Tried and Tested Remedies for Preventing Fleas in Dogs

If there is anything that pet owners dread and loathe in equal measure, it is fleas. These nasty insects thrive on the blood of mammals, and dogs who love frisking about and rolling in grass become susceptible hosts to these blood-sucking parasites. Once they find their way to your pet’s skin and into your home, getting rid of them can be an arduous task. That’s why you must teach yourself about preventing fleas in dogs. 

The adage prevention is better than cure couldn’t ring truer than it does for keeping your pet flea-free. But how exactly do you do that? Here is a complete guide on flea control for dogs to help you get started. 

How to Check Your Dog for Fleas

Even with the best flea control measures in place, you cannot rule out the possibility of these pesty little creatures finding their way to your dog’s skin and latching on. While one-odd flea on your dog’s skin isn’t typically a cause for concern, as long as you have effective preventive measures in place, it’s still important to keep an eye out for their presence. 

Even with the best flea prevention approach in place, you can’t afford to get complacent because these parasites don’t just cause discomfort to your pet but can also lead to serious health complications. These can range from skin irritation and itching to hot spots, hair loss, allergic reactions in certain dogs, and in cases of infestation, anemia, and tapeworm infection.   

So, along with trying to figure out “how to keep fleas off my dog”, you also need to ask, “How do I check my dog for fleas?” Here are a few ways: 

1. Look for physical signs of flea bites

If your dog is scratching more than usual, has red, inflamed bumps on their skin, you notice bald patches in their fur, or pale gums (a sign of anemia), pay attention. These are all symptoms of flea infestation and warrant further investigation. 

2. Inspect your dog’s body and fur

A thorough inspection of your dog’s fur becomes imperative if you notice any of the above-mentioned symptoms. But even if you don’t, it’s advisable to examine your pet’s coat from time to time. To do so, run your fingers through your dog’s fur, moving against the grain of hair. Since fleas move fast, you may not be able to catch them if it’s only one-odd, but you may be able to feel bite marks or bumps on the skin. However, if it is an infestation, you may actually be able to feel the fleas in your dog’s coat with your hands.

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3. Use a flea comb

Whether you discover a few unusual marks on your dog’s body that warrant further investigation or uncover a nasty infestation, the next order of business is to get those blood-sucking parasites off your pet. Flea combs are your best ally in this quest. Manually searching for fleas can be tedious, time-consuming, and a little gross, but these fine-tooth combs make the job much easier. Just comb through diligently, covering every inch of your pet’s coat, and repeat for a few days to make sure you get them all. 

4. Look for tell-tale signs around the house

Flea dirt — tiny black specks that look a lot like ground black pepper — caught in your dog’s hair or falling off it, flea eggs — tiny white granules that look a lot like grains of rice — in places where your dog typically sits of sleeps are also tell-tale markers of an infestation. To confirm your suspicion, you can set a light trap at night — leaving a dish filled with soapy water near a night light. Once it gets dark, fleas will jump toward the light and fall into the water dish. The next morning, you will have conclusive proof of whether or not your dog has a flea problem.

Tried and Tested Ways of Preventing Fleas in Dogs 

Now that we’ve covered the importance of flea control for dogs and ways to ascertain whether you need to take steps in that direction, let’s talk about how to do it right. From natural flea control for dogs to accessories that repel these pesty insects and flea and tick medication, there are lots of different ways to protect your pet from this nuisance.  

How to prevent fleas on dogs naturally – Home remedies

If you’re looking for the best flea prevention approach, several home remedies can prove effective. Let’s take a look at how to prevent fleas on dogs naturally:

Note: Please consult your vet before using any of these home remedies for preventing fleas in dogs to make sure you don’t end up doing more harm than good. 

1. Essential oils 

Essential oils of eucalyptus, tea tree, rosemary, citronella, and peppermint are excellent for natural flea control for dogs. However, since these oils are highly concentrated, you must dilute them appropriately. This is particularly crucial when using essential oils like tea tree, which in its original form can be immensely toxic to dogs. The right way to use essential oils is to add a few drops to about 400 ml of water. If your dog is comfortable with it, you can use a spray bottle to drizzle this solution all over your pet’s coat and let it dry. It’s advisable to check with your vet before using this solution if the problem is already aggravated and your pet is suffering from flea allergy dermatitis.

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2. Apple cider vinegar and sea salt spray 

How to keep fleas off my dog for good, you ask? Here is an effective remedy you can try: apple cider vinegar and sea salt spray. Apple cider vinegar is effective in balancing the pH levels of your dog’s skin, thus making it an unsustainable host for fleas. To make this spray, add four cups of water in six cups of apple cider vinegar, and top it up with a dash of sea salt. Use a spray bottle to get it all over your dog’s coat, moving against the grain of hair to get to the skin. Avoid contact with eyes and ears.  

3. Lemon Bath 

Lemon bath is a front-runner for natural flea control for dogs. To make a lemon bath, squeeze half a cup of freshly squeezed lemon juice and dilute it with two cups of water. Then, mix it with your dog’s shampoo and apply it. Who knew a readily available kitchen ingredient could be the keeping your dog flea-free? 

