How to Protect Your Dog During Flea Season

Not only do fleas make dogs uncomfortable, but they also carry diseases which can be transmitted to humans. Flea prevention is important not only for your dog's health but also for your family's health. This article will answer your questions about how to protect your dog during the flea season.

Protecting My Dog From Fleas

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), protecting your dog during flea season can be done by following these tips:

Use a monthly flea and tick preventative.

The most effective way of protecting your dog from fleas is to use a veterinary strength monthly flea and tick preventative, not an over the counter generic preventative.

Your dog should be given this medication monthly, year round. They are available in a liquid topical form, in a wearable collar form, or in an oral pill form. Talk to your dog's veterinarian about what products they recommend. Know that dogs cannot use cat products and cats cannot use dog products, so don’t interchange those products.

Groom your dog regularly.

By bathing and brushing your dog regularly, you can help discourage fleas from taking up residence. Keep in mind that bathing a dog too often can irritate their skin; most dogs who spend minimal time outdoors do well with a bath every month or every two weeks.

While grooming your dog, check for evidence of fleas which according to Pet WEB MD includes:

• You see adult fleas are present in your dog's coat.
• You see flea dirt, which looks like pepper, on your dog's skin and in their coat.
• Your dog is itching, scratching and biting frequently, which is a result of their skin being itchy from flea bites. Some dogs may scratch themselves so much that they begin to lose fur.
• Your dog's skin looks irritated with small red bumps.

(Image Credit:PetBasics)

A regular dog shampoo is fine to use on a regular basis, but if you discover fleas on your dog, you will need to use a flea shampoo.

Limit Time Outdoors.

Dogs pick up fleas from being outdoors, so limit your dog's time outside, especially during flea season. Keep in mind that fleas prefer warmer weather but they can survive year round.

If you are unsure when your state's flea season is, here is a flea season map created by the American Kennel Club (AKC) that shows when fleas are most active in each state.

Prevent fleas in your yard.

An effective form of protecting your dog during flea season is making your yard less attractive to fleas by following the tips in this article from the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

Institute rodent control.

One of the ways that fleas find their way to dogs is by sharing a habitat with rodents. Another way of protecting your dog is to follow the tips from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Raptors Are The Solution (RATS). These links will provide you resources that can help prevent rodents in your home or effectively eradicate them without harming wildlife or your dog.

Conclusion