Fleas are parasites as disgusting as they are frequent in dogs. Although they can be seen with the naked eye, you have to be very persistent to rule them out completely, since it is not as easy to eliminate them from a puppy as it is from an adult dog. In addition, it is always essential to deworm the animal regularly. To know how to remove fleas from a puppy, we invite you to continue reading this article.
How to remove fleas from a puppy?
When the presence of fleas is recognized in a puppy, we must understand that we are facing a serious health problem, since these tiny parasites can transmit a wide variety of pathologies. We must also bear in mind that the immune system of puppies is developing and that, in contrast to adult dogs, they do not have the arsenal of defenses required to be protected against such diseases and pathogens.
For these reasons, if you consider that your puppy is the victim of an infestation and a question assails you: how to remove fleas from a puppy? It is of crucial importance to seek advice from a veterinarian so that they can prescribe an effective and quality dewormer. We must remember that medications or remedies for adult dogs should never be applied, as they could be intoxicated.
In the following paragraphs we are going to provide you with some guidelines so that you know how to eliminate fleas from puppies effectively and what procedures you must keep in force to prevent future infestations.
What are Fleas?
Fleas are tiny insects that act as parasites by feeding on the blood of their hosts. They are tiny invertebrates (1,5 to 3,3 mm long), do not have wings, but have the ability to make huge jumps, so transmission between dogs is very common. There are a large number of flea species, up to two thousand, and most of them can infest dogs, cats and other household animals.
In addition to being particularly annoying, fleas can spread diseases to dogs, such as diplidosis or hemoplasmosis. Precisely for this reason, its immediate and effective elimination is of the utmost importance, as well as the use of products to prevent any future regrowth.
Finally, it is good to know that the life expectancy of fleas is between 7 and 21 days, during which time they are still reproducing and laying eggs. Also for this reason, cleaning the home is a matter of great relevance if we truly want to prevent reinfestations.
Symptom
Due to the tiny size of fleas, it is not always easy to recognize their presence in the dog's coat. However, we must assume that this is the case if we identify some of the symptoms that we will detail below and through which we can easily confirm or not a parasite infestation.
In order to recognize the presence of fleas in the puppy, we must observe it and carry out a thorough inspection. And we must start from the moment we notice that he scratches compulsively, in such a way that it can even cause deep wounds and marks. There are cases where they have been seen using legs and teeth.
If doubt persists, we must inspect the animal's fur completely, separating the layers of fur well and thoroughly examining the dermis. The areas in which the infestation is usually more profuse are the belly, the armpits, the genitals and the neck. Pay particular attention to these areas, since you would only notice the fleas as tiny black dots that move.
Another way to check if the puppy really has fleas is to lightly spray the animal's fur and press it with toilet paper or Kleenex, for example. Flea droppings are black in color and turn red when wet. They are simply the residues of the blood with which they have been fed.
How to remove fleas?
Canine puppies cannot be given antiparasitic for adult specimens, since they have components that could cause what is called "pipette poisoning". The commercial pipettes that are used to eliminate fleas and ticks have chemicals in tiny amounts that are lethal to parasites and, although they are usually not dangerous, we must remember that, despite coming in small doses, it is still a poison that could cause negative side effects in certain dogs.
For reasons like this, it is essential to note that we can never use pipettes, collars or antiparasitic shampoos available on the market for adult dogs, or that are not prescribed by a veterinary professional.
Keep in mind that antiparasitics should only be prescribed by a veterinarian, because they have active ingredients. When buying a product in a commercial store, we must know that we are dealing with a product that does not have such active ingredients and that, with great probability, will not be effective in the case of a generalized infestation.
Eliminate Fleas Step by Step
The correct thing is that you start by going to a veterinarian so that he can prescribe the appropriate dewormer for the puppy. There are numerous brands and presentations on the market, but in general, a pill is usually administered with which all fleas are eliminated and which provides protection to the animal for a month. If you are faced with an emergency, you can carry out a manual process to discard them, however, there is a possibility that you will not eliminate them completely, so the infestation could resurface.
You should get a flea comb (you can also use an anti-lice comb for children, available at pharmacies) and a special shampoo for puppies, never a shampoo for adult dogs or an antiparasitic shampoo that is not designed for puppies or that is not prescribed by a professional :
- Begin by brushing comprehensively throughout the puppy's body. It is important that you remove as many fleas as possible and that, once in the brush, they can be eliminated.
- Follow with a bath with lukewarm water. You can entertain the little one with different toys to make the process more fun and allow the experience to be bearable.
- Thoroughly clean the entire body of the puppy with special soap for them. Try to prevent the shampoo from entering your eyes, mouth or any of your mucous membranes.
- At the end of the bath, pass the flea comb all over your body again. Let there not be an inch without inspection. Pay attention to the previously mentioned critical areas and also pass it through the head, the part that we have not washed.
- Once you have certified that there are no more fleas in your dog's fur, it is time to finish.
- Give him a complete dry while you continue brushing.
