Fleas are a serious matter that every dog owner ultimately has to cope with. Everybody who owns a dog has almost certainly dealt with the unpleasant task of exterminating dog fleas, a battle which has time and again proved to be easier said than done.
Fleas aren't just a concern because they bother and instigate hours of aggravating scratching for your pet, but they might also trigger additional dangerous issues including tapeworm infestations, flea allergies and in serious instances, anemia.
Because of their amazing resilience, a flea problem can be inordinately challenging to deal with. A female may lay over 2,000 eggs during her lifetime, this suggests that an infection can arise quickly and the eggs that she laid can exist for quite a few months in the environment while merely awaiting a timely victim. Therefore it is integral to kill dog fleas on the animal in addition to those residing in the pet's living area. The best spots to find fleas include rugs, sand, carpeting and bed linens.
The Best Methods of Exterminating Dog Fleas
To successfully exterminate fleas on your dog and in his environment, it's pertinent to comprehend the flea's life span. There are four stages that makeup the lifecycle of the flea. As with most insects, the fleas commences from the egg stage, transforms into larva, then matures to the pupa stage before lastly making it to the adult stage.
The Flea Egg Stage
The fleas eggs are pale in color and are so minute that they're hard to see without the use of a magnifying glass. Although the eggs are originally laid on the pet's skin, many will in time fall onto the ground to continue their journey to adulthood. About 50 percent of the overall flea count is comprised of eggs. Dependant upon the surrounding conditions, the eggs hatch in somewhere between a couple of weeks to a month. The greater the heat and moisture in the environment, the quicker the eggs will hatch.
The Flea Larva Stage
Once the flea egg hatches, it passes into the larvae stage where it grows to roughly 1/4 inch in length. The flea larva survive on natural waste matter and on the adult flea's feces. They're uncomfortable in intense lighting and are inclined to go underground deep inside their current environment, preferably in a balmy and humid area. Climate controlled houses are the preferred habitat for the flea lifecycle to flourish. Outside, larva maturity will only take place in damp, shaded areas.
The Flea Pupa Stage
After going into the pupa stage, the flea pupae develop a velvety and gummy protecting chrysalis. This chrysalis quickly forms a valuable hiding spot as it gets encased by waste and soil. If stimulated by temperature, carbon dioxide or by physical influence, like that in a balmy and wet environment, an adult flea might come out from the cocoon in as little as five to ten days. When the adult flea surfaces from its cocoon, it could live for just a few days if it is not able to find a host. Pre-emerged adult fleas may stay alive in the chrysalis for up to 9 months. This is meaningful for the reason that adult fleas that still live within the cocoon are resilient to insect repellents sprayed in the environment and can appear a considerable time after you apply insecticides in your residence.
The Flea Adult Stage
As soon as the adult flea comes out from its shell, it will have to swiftly locate a host as it requires blood if it is to continue to exist. Two days subsequent to finding a suitable host, the female flea will start to lay roughly 40 eggs every day. Adult fleas ordinarily live up to 3 weeks. The full lifecycle of the flea may perhaps be brought to a close in as little as 2 to 4 weeks, or up to 10 months dependent upon environmental climate.
Treating A Dog For Fleas
There are many powders, shampoos, sprays and spot on measures offered for getting rid of fleas on dogs. Be certain to confer with your vet to pick the truly effective and trustworthy flea insecticides for your household and pets.
Exterminating Dog Fleas in Indoor Environments
The majority of pesticides are simply effective against the adult flea, but environmental pesticides are becoming more complex. Your vet can offer you with flea pesticides that are comprised of insect growth regulators that will help destroy the flea eggs and larvae. Before using any indoor pesticide, it's a good idea vacuum your rugs and carpeting to persuade the pre-adult fleas to emerge from their protective cocoon. Be sure to throw out the vacuum bag afterwards. You should also wash all bedding the pet has rested on.
Exterminating Dog Fleas in Outdoor Environments
Concentrate on dim, sheltered areas. Spray a pesticide made of an insect growth regulator and do this again every two to three weeks for three to five applications. The newer topical and oral flea formulas ought to significantly help you resolve the flea problem. With dedication and patience, you and your pet will be free of fleas in a flash!
Other Relevant Articles
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Dog Skin Allergy
Have you started to see your dog itching and scratching excessively? Is the itching creating open cuts and disappearance of fur on your canine pal? If so, this is a possible warning sign that your pet might be distressed by a dog skin allergy. Dogs don't get the characteristic reddened eyes and a runny nose similar to what humans do when we are dealing with an allergy. Other warning signs might involve unordinary licking of a specific area, or gnawing their paws until they bleed.
What Causes A Dog Skin Allergy?
An allergy occurs when a dog's immune system overreacts to particular allergens. The body will then produce antibodies as a type of defense when the trigger of the dog's allergy comes into the body. The antibodies will subsequently connect to immune cells in the skin and different body organs. Thus, while the allergens steadily invade the tissue, the antibodies cause immune cells to release powerful chemicals (named histamines) into the nearby tissue. This will then lead to inflammation and itching in the dog.
There are certain factors to investigate when locating the cause of a dog skin allergy. An allergy that affects a dog's skin is typically caused by at least one of the following: food, airborne particles, and fleas.
Flea Allergy sometimes referred to as Flea Dermatitis is generally caused by saliva from a flea. That is why it's extremely important to rid your dog of fleas frequently.
Atopic allergy is triggered by the breathing in of airborne particles in the natural environment, such as dust, tobacco smoke, pollen and mold spores, activate atopic allergies. If a dog is allergic to pollen, the dog will exhibit symptoms, even if you keep it in the house as the particles will move inside. Coughing, sneezing and wheezing frequently go along with this kind of allergy.