4. Rosemary flea dip

Another simple answer to how to prevent fleas on dogs naturally is a Rosemary flea dip. Steep fresh rosemary leaves in a pot of boiling water, strain the mixture, and then either allow it to cool or add some water to it to bring down the temperature. Then pour the solution over your down and let it dry. 

5. Neem oil 

Neem oil, which acts as a natural insect repellent, is a great choice for topical flea prevention that few pet parents know about. Although it is native to sub-tropical regions like India and Sri Lanka, it’s not hard to find packaged multi-purpose neem oil online or in large department stores anywhere in the world. You can apply this oil directly to your pet’s coat, make a spray out of it by diluting it with water, or mix it in your dog’s shampoo, et voila! There couldn’t be a more effective natural flea control for dogs.

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6. Coconut oil

Among the natural ways of preventing fleas in dogs is the elixir of oils — coconut oil. Rub it directly on your dog’s coat, making sure it seeps down to the skin, to repel fleas and their pestier cousins, ticks. You can even add a teaspoon of virgin coconut oil to your dog’s food to not just prevent fleas but also internal parasites. Given its antifungal, antiviral, and antibacterial properties, coconut oil can contribute immensely to promoting good health. 

7. Brewer’s yeast

If you feel that topical prevention is a mere quick fix for preventing fleas in dogs, you’re on to something. It’s a well-known fact that healthy dogs are less susceptible to fleas, and therefore, working from the inside out can be the best flea prevention approach. For that, Brewer’s yeast can be an unlikely but effective ally. Just add half a teaspoon to your dog’s meals to keep them flea-free. 

Accessories for tick and flea prevention

While natural remedies for flea prevention are effective, they may not be everyone’s cup of tea. If you’re wondering, “How to keep fleas off my dog without homemade flea dips, sprays, and solutions?”, there is a wide variety of packaged products you can choose from. Let’s take a look at some of the most effective ones, so you don’t spend hours staring at an endless array of products, wondering how to choose the right flea-prevention product for your dog:

1. Flea collar

Flea collars are one of the most effective and popular choices for preventing fleas in dogs. These are made of polymer matrix and infused with active ingredients — imidacloprid for fleas and flumethrin for ticks — which are consistently released to disorient insects and make them stop feeding on your pet’s blood. If you’re looking for a single solution for flea and tick prevention, a collar can be a great choice. These are known to reduce flea count by up to 95%. 

2. Flea comb 

If despite all preventive measures, your pet does come down with a flea problem, a flea-comb is the most recommended method of dealing with it. This fine-tooth comb effectively removes fleas and their eggs from dogs’ coats. 

3. Flea shampoo 

A flea shampoo is also a popular way of preventing fleas in dogs. These shampoos contain active ingredients that form a layer form a protective layer on your dog’s skin, killing fleas on contact. 

4. Flea prevention medication 

Sometimes, despite the best flea prevention measures, you may find that your pet’s coat has been infested. If this leads to health complications such as an allergic reaction, a rash, dermatitis, or in extreme cases, anemia or tapeworm infection, topical flea prevention methods may no longer prove effective. In that case, you need to consult a vet and seek oral flea medication, along with any other treatments the doctor may prescribe, and follow through on it. 

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How to Prevent Fleas in the House

Along with keeping your dog flea-free, it becomes equally important to ensure that these insects don’t find a breeding ground in your home. Once they start nesting in the furnishings around the house — sofas, beds, curtains, bed linen, carpets, and so on — it can be hard to prevent them from making their way to your pet’s body. Besides, flea bites can be harmful to humans as well. So, while treating your dog for fleas, you must also take measures to rid your home of them. Here is how to prevent fleas in the house: 

• Machine wash and tumble dry the furnishings: Wash all the furnishings your dog comes in contact with and then tumble dry them thoroughly. While labor-intensive, this is an effective answer to how to prevent fleas in the house 
• Steam clean what you can’t wash: Carpets, sofa upholstery, etc can be hard to wash or the material they are made of may not be fit for washing at all. In such cases, steam cleaning can help in flea removal from the house 
• Thorough vacuuming: Follow this up with thorough vacuuming. However, fleas can escape and find their way back into their hiding spots around the house as soon as the cleaning bag of the vacuum cleaner is opened. It’s best to either empty these bags outside or dip them in water so that any fleas trapped inside are killed instantly 
• Try DIY solutions:  DIY solutions such as sprinkling baking soda or salt in the areas where fleas are likely to nest can also be the answer to how to prevent fleas in the house. You can also use a lemon spray — prepared the same way as you would use it on your dog’s fur — around the house to kill and repel fleas  
• Set up a flea trap: Another way of ridding your home of fleas is to set a flea trap by leaving a dish filled with soapy water near a night light. Once it gets dark, fleas will jump toward the light and fall into the water dish

Preventing fleas in dogs is always a smarter choice than struggling with the consequences of an infestation. From checking your pet for fleas regularly to adopting preventive measures at the first hint of the presence of these insects, and getting them the right medical attention at the right time in case an infestation takes hold, I’ve laid it all down for you. Follow through, and you and your pet will be happier for it.