Fleas have always been an imminent threat to dogs’ wellbeing. They have their own unique and menacing way of making it difficult for your furry friend to embark on his daily adventures. Many dog owners have this perception that fleas are just scratch-inducing pests when in reality, they affect your dog’s health in several other ways.
Your dog’s warm and soft fur serves as an extremely hospitable environment for fleas. Once they latch on, they start infesting the coat and can lead to severe dermatological problems. In addition, there are a host of other problems fleas can cause. They also tend to infest every crack and crevice of your house that is accessible to your dog.
What are the problems that a flea infestation can cause?
Itching and irritation are just part of all the problems which a flea infestation can cause for your dog. Several other issues can occur if fleas are not taken care of immediately. Let us go through some of the health issues that a flea infestation might cause.
- Since fleas live exclusively on their host’s blood, anaemia is one of the harmful threats that fleas pose to the health of your dog. If your dog is infested by fleas, several symptoms of blood deficiency such as weight loss, low energy levels and pale gums might occur. This is most likely if there is a heavy infestation and poses a particular threat to puppies and elderly dogs. Anaemia can turn out to be a serious problem in the future.
- Flea Allergy Dermatitis (FAD). FAD is an allergic reaction that some dogs might have to the antigens that are produced in the salivary glands of fleas. These antigens enter the body of a dog through flea saliva and can cause severe irritation and itchiness.
- Fleas pass tapeworms to your dog. Yes, fleas might also pass tapeworms to infested dogs. Flea larvae can ingest the eggs of the Dipylidium caninum tapeworm and therefore become the immediate host of tapeworm parasites. When dogs subsequently catch fleas and accidentally ingest a tapeworm-infected flea – for example while grooming – this can cause them to contract tapeworm themselves. The tapeworm parasite settles in the dog’s small intestine and then carries out its life-cycle, eventually maturing into a full-grown tapeworm.
How do you remove fleas?
Topical and oral treatments
Various methods can be adopted to remove fleas. Topical treatments (e.g. spot-on treatments which are applied to your dog’s skin) and orally registered medication (e.g. tablets) are two of the available formats. Most of them need to be administered once a month. Since oral treatments work via the bloodstream, a significant disadvantage is that unless the fleas bite your dog, these medications won’t have any effect.
Dog flea collars
Flea collars are another