We don't usually have a problem with fleas on our dog, but I was very surprised to find several on my little dog, Mugsy, yesterday. I used to dog groom, so I thought I'd pass along some tips that came to mind when I was washing Mugsy yesterday.
How can you tell your dog has fleas? Fleas are small and run quickly for cover when discovered, but there's another way to tell your dog has fleas. When you run your hand through their fur, do you feel little gritty pieces close to their skin? Like little pieces of dirt? That is flea poop! Another way to tell is if your dog's fur takes on a rusty colored tone in spots from where fleas have bitten him (this is not the same as the rust color spots your dog may develop around their eyes or mouths).
Where do they hang out on your dog? Fleas love warm spots, so check around their ears, under their tails, and in the crevices of their legs (their "armpit" area basically).
What's a good way to kill fleas on your dog? I've tried the one drop flea killers which work well, but yesterday when I didn't have the money to spend on that, I used DAWN dish detergent which really worked well. The only thing about dawn is that it doesn't kill any flea eggs that might still be lurking in his fur or his bedding. So I will need to rewash him in another week and use a spray on his bedding to kill the eggs.
Tips for washing - VERY IMPORTANT! Whether you are using flea shampoo or dawn detergent, this part is crucial - the first place to apply the soap is in a ring around his neck. Otherwise, any fleas on his body that get wise to your plan will head for the inside of his ears only to resurface later! This way they will head right into the shampoo and die! Be sure to pay close attention to the areas noted above, the ears, under the tail, and their armpits. If you're using flea shampoo, follow the directions on the bottle for how long to leave on. If you're using dawn detergent, after you've totally coated the dog, let it sit for a few minutes to kill the fleas.
When rinsing a dog off, be very careful not to get water in their ears, nose, and mouth or it could cause medical problems.
I'll add more tips as I remember them. Good luck with your fleas! Now's when they'll be making a last ditch effort to get off the ground and onto your dog or cat. 1|1|Lauren Thanks for tips .......|melpaul|Melpaul199@aol.com|11:41:05|09/06/2012|
passing it along to my daughter 2|2|You're welcome Janet :) |Beaglesfly|lmllr77@aol.com|12:13:18|09/06/2012|
lauren