How to Know if Your Dog Has Fleas

Has your dog been itching itself a lot in recent weeks? If so, there’s a pretty good chance it could be infested with fleas. Here’s how you can tell if a flea infestation exists and what you should do about it.

Checking for Fleas

• Inspect the fur of your dog by dividing the hair with a comb. Fleas will try to run back into the hair so you have to pay close attention. The most common areas are at the base of the ears and towards the behind of the pup.
• Give your furry friend a bath and leave the drain clogged. Inspect the bath water and look for little black and brown dots. If there are any present then your dog most likely has a flea problem.
• Did you find a small bug in your home that resembles a flea? Try squishing it between your fingertips. Fleas do not squish easily, so if the bug is giving you some trouble, your dog might be infested with fleas.

Cleaning Your Dog

• Now that you know your dog has a flea problem, give it a bath with a medicated flea shampoo. Rub this shampoo in thoroughly and allow it to sit for 5 to 10 minutes.
• Afterward, comb through your pet’s fur in search of fleas multiple times per day. Make sure to kill the flea immediately to prevent it from reproducing in the future.
• If you happen to have more than one pet, keep the infested pet away from the others. Even if the other pets don’t have fleas at first, inspect them each daily to make sure they don’t develop this problem as well. Remember — flea collars for all!

Cleaning Your Home

• Wash all of your pet’s bedding, blankets, and soft toys in the washing machine on the hottest setting. If the bedding is old or isn’t too expensive, it may be best to throw it away and start anew.
• Treat your home and its carpeting to an insect growth regulator spray. This spray will help kill any remaining fleas and eggs that might be hiding deep in carpeting and furniture.
• Vacuum your home every single day after a flea infestation is discovered. Try sucking up a flea collar into the vacuum so any fleas that are captured will die instantly.

Having fleas might be your dog’s problem, but it’s also yours to take care of and remove. When you need a pest management professional to assist with the removal of fleas, contact Knockout Pest Control. To learn more, or to schedule an inspection, give us a call at (800) 244-7378.

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