Flea Control and Prevention For Your Hunting Dogs

Summer brings along with it fleas in every nook and cranny of your yard. As a responsible pet owner, you need to know what flea treatments are available for us. Not only do you need to prevent eggs from turning into pupae, you also want to make sure that you treat your bird dogs and your pets bedding, and other areas where he plays and sleeps. Fortunately, we have Pyrethrin which is an insecticide which has been proven to be both safe and effective. Combine that with Methoprene and Fenoxycarb and you can prevent not just fleas but eggs and larvae as well.

The complete life span of a flea can last anywhere from 2 weeks up to 8 months. Why are they so hard to kill? The cocoon that the pupa wraps itself in is completely impervious to insecticides. This is why people sometimes see a new infestation of fleas 2 weeks after the initial treatment. Once the pupa stage is over, an adult flea emerges. And you are back to square one.

Flea Baths
When you wash your dog with flea bath using special flea shampoo, any live fleas will be killed. A flea dip is very strong and excessively laden with chemicals, so use them with care and only in severe situations. Stay away from flea dips if you have small children at home.

Spot On Medications
These easy to use once a month treatments are designed to kill adult fleas and are dispensed directly to your dogs skin beginning at the neck typically and going down the top of their back. Before you use this type of treatment, check and see if they also prevent the growth of eggs and/or larvae. Your dog should be at least two month old before you use this type of treatment and check the label for reduced potency if your dog is bathed often or enjoys swimming.

Pill Flea Treatment
Known for its effect as a “flea birth control”, this is also a monthly treatment. When the flea bites your dog, they become sterile and die without every laying eggs. When this happens, the fleas will die out completely, leaving you flea-free. Since this type of treatment can’t be washed off in water, it is great for pets that live indoors.

Natural Methods
Looking for a low chemical way to control fleas? First, vacuum everything completely often. This includes carpet, furniture, pillows and pet bedding. Burn or toss the bag immediately. Next, launder everything you can in hot water. Finally, sprinkle dried pennyroyal, pyrethrum powder or diatomaceous earth into rugs, under cushions and mattresses and in pet bedding. (Don’t use pennyroyal if your pet is pregnant.) After a few days, repeat the whole cycle.

Clean from inside out
Fleas love pet bedding, furniture, cushions, and thick carpeting. Vacuum everything before treating your home. Insecticides will reach immature fleas more easily. Burn or trash vacuum bag immediately. The dust and hair in the bag are a flea buffet. Wash pet bedding often in hot water.

In the outdoors, fleas usually stay in wet and shaded places like dog houses or kennels, flower beds, and underneath your deck or porch. If your pet spends time in these or other areas, treat the area. Also, rake and mow the lawn completely to keep fleas away. Rake up leaves from flower beds and beneath bushes to make insecticides more effective in these areas. Clean all pet kennels or carriers and make sure you vacuum the inside of your car. Garages, basements, and other rooms without carpetting should be mopped completely to kill flea larvae creeping in the cracks and crevices.

If you’re concerned about an infestation of your home or your yard, you may want to consider treating the area with a fogger or spray that can be effective, especially for heavily infested areas. You should follow all the directions for using these treatments and retreat in 2-3 weeks.

The most important reason for treating fleas immediately is the hazard to both your family and your pet. Flea bites cause annoying itches that can lead to skin problems, dermatitis, hair loss (in your pets) and even infection. If your pet becomes infected from a flea bite they can wind up with anemia or even tapeworms which can lead to other health problems. Help your home stay flea free and your pet stay safe from possible flea infestations.

Tags: bird dogs, flea, Flea Baths, Flea Control, flea dip, flea treatment, fogger, hunting dogs, Pets, Spot On Medications