Food allergies are the next most frequent variety of allergy in dogs. The most likely culprits for food allergies in dogs consist of: milk, chicken, soy, corn, wheat, beef and eggs. Queasiness and diarrhea in dogs usually accompany this type of allergy.
Contact allergies are the least seen sort of pet allergy and is brought on by contacting something. Triggers may include wool, grass and plastic. A few dogs may suffer from allergic reactions to particular chemicals in the household, however, it is less common.
How Diagnosis for a Dog Skin Allergy is Made
The allergen is believed to be one or more ingredients if the animals scratching lessens by about half of what it was before. When testing for contact and atopic skin allergies, dermatology specialists utilize an intradermal allergy test that operates by mildly anesthetizing the dog with small quantities of potential allergens that are injected into the shaved region of the skin. If your dog is allergic to a certain substance, the skin surrounding the area of the injection will become inflamed.
Treatments for a Dog Skin Allergy
Keeping the dog away from allergens and treating the symptoms of a dog skin allergy are the soundest treatment procedures. Remedies like antihistamines and steroids are frequently suggested to ease effects of scratching and inflammation in pets, although like all medications they could be accompanied by harmful side effects and the lasting effects are unknown.
Continued usage steroids is not recommended for these medicines work by restraining the immune system. Extensive steroid use could eventually leave your dog vulnerable to infections, diabetes and further conditions.
Holistic Treatments for a Dog Skin Allergy
Although there is no cure for skin allergies in dogs, there are plenty of nontoxic and natural remedies to combat the symptoms of a dog skin allergy. Althaea officinalis root is an excellent and well known remedy for soothing the skin while Melaleuca alternifolia is often used externally to stimulate healthy skin and keeping the dog’s skin clear. Homeopathic remedies like Apis and Ledum have exceptional healing qualities and are remarkably helpful in soothing swollen and chafed skin, or small irritations and sores.
Other Relevant Articles
Find Fast and Effective Relief for a Dog Skin Allergy!
Click here to check out the treatments for skin allergies in dogs
What Causes A Dog Skin Allergy?
An allergy occurs when a dog's immune system overreacts to particular allergens. The body will then produce antibodies as a type of defense when the trigger of the dog's allergy comes into the body. The antibodies will subsequently connect to immune cells in the skin and different body organs. Thus, while the allergens steadily invade the tissue, the antibodies cause immune cells to release powerful chemicals (named histamines) into the nearby tissue. This will then lead to inflammation and itching in the dog.
There are certain factors to investigate when locating the cause of a dog skin allergy. An allergy that affects a dog's skin is typically caused by at least one of the following: food, airborne particles, and fleas.
Flea Allergy sometimes referred to as Flea Dermatitis is generally caused by saliva from a flea. That is why it's extremely important to rid your dog of fleas frequently.
Atopic allergy is triggered by the breathing in of airborne particles in the natural environment, such as dust, tobacco smoke, pollen and mold spores, activate atopic allergies. If a dog is allergic to pollen, the dog will exhibit symptoms, even if you keep it in the house as the particles will move inside. Coughing, sneezing and wheezing frequently go along with this kind of allergy.
Food allergies are the next most frequent variety of allergy in dogs. The most likely culprits for food allergies in dogs consist of: milk, chicken, soy, corn, wheat, beef and eggs. Queasiness and diarrhea in dogs usually accompany this type of allergy.
Contact allergies are the least seen sort of pet allergy and is brought on by contacting something. Triggers may include wool, grass and plastic. A few dogs may suffer from allergic reactions to particular chemicals in the household, however, it is less common.
How Diagnosis for a Dog Skin Allergy is MadeA veterinarian may be able to identify the cause, but it could call for a process of elimination to find the cause of the dog’s allergy and may even refer the dog to a veterinarian dermatologist. In the case where fleas are ruled out, the animal may be put on an elimination diet for ten weeks. Your pet is given food he or she hasn’t eaten in the past, for instance, chicken, venison, and potatoes, with the past food being brought back slowly until the allergy reemerges.
The allergen is believed to be one or more ingredients if the animals scratching lessens by about half of what it was before. When testing for contact and atopic skin allergies, dermatology specialists utilize an intradermal allergy test that operates by mildly anesthetizing the dog with small quantities of potential allergens that are injected into the shaved region of the skin. If your dog is allergic to a certain substance, the skin surrounding the area of the injection will become inflamed.
Treatments for a Dog Skin Allergy
Keeping the dog away from allergens and treating the symptoms of a dog skin allergy are the soundest treatment procedures. Remedies like antihistamines and steroids are frequently suggested to ease effects of scratching and inflammation in pets, although like all medications they could be accompanied by harmful side effects and the lasting effects are unknown.
Continued usage steroids is not recommended for these medicines work by restraining the immune system. Extensive steroid use could eventually leave your dog vulnerable to infections, diabetes and further conditions.
Holistic Treatments for a Dog Skin Allergy
Although there is no cure for skin allergies in dogs, there are plenty of nontoxic and natural remedies to combat the symptoms of a dog skin allergy. Althaea officinalis root is an excellent and well known remedy for soothing the skin while Melaleuca alternifolia is often used externally to stimulate healthy skin and keeping the dog’s skin clear. Homeopathic remedies like Apis and Ledum have exceptional healing qualities and are remarkably helpful in soothing swollen and chafed skin, or small irritations and sores.
Other Relevant Articles
- What Causes Skin Allergies In Dogs And Finding Treatment Options
- Coping With Skin Allergies In Dogs And Possible Treatment Options
- What Causes Skin Allergies In Dogs And Finding Treatment Options
- What Are Allergies in Dogs and Possible Treatments
- What Causes Skin Allergies in Dogs and Finding Treatment Options
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)