Dog fleas can easily be prevented by following the right measures against them. Dog fleas are parasites that you don't want to have on your dog. They suck blood from your dog's skin. Their saliva can cause skin irritation and worse, they can bring forth a host of other (often times deadly) diseases.
However, you don't have to worry much about dog fleas if you can stop their occurrence in the first place.
Here are the things that you can do:
1. Bathe and groom your dog regularly.
A good smelling, perfectly clean dog is not prone to diseases. Make sure that you keep your dog well groomed and neat at all times. Take it to the grooming center as regularly as you can. Try to give it a warm, relaxing bath everyday. When your pet is hygienic, there is a much lower chance that it will contract any health problem.
2. Take your dog to the vet as scheduled.
A lot of pet owners are skipping regular vet visits to save on their expenses. However, checkups are very essential for your pet. This is especially true if you live in a flea infested area. You have to confer with your vet regularly so you can give your dog preventive medicines as per their recommendation. The most effective ones used today are K9 Advantix, Revolution, and Frontline. These medications are usually given to dogs once a month to keep them flea-free.
3. Apply topical anti-dog flea treatments on your dog.
Aside from oral treatments and injectibles, there are also topical cures for dog fleas. Even if you don't suspect that your dog has these parasites under their fur, it is best that you apply anti-flea oils and lotions on them. You can also bathe them with anti-flea soaps every so often. There are also dog collars specially made to ward off fleas. All of these can keep fleas away. Do this whenever you have to take to your dog to the park or whenever there's a chance your dog will associate with some other animals, including cats, birds, or ferrets.
4. Keep your homes flea-free.
There are sprays and home improvement products that you can use to keep dog fleas away from your homes. Most of these products are chemical formulations. As such, you have to take extra care when using them. Purchase these products as necessary and use them as indicated. Whenever possible, consult the vet as to how much and how often you should disinfect your home from fleas. Fleas can live outside a host for two days. Therefore, it could be necessary to use the spray for a week or so to fully clear your home of these pests.
5. Use natural remedies against dog fleas.
Most natural remedies for pets are effective, and are very economical as well. Garlic and brewer's yeast are good anti-flea solutions because they can repel bugs with their pungent smell. These dog flea home remedies are also good for your pet's digestion when given as needed.