By now you know how to get rid of fleas on puppies. However, before you allow your puppy to return to his bed and play with his toys, you must wash all of his things (bed, blankets and stuffed animals) properly and at a high temperature. You should also clean the floor of your entire house with bleach to ensure that no more fleas live there again.
After its removal
If you have not used any effective dewormer to get rid of fleas, but have proceeded manually, it is equally advisable to go to a veterinarian to verify that, effectively, we have eliminated all the fleas from your body and that the puppy does not He suffers from no pathology. We must bear in mind that there are different diseases that fleas spread and that could be a serious risk for the little one. In addition to the diseases mentioned, fleas can also cause FAD, flea bite allergy.
How to Prevent Fleas?
Puppies are more predisposed to infestation with parasites such as fleas and ticks due to their weak immune system. For this reason, it is crucial to regularly check its coat and its state of health. Keep in mind that puppies should not be allowed to go outside until they have received their first vaccinations: the first vaccination and the polyvalent according to their particular schedule. By that time the puppy could have already reached 3 months of life.
From this moment, it is estimated that his immune system is sufficiently mature and that is when we should visit the specialist to tell us when the first dewormer should be administered. In addition to knowing how to eliminate fleas from a puppy, here are some tips that will help you prevent the emergence of these parasites:
- You must follow the vaccination and deworming schedule recommended by the specialist. You must remember that the animal must be dewormed both internally and externally. You can look for products that provide comprehensive prevention against both parasites. Get advice from your trusted vet to prescribe the most appropriate one.
- You should brush your puppy regularly, at least 2 to 3 times a week, to keep its coat healthy and identify possible parasites immediately, thus preventing the risk of disease transmission.
- Do not take him to the pipi-can with bushes and other weedy areas if your puppy is not properly dewormed. Likewise, inspect his coat thoroughly when he comes home from the walk to recognize any abnormalities.
Following these essential tips will keep your dog away from fleas and other parasites, such as lice, ticks, tapeworms or mites. Prevention is one of the most effective ways to prevent the appearance of fleas in canine puppies.
Home remedies
Finally, we will refer to home remedies, used extensively throughout the planet. We must know that home remedies to eliminate fleas in dogs are a great way to prevent an infestation naturally, always as a complement to a veterinary prescription antiparasitic. Still, they are not always effective when it comes to removing a larger infestation.
The most used remedies include citrus, vinegar, brewer's yeast, oils, etc. In such a way that, if you are evaluating the option of using home remedies, we recommend that you consult a veterinarian beforehand to ensure that it is an effective procedure and is carried out responsibly.
Water with Eucalyptus Oil and Lavender
Eucalyptus or lavender oils are two substances that effectively keep fleas away from your puppy's body. Therefore, we suggest giving your loyal canine companion a bath every fortnight with one of these two oils. You will just have to prepare the bathtub with hot water, checking the temperature well so as not to harm the animal, and add a few drops of the chosen oil. Then you will have to submerge the puppy in said water and start washing it with shampoo (if it is better for fleas).
The powerful aromas of eucalyptus and lavender repel fleas and allow them to detach from the canine body they are parasitizing. After the bath, it is very important to brush the fur with a comb with fine metallic bristles to remove any trace of such insects.
Vinegar
Vinegar is an ideal collaborator to end fleas. Its qualities are a deadly weapon to kill the parasites that settle in the puppy's body. Before using this product, it is required to bathe the animal. Once this is done, we will spread a cup of vinegar on the moistened fur. We must wait about 5 minutes for the vinegar to act.
Once this time has elapsed, it is necessary to comb their fur with a fine bristle comb to remove the dying fleas. It's important to rinse his coat after this process, unless you want your pup to retain a salad-like odor.
water with dishwasher
There is another homemade preparation that can also be very effective for eliminating fleas in puppies. With just a couple of cups of hot water, a few drops of dish soap and a glass of medicinal alcohol, these insects can be exterminated. All the indicated ingredients must be mixed in a common container. The solution should then be spread over the animal's fur.
The solution is left to act for about 4-5 minutes on the puppy's fur and then we will have to rinse it with warm water. Subsequently, the dog's moistened hair should be brushed with a fine-bristled comb. Dead or weak fleas will remain on the comb, so your puppy will be free of them.
Lemon
This citrus fruit, so widely used to flavor foods, is also an ideal ally to eliminate fleas both from our puppy and from the home. The aroma and acidity of said fruit annihilates them as well as the other natural preparations mentioned in this section. To get the most out of this property of the lemon, we must clean it, cut it into slices and throw it into a pot that is about to boil.
After 3-4 minutes, it's time to remove the pot from the heat and allow it to sit for about 8 hours. In this way, the water will assimilate the properties of the lemon in the most complete way possible. When this period of time has elapsed, it is time to spread said solution on the animal's fur, for which we will use a sponge. Since a subsequent rinse is not necessary, this remedy will already be active against the fleas that settle on the puppy's body.
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