Dog Fleas and How to Get Rid of Them With Frontline for Dogs

Your dog has fleas? Yes it's probably that time of year again when the flea population explodes. The next thing you know, your dog is scratching and you discover the small black critters moving swiftly about his underside. This is a perennial summer problem that effects most dogs. Being highly contagious, it's probably no surprise when your dog gets them too! Dogs can pick up fleas in all sorts of places. Around parks whilst playing with other dogs is a usual scenario, or just lying about on the ground outside. A dog can even contract fleas off cats, if it gets close enough to one...

So, what to do? The first thing is to get to know how these little guys work. Fleas are small flightless creatures that primarily survive off your dogs blood. If you take a look within the fur of your infected dog you should be able to see them with the naked eye without too much effort. Most of the time they're black but they can be other colours too.

Fleas have four stages of development during their lifetime. Firstly, eggs are spawned from adult fleas dwelling on an infected dog. These are quickly shed from the dog's fur when moving about, especially when it goes outside for a run.

Successfully distributed across the ground the eggs soon hatch. The next period is the larvae stage. The larvae live off debris and faecies whilst they look forward to spinning small cocoons around themselves. Here they pupate for around two weeks and emerge from their cocoons as adult fleas. It is at this time they have a sense of urgency. They need a food source and quickly. That food source needs to come from the blood of a dog or cat, and if they don't get it, it won't take them long to die from starvation.

An unsuspecting dog comes along, and the flea jumps aboard! He's made it and now has all the food and warmth he needs for a long and happy life. The flea produces eggs and the cycle begins again.

If your dog has flea, it's important to get rid of them as soon as possible. Not only is it unpleasant for your dog being bitten every day, but the idea of flea eggs being shed about you home and larvae pupating within the carpets and the crevices of the sofa ain't too cool either.

How to get rid of 'em? One of the best treatments on the market at present is Frontline Spot On. Frontline dogs will effectively rid any infestation within the dogs fur and prevent any further attack for two months or so. A three pack will keep your dog protected for a full summer and is modestly priced.

Prevention is better than cure, so it's a good idea to treat your dog even if she doesn't have fleas. Frontline for dogs is easy to apply. Just a small spot directly to the skin at the back of the neck from the small pipette supplied and she's fully protected for 8 weeks. Any fleas that jump aboard die within hours.

Now you know how to keep dog fleas at bay, I very much wish you and your dog a flea free future!