"Dog Fleas - Just Hearing Those Words Makes Me Want To Scratch!"
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Ctenocephalides Canis - Dog Fleas
Ctenocephalides canis, more commonly known to you and me as dog fleas, can certainly make your dog's life a misery.
Unfortunately, it's almost inevitable that at some point in your dog's life he'll play host to these annoying little parasites.
Fleas can cause such problems as intense itching and scratching, (which could lead to your dog losing patches of hair and/or infection) tapeworms, anemia and flea allergy dermatitis.
In order to get rid of a flea infestation quickly and effectively, it helps to understand the flea life cycle and its habitat.
Flea Life Cycle
There are four stages in the life cycle of fleas: adult, eggs, larvae, and pupae.
Simply killing fleas is not enough; given favourable conditions, any eggs already laid will hatch, and any larvae and pupae will continue to delvelop and will eventually become adult dog fleas.
Flea bites are actually puncture wounds that the flea inflicts when feeding on your (or your dog's) blood. They appear as red blotches, may become inflamed and/or swollen, and can be extremely itchy.
This allergic reaction is caused by an enzyme in the flea's saliva which causes irritation and an uncontrollable desire to scratch. If flea bites become infected they will need treatment.
Flea bites on humans and dogs are no joke - they can make our lives miserable!
Getting Rid Of Fleas On Your Dog And In Your Home
Flea control needs a systematic approach - first treat your dog and then treat your home.
A natural flea remedy can be just as effective; there's plenty of safe home remedies for fleas to choose from, just remember to check with your vet first.
If you find fleas on your dog, there's a good chance they're in your home too!
Getting rid of fleas in the house will require a thorough strategy as there's a strong possibility that there will be immature fleas, eggs, larvae or pupae deep in the pile of your carpets, as well as on soft furnishings, under the edges of your furniture, and in cracks and crevices.
Getting rid of fleas in your carpets will need your special attention, and may take a little longer, if you are to catch and eliminate/eradicate all flea forms present.
It's important to continue treating your dog and your home until you're certain that they're both clear of fleas.
Remember to check your dog's coat regularly for fleas or evidence of dog fleas, such as dried blood or flea eggs.
This can easily be done at night when he's lying quietly. Additionally, you can carry out a more thorough inspection when grooming your Cocker Spaniels.
