Flea and Tick Treatments for Dogs

Fleas and ticks are the bane of your dog's existence. These blood-sucking parasites are not only annoying but can carry disease. That leaves you as your dog's last line of defense in protecting them from these pests. There are basically two categories of treatment you can choose from, commercial and all natural. The choice is generally made based on personal preference, cost and effectiveness.

Natural

Within the natural treatment realm are two types of flea and tick treatment, internal and external. Most of the time people will use a combination of both types for extensive flea and tick treatments. External treatments work to eradicate current infestations while internal treatments work to prevent re-infestation.

External:

• Tea tree oil infused shampoo
• Apple cider vinegar dip- 3 tablespoons vinegar per gallon of water
• Flea combs
• Skin so soft- 2 ounces per quart of water
• Neem shampoos

Internal:

• Garlic- one clove per 40 pounds of body weight per day
• Brewer's yeast - 1 teaspoon per day for small or 2 rounded teaspoons for large dogs

As with anything, you are going to apply or feed your dog it is a good idea to talk to your veterinarian ahead of time. Some dogs will have more sensitive skin than others will, which means vinegar baths may be irritating, and garlic in too large a dose can actually be toxic.

Commercial

The most commonly used commercial flea treatments are the one application type. Dog owners love the convenience of a once a month treatment and for the most part they work well. The biggest down side is the cost, effective treatments cost in the neighborhood of $40 for a three-month supply. This is not too terribly bad if you have one dog, but for multiple animal households this can quickly add up.  Like natural products, you can find flea treatments that are internal or external in the commercial arena.

External:

• Flea powders
• Shampoos
• Flea collars
• Dips
• Sprays

Internal:

• Capstar- kills adult fleas on your pet in as little as four hours, can be given daily and does not require a prescription.
• Comfortis- beefy flavored chewable, once per month only and requires a prescription

Home

The real battle many times is in getting rid of these pests from your home and yard. Outside can be very difficult but the only real option is flea and tick granules. Spreading these around your yard before a rain goes a long way to destroying fleas and ticks. Inside your home, you will need to treat pet bedding, carpets and furniture. The best way to attack this is full force and head on, you will need to wash and dry all bedding, spread flea killer and vacuum like a fiend. You may need to go as far as commercial steam cleaning and flea bombs if you are dealing with a serious infestation.

Conclusion

Fleas and ticks can be a major pain, but thankfully, pet owners have many options for treatment. First, attack the problem on your pet and then quickly move to your home and yard. Thankfully, flea season generally only lasts a few months and when the weather turns colder you will have a much easier time controlling pests.