| |
| |
|
Pets Information |
|
|
|
Does Your Dog Have Fleas?
Itch, itch. Scratch, scratch, scratch. Does that sound familiar? Hopefully not, but if it does you might be one of the millions of people whose dog has fleas, mites or other miniscule cretins leeching upon him. Fleas are tiny insects use their long, powerful legs to catapult onto your dog's body, where they burrow into his fur, live off his blood, and raise families of thousands. Many dogs develop a sensitivity to flea saliva, which the flea injects into your dog's skin as a way to prevent his blood from coagulating and thereby ensure a plentiful meal. If this is the case with your pup, you'll see him scratch, scratch, scratching away. Whether or not your dog has an allergy to fleas, they're without a doubt an annoying pest that's tough to eradicate. Once your dog has contracted fleas, they will quickly spread to any area where he is a frequent visitor- his bedding, his doghouse, your carpet and furniture, and possibly your clothing and bedding as well. Fleas and Disease The most common complication of fleas on your dog is tapeworms in his stool. Yes, it is foul, but as it is with parasites, one often hosts the other, and many a flea has been host to a tapeworm who then made his way into your dog's intestinal tract. Just another great reason to keep those fleas off your dog. The other reason is anemia. Animals that thrive on your dog's blood literally suck the life out of him... so if fleas have been preying upon your pooch, he may show signs of anemia, such as extreme fatigue. Get him to the vet for a thorough examination and inquire about what vitamins and supplements you can give to restore your dog back to a healthy, energetic state. How to Tell if Your Dog Has Fleas The most obvious sign of fleas on your dog is constant scratching and irritation of the skin. You may notice pink welts on his belly that eventually crust over; these are flea bites. Another way to check him for fleas is to have him stand on a few pieces of white paper while you comb through his fur. If you see little black flecks on the paper that look a lot like ground pepper, you've got yourself a flea situation. The little flecks are "flea dirt," and when you moisten them with water they'll turn dark red because they contain blood... the blood of your poor dog that those nasty fleas have been feasting on! Flea Prevention Ask your vet what methods he recommends to repel fleas. In the old days, most everyone put a flea collar and/or used flea powder on their dog. Some had their dogs "dipped" in a flea repellant bath. Today there are more sophisticated options in addition to the traditional methods... some of which are all-natural and environmentally friendly, and others which are chemical-based and afford extended protection with minimal application. IGRs (insect growth regulators) kill flea eggs and flea larvae, and are available in both collar and spray form as well as oral medication. Sentinel® is one product that does double duty as both a flea repellant and heartworm protection, and only requires one application per month. Adulticides kill the actual flea and can be purchased as both spot-on and oral products. Frontline® is one brand that is applied to your dog's shoulder blade area, where it is absorbed and distributed throughout his system. When fleas come in contact with his skin that's been treated with Frontline® or a similar insecticide, they die instantly. Flea Control in Your Home Hopefully, you'll take the proper precautions to keep fleas at bay, so you'll never know the unpleasantness of a flea-ridden home. But if you do happen to find fleas, you'll need to act quickly to avoid infestation. First and foremost, give your vet a call and ask him the best method of de-flea-ing your dog and your home. Treat your carpets, furniture, dog bed, and areas outside your home where your dog is frequently found, with an approved flea treatment. Thoroughly vacuum every inch of carpet, and your mattresses if you think there may be a problem there as well. And don't forget to apply flea repellant to the inside of your vacuum! Although it does a great job of sucking up those creepy little creatures, your warm and cozy vaccuum serves as the perfect flea-breeding incubator, which can mean reinfestation later. No one wants to spray or bomb their home with harmful pesticides, but if you don't take preventive measures against fleas on your dog, that's pretty much your only option to be rid of them. So do yourself a favor and get a flea repellent for that pup of yours! Copyright 2005 Dina Giolitto. All rights reserved. Dina Giolitto is a copywriting consultant and ghostwriter with 10 years of experience writing corporate print materials and web content. Trust her with your next e-book, article series or web project, and make a lasting impression on your audience of information-hungry prospects. Visit http://www.wordfeeder.com for more information.
