Some dogs and cats might experience more than a mere annoyance with flea bites; instead, reacting with flea allergy dermatitis. The allergic reaction creates a consistent scratching due to specific proteins in the flea’s saliva. 

The animal can be left with severe skin irritations and possible permanent hair loss. With severe infestation, the pet can develop anemia from the pest indulging in the blood with rare fatality instances.

Numerous repellants, pesticides, medications, and treatments are available to protect your pet, including Bravecto for dogs; some are available over the counter or online. Others are only available from the veterinarian. Flea products come in varied forms, from chews to tables, dips, sprays, shampoos, powders, “spot-on” treatments, and collars. 

These treatments are given to pets regularly, but there is the potential for adverse reactions. It’s important to consult with a veterinarian before selecting an option for your dog or cat, especially if the animal has any underlying health conditions. 

It’s also essential to read all the literature thoroughly to ensure proper administration and save all packaging if there are any reactions.

What Are The Best Ways To Get Rid Of Fleas

With spring and summer comes flea season and the potential for misery for your dog or cat if there’s an allergy to the pest’s saliva. If you notice your fur baby scratching more than usual or see red, irritated skin, it’s wise to visit the veterinarian to check for fleas and inquire about an adequate treatment. 

There are plenty of over-the-counter options, some sold online, and veterinarian prescribed medications to choose from, so you’re not limited in your choices. The critical thing to pay attention to is your pet’s reaction to the treatment after administration and subsequent visits to the vet if this becomes an issue.

Not all treatments are created equal. Side effects can and do occur. Let’s look at some of the best remedies for treating fleas.

• “Spot-on” treatments as a preventive

Using preventive techniques like a spot-on treatment helps to prevent fleas from attaching to your pet. Once an infestation is in full swing, it’s much more difficult to get it under control than it would be to prevent it from the start. 

Spot-on treatments can be somewhat budget-intensive, but if you factor these into your regular pet care cost for the summer, you won’t mind the expense as much. 

Plus, these equate to less of a price point than you would have with a full-blown infestation coinciding with vet bills to bring it under control.

• Oral flea medication

Aside from spot-on treatments, oral flea medications are also used in a preventive context. These are not something you would use simultaneously.

If you don’t believe your pet will take the oral option favorably, it could be easier to stick with the spot-on treatment, which is rubbed into the in-between area of the shoulder blades.

Not all animals are fans of consuming medications, and if you need to give this with any sort of consistency or regularity, it might become a bit of a nuisance for you and the pet. 

• Warning signs

Treatment should begin when you notice behavioral changes in your pet, even if there are no signs of pests in the household. If the animal has started scratching often and is irritated or frustrated, these can be signs of a problem. 

Early detection and treatment are vital in eliminating the problem, as with any condition or issue.

It could possibly save your fur baby from developing worsening skin irritations, hair loss, stress, and aggravation. You can also prevent the fleas from growing to an infestation level throughout the household.

• Treat the household and the pet

Because our beloved furry friends have their choice of places to sleep in the household, it means wherever they choose to lie down; fleas will transfer to that location and breed. 

Each time your pet goes to that area, they will become more irritated, as will you when sitting on the couch or chairs or even the bedding where they might have taken a nap.

Any bedding or upholstery will need to be cleaned at a temperature as high as roughly 60 degrees, with floors regularly cleaned and vacuumed to eradicate eggs and adult fleas. The recommendation is to incorporate an “anti-flea spray” throughout the household to help eliminate the pests.

• Consistency and regularity

Preventives for pets need to be given on a regular and consistent basis according to the directives on the packaging. It could slip your mind that your pet needs its treatment once the month (or when the instructions advise) has passed. Still, the product can only be effective when given correctly.

An excellent way to remind yourself is to set a calendar alert on your mobile or create an event for pet flea care. You don’t want to start seeing your pet scratching because you forgot to give the treatment. Once the fleas start, it can be a challenge to get them to go away.

• Recommended only

It would be best to stick with recommended flea preventives and treatments only. These can be exceptionally potent, meaning you need to check for options specific to your animal’s size, weight, and age. 

Regardless of the infestation level, don’t use a more potent product in an effort to eradicate faster for fear of putting your pet in harm’s eBay.

Products should also be specific to the species. There are typically chemicals in some dog treatments that can be toxic for felines.

Final Thought

When treating your fur baby for fleas, the primary consideration is to do so with consistency and regularity. It’s also important to use the products in a preventive capacity instead of waiting until there is already an issue. 

It’s simpler to keep the pests away than to make them leave once they’ve arrived and made themselves comfortable.

If you have concerns about treating fleas, especially since these are potent products, it’s wise to reach out to your animal’s veterinarian. The professional can guide you to one of the many products on the market, whether you choose an over-the-counter, one of the online options, or a medication prescribed by the vet.