ShareYourPet

One of the biggest hurdles faced by dog parents is fleas. Getting their pet free from fleas is one of the hardest challenges endured by every dog owner. Having fleas is a real concern and requires a practical solution. They can impact the health of your pup as well as your family through their teeny painful bites and also through allergies suffered by people and dogs from flea saliva. They produce thousands of eggs in their small life duration of four months. Although these critters can attack throughout the year, the probability increases in summer due to humidity and warmness.

To combat this problem, there is a wide range of solutions available extending from home remedies to commercially produced flea shampoos. Although some people find the home remedy of luke warm water with dish soap and vinegar to be useful to kill fleas, in some situations a stronger remedy is required.

Different methods to treat fleas

After confirmation of the presence of fleas on the dog, several remedies can be used to get rid of them as well as its prevention in future.

•    The most potent and strong treatment for fleas is spot on treatment and tablet medication. The tablets will aid in disrupting the life span of the fleas whereas spot on treatment makes sure the medication spreads all over the body by the oil glands and terminates fleas as well as their eggs.
•    Another option is a flea spray. However, it requires a frequent application for continuous protection.
•    Flea collars are also deemed to be an adequate remedy. The mechanism spreads medication on the skin as well as the coat of the dog through the collar. It aids in preventing and terminating fleas. The flea collar is an all-time remedy.
•    An alternate to medication is Flea shampoos. They have enhanced quality and are as effective as any other medical remedy with harsh side effects.

However, before opting for any remedies, one should treat their home at the same time for it to be effective. The underlying reason is that the eggs laid by adult fleas on the dog will fall off at several places, including your house. It is essential that the home should be deeply cleansed before the eggs hatch and restart their life cycle again. Most dog owners use commercial foggers to cleanse their home. However, this should be done under the supervision of pest control experts.

What is Flea Shampoo and how does it work

A pet shampoo is a medically devised shampoo that can kill fleas on the coat of the pet and prevent them from returning without exhibiting any side effects. An enhanced quality flea shampoo can also kill mature fleas that are a source of discomfort to your pet. To ensure its effectiveness, it is required to be done throughout the year.

It is essential to cure the infested area as soon as it acquires your attention. The flea shampoo is used like any other regular pet shampoo. It is applied from the head towards the body and tail. However, it is important to let it lather for at least five minutes. This will kill all the insects.

Most shampoos have natural insecticides that kill fleas by pausing any side effects. Although anti-flea tablets work very fast, they are very potent and causes nausea and stomach problems. Most flea treatments either contain pyrethroids or pyrethrins. These are synthetically developed to endure strong and long-lasting impact. Flea tablet and spot treatments consist of both the pyrethroids. Moreover, the tablets are only a cure for the eggs, and it poses no harm to the fleas itself. They are effective only if used with another type of medication to cure adult fleas. Likewise, the activity of spot-on medicine is also very limited. It kills one of them, either the adult fleas or the eggs. Flea shampoo is the optimal option as it tends to terminate fleas in all stages ranging from egg to adult.

It is essential to bear in mind that dog products should be used on dogs and cat products should be used on cats. They should not be used interchangeably even if it is a natural product, unless the bottle specifies it for both. Moreover, below are a few things that should be looked out before buying shampoo.

One should opt for shampoo that:

•    Extensively kills adults, larvae, and eggs to effectively impact the lifecycle of a flea
•    Apart from killing fleas, a good dog shampoo will also provide moisturization of skin as well as the coat, neutralize the odor and cleanse the dirt and debris.
•    Its fragrance should be pleasant and not have any chemical behind
•    It must contain natural ingredients without any synthetic chemicals and detergents.

It is highly likely that one will find the perfect shampoo that caters to all the preferences in the list below.

Adams Plus Flea & Tick Shampoo with Precor

It is one of the best dog flea shampoos and is the bestseller in most stores. It is known for its effectiveness in combating fleas. It halts the flea life cycle and kills them at all life stages. One can observe fleas, ticks, and eggs when they rinse the dog.  It guarantees twenty days control against immature fleas. The number of baths can be reduced in those twenty-eight days. It is free of synthetic insecticides. It consists of pyrethrin which is a natural insecticide. It is nourishing and moisturizing on the coat and skin of the dog. It is formulated to cleanse dirt and dandruff making the coat smoother and shiny.  However, on the downside, it happens to leave behind a strong odor.

Wahl 100% Natural Flea & Tick Shampoo

This shampoo is famous for its mild formulation.  Nonetheless, it is very useful. They are one of the best manufacturers in the pet industry. This will be more effective if it is used in combination with a spot on treatment. It consists of natural as well as plant extracted components. It contains natural ingredients like rosemary, mint as well cedar oil. It is also PEG-80 safe. It contains more surfactants, so it has more penetration and easier to lather. It leaves an amazing odor. However, it has some setbacks as well. It must be effectively rinsed as it tends to leave behind build up in dog hair. Also, it is not an effective flea killer in contrast to other flea shampoo but it is a natural alternative.

Sentry Flea and Tick Shampoo with Oatmeal

It is a low-cost remedy available for dog fleas in the market. This product is easier to use. Although it is a potent flea killer it makes sure that the dog is cleansed and refreshed. It guarantees ten days protection against fleas and ticks after its first application. A substantial ingredient is oatmeal. It moisturizes and replenishes the skin rendering it shinier and soft.  It has a charming ginger fragrance. It is highly concentrated and requires lesser quantity in the application. However, some commentors complained about the durability of the bottle. The bottle was not durable enough and caused the product to spill.

Tropiclean Hypo-Allergenic Neem Flea & Tick Pet Shampoo

It is a tropically inspired shampoo that is extremely popular amongst dog owners. It is best suited for dogs with sensitive skin as it is mostly natural and hypoallergenic. It consists of neem oil. Neem oil is a natural antifungal as well as anti-bacterial component in nature. It repels fleas and other insecticides. It is all natural and 70% organic. It does not contain any irritating ingredients like detergents and shampoos. It also provides relief against bites of fleas and ticks. It eliminates smells with its citrus fragrance. It removes dirt and cleanses the pet. It is hypoallergenic with biodegradable packaging. However, it is not as potent as some other anti-flea shampoos. Moreover, it was reviewed that the packaging leaked a little bit in the shipping process.

SynergyLabs Groomer’s Blend Flea & Tick Shampoo/Conditioner

It is also very effective anti-flea dog shampoo. Its formula was specially designed to combat fleas and ticks along with cleaning the coat of the dog. It is an effective cleaner. It tends to brighten up the white coats after its application. It moisturizes the skin as well as exfoliates the dead layer of it.  It does not contain any soap or shampoo. It also includes green tea extracts that neutralize the stinky smell and leave the dog fresh and clean. It rinses off very conveniently. However, it has a liquid consistency, so more product is utilized.

Conclusion

Flea treatment of your pet is not impossible at all. The above article listed different techniques as well as the best available shampoos that can be consumed for flea treatment. The owner must keep all their pets flea-free along with their excellent upbringing and nourishment.

Author Bio:

Wendy Shore is a parent of two amazing dogs. She is very enthusiastic about pet health and welfare in general. She regularly blogs at https://www.totallygoldens.com/.