MORE RESOURCES:
Meet Your Match boosts puppy love (and kitty love) by matching people and pets ... - Washington Post
Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Pet Adoption: The Right Choice Pet adoption is a fabulous option if you're seeking a companion animal. You'll be able to select from a wide variety of different breeds and ages as well as save a life. Larger Dog Food Isles Grocery Stores could use some larger Dog Food Isles. Not because there are more brands of Dog Food. 10 Greatest Puppy Training Tips of All Time The 10 Greatest Puppy Training Tips of All Time According to Dog Training Experts10) When trying to settle a puppy into a new home, providing them with a warm hot water bottle and placing a ticking clock in the room where they sleep will help to replicate the body heat and heartbeat of their litter mates and can really help them to relax in their new environment.9) When taking your puppy to the Vet for its first inoculations, health checks etc, it is good practice to sit with your puppy on your lap and not have him or her on the floor. Celebrities Discover The Amazing Chihuahua! Some say it started with the Taco Bell dog. A five hundred million dollar ad campaign featured a talking Chihuahua which continually repeated the slogan, "Yo quiero Taco Bell," which is Spanish for "I want Taco Bell. Mosquitoes Are a Hazard to Your Pets Health Too None of us likes to be bitten by mosquitoes and sometimes it is easy to forget that our pets suffer from mosquito bites too.Mosquitoes feed on blood, and they will take it where they can find it. Dog Obediance Tips... Training your dog can be time consuming and frustrating at times, but it's well worth it. Here are several tips that should help things go much smoother and faster. Do They Really Need a Dog Bed? When Lucky was starting to show signs of aging, we were concerned about her comfort. She would have a hard time getting up in the morning. Clown Loaches Scientific Name: Botia macracanthus Other Scientific Name(s): Cobitis macracanthus, Botia macrocanthus Common Name: Clown LoachClown loaches are very popular aquarium fish; however they are not always easy to keep successfully since they easily succumb to ick and are sensitive to poor water conditions. This article is intended to help new clown loach owners provide a good home for their loaches. Grapes, Nuts, and Your Dogs Health -- Foods that Fido should Avoid "Magoo was a big, playful Labrador retriever who often got himself into sticky situations.. Choosing the Right Size for Your Dog Dog fashions are all the rage and have become quite affordable for anyone and everyone to enjoy with their dog, but not everyone knows the best ways to find their dog's size or how a garment should fit to avoid accidents. Choosing the right size for your dog is very important, we always want our pets to be safe and feel comfortable in whatever they wear. A Look at Discount Bird Cages Buying a pet bird can be quite an investment. After spending money on your bird and its supplies, you might be looking to save a little on the cage. Westies Dogs and Your Children Almost without exception, breeders will advertise that their favorite terrier, westies dogs, are good with children. However, terrier enthusiasts, and westie rescue organizations, tell a different story. How to Create Your Own Monster "You've created your own monster, you know", my mother said ominously. My Rex cat, Houdini, had just burrowed his way inside my sweater for the third time that morning, letting out a squeal of indignation when I tried to resist. Rescue Dogs We have all grown up with at least one hero in our life, but how many people can call their hero Duke or Spot? The answer- anyone who has had their life saved by a rescue dog.Whether it is a house fire, tornado rubble, leftovers from an earthquake, or flowing water behind a hurricane front, these specially trained rescue dogs rush in with no concerns for their own welfare, pulling out victims, some dead and some still alive. Did You Know? German Shepherds were among the first dogs trained for police work- beginning around 1900 in Ghent, Belgium.Dog's body cells contain the most pairs of chromosomes (heredity- carrying structures) of any mammal- 39 pairs. How To Load A Horse Into A Trailer - Easy As Pie! If there is an art to getting horses to load in a trailer, then this it.The first thing that must happen is communication between the horse and his handler. How I Get More Training Done On My Horses In 1/2 The Time Here's a simple way.. West Highland White Terriers - Westies- A Wonderful Breed Apart "Westies" or West Highland White Terriers are furry coated dogs, with dots for coal black eyes and button noses.Why are West Highland White Terrier puppies sought after by many dog lovers? Because these friendly creatures are well-behaved, loyal and affectionate dogs, who may be pocket sized (average a 10-11 inches tall), but are highly intelligent animals. All Natural Dog Cookies - Because Your Dog's Health and Happiness is So Important Traditionally, a doggie treat was just that, a treat that to be savored, which offered little or no health benefits. Chocolate is not a particularly healthy treat for dogs; in fact research has indicated that chocolate treats are even poisonous to dogs if fed in large quantities. Pet Identification Tags And The Internet The greatest fear of most pet owners is that there is a chance the family pet will get lost, and not be returned. But many of these same pet owners fail to take the necessary precautions needed to safeguard their pets.
|
| home | site map | First Rate Hosting |
| © 2006 First Rate Hosting Powered By First Rate Hosting |
