, the writer of this article writes on quite a few topics, but is currently involved with natural tick repellent. If you would like to know more or check out some great offers, please go to our website at tick Repellent For Dogs.