16/02/2024
FAQ Friday - Fleas 😬🦗🤢🤮
Fleas is a big topic we get asked about and there's a lot of misconceptions when it comes to fleas so give this post a read and it could just prevent you from a flea problem in the future!
Q: How often should I be treating my dog against fleas? 🗓️
A: This depends entirely on which flea treatment you use, they can range from every 4 weeks to 3 months depending on the treatment but it is important that you keep them fully up to date all year round! ☀️☂️❄️🍁
Q: Should I still treat my dog for fleas even in the winter? 🥶🥶
A: Absolutely!! It is such a common misconception that you only need to use a flea preventative during the warmer months. Whilst fleas do prefer warmer weather, they are still around all year round. So far this year we have had 3 dogs in the salon that have had to cancel due to having fleas. Remember that our inside temperatures during the winter is perfect for fleas as they love using our central heating! 😠
Q: If I use a flea treatment on my dog will it get rid of the problem? ⛔
A: Not entirely. Fleas are often very hard to get rid of and due to the fact flea eggs can lie dormant in your home for months, it can take months to get on top of a flea problem. You must treat your house with a suitable spray which you can buy in store, as well as washing all soft furnishings at 90° and treat all pets in the household (providing they are due a flea treatment as if not this could over dose you pet)
Q: I only seen one flea and my dog isn't scratching, do I still need to treat them?
A: Yes! Dogs actually don't scratch as much as people think when they have fleas which is why they often go unnoticed. Given that one female flea can lay up to 50 flea eggs in your home in 24 hours, one flea, is probably a flea problem.
Q: Will using flea shampoo regularly stop my pet getting fleas? 🛁🧼
A: No, flea shampoo shod kill most of the living fleas on the dog but if you have a flea problem in your home, fleas will just keep jumping back on your dog
Q: My dog isn't ever near other dogs so do I really need to still treat them?
A: As it is very unlikely that a fleas will jump from one food source (like an animal) to another, the majority of time fleas will have come from the environment which means as soon as they step outside your home, they are at risk of a flea jumping on them! Every animal from cats to birds that may have been in your garden or on your usual walking route could be carrying fleas.
