When it comes to all the nasty critters that our pups bring into our homes, dog fleas are the worst!
For something so miniscule, these micro-sized bugs sure do wreak havoc!
Don’t worry, though; we’ve covered dealing with them from every angle!
Check out our complete guide to everything you need to know about fleas on your dog.
You may want to start with: Do All Dog Breeds Get Fleas? (Detailed Answer)
Everything You Need to Know About Dog Fleas
“How do you prevent dog fleas?” “Can you drown these nasty little critters?”
“What’s the best way to keep fleas off my dog?”
“How do I get rid of them in my home? On my bed? In my hair?!?”
I’ve asked myself all of those questions and then some!
A few years ago, we had a major flea infestation in my home. It all started when we used an off brand of flea preventative.
In our defense, it was a well-known pet store’s brand, so we thought it could be trusted.
Unfortunately, it failed, and we thought that we needed to wait to try another one.
In the meantime, what was a mild flea problem became an out-of-control infestation.
I learned a lot during that time- about what works and what doesn’t, how to get rid of fleas from absolutely everywhere, and so on.
Most of what I learned came from our resident former vet tech, who wrote all of our flea-related guides.
Today, we’re taking all of those guides and putting them into one handy-dandy spot for you.
That way, you can bookmark just this page and refer to it for all of your flea needs!
How to Spot and Prevent Dog Fleas
Before you dive into preventatives and treatments, though, I highly recommended checking out: 10+ Must-Know Dog Flea Symptoms + How to Quickly Spot Fleas at Home.
It’ll help you determine whether you need every other guide featured here or just those in this section.
Okay, now, you know what they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!
The very best way to deal with a flea problem is to stop it from happening in the first place.
How do you do that? Obviously, you don’t buy an off-brand preventative like I did!
Seriously, though, this is one area where you don’t want to go the cheap route, because it’ll cost you a lot more in the end.
I recommend starting with our guide to the best flea and tick preventative for dogs.
It goes over all the major players in the market, including prescription-only as well as OTC flea preventatives.
If you’d rather have a guide that goes over the different types (versus brands), check out: What Can I Put on My Dog to Prevent Fleas?
That one goes over everything from flea shampoo for dogs to collars and more.
What about natural flea and tick home remedies?
Honestly, natural remedies aren’t the best way to go.
I know that’s an unpopular opinion. Essential oils are all the rage right now, and I use them for a lot of things myself.
However, flea and tick home remedies are only useful if you actually want these nasty critters in your home.
Take my word for it. We tried literally every single one under the sun.
Not a single one made a dent in the problem.
I can’t tell you what to do, and perhaps you’ll have better luck, but I personally will never go that route again.
Getting rid of fleas on your dog and in your home
If prevention doesn’t work (it happens), or if you’re already dealing with an infestation, then this section is for you.
First things first, you want to help your poor itchy dog.
This is especially important if your dog has a flea allergy or is scratching himself raw to the point of infection.
Start with these dog flea treatments to eliminate and soothe.
I know it sounds counterintuitive, to treat your dog before your home.
Logically speaking, one would assume that fleas on your carpet will just jump back on your dog, creating a vicious cycle.
The thing is, once you’ve treated your dog, you kind of want those fleas to hop back on.
That way, the meds coursing through Fido will get into them and kill them.
After taking care of your pooch, check out these dog flea treatments for the home.
We also have some tips on how to manage a flea infestation in your bed (don’t worry, it’s not as common as you may think).
Oh, and if you’re wondering if fleas can swim or breathe underwater, check out: Can You Really Kill Fleas on Dogs by Drowning Them in Water?
I can’t stress enough the importance of using a good flea preventative year round.
Trust me, it is SO much easier to prevent than treat.
Infestations aren’t just gross, they can be downright dangerous to everyone from your pets to your family.
Consider this- it was a flea that started the plague!
While it’s unlikely that your dog’s fleas are carrying the actual plague, they can still carry other nasty diseases.
Even if your dog’s fleas aren’t transmitting archaic illnesses, the itchiness alone is enough to drive everyone mad.
