No pet owner wants to hear the word “fleas"; the mere mention of the word causes itching. Unfortunately, fleas are a part of most pet owners' lives, especially in the summer months. Your pet store offers a wide variety of flea shampoos and powders, but not all of them are necessary.
Bathing and Grooming
For the most part, a simple soap-and-water bath and a good flea comb are enough to kill any fleas residing on your dog. Soap, be it dish-washing soap or your dog’s regular shampoo, removes the waxy coating on a flea’s body. When this coating is gone, so is the flea’s protection from injury, dehydration and parasitic attacks. Soap clogs up the flea’s breathing tubes, leading to suffocation. Begin washing your dog’s head, as this is a typical flea hiding spot. Work the soap into your dog’s coat and let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing. Run a flea comb through your dog’s coat to pull out fleas. Submerge the fleas in a bowl of soapy water.
Don’t Forget the Bedding
Simple laundry detergent and hot water is enough to kill any fleas or flea larvae in your dog’s bedding. Place the bedding in your washing machine and run it through a full cycle. Do this at the same time you wash your dog.
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Writer Bio
Deborah Lundin is a professional writer with more than 20 years of experience in the medical field and as a small business owner. She studied medical science and sociology at Northern Illinois University. Her passions and interests include fitness, health, healthy eating, children and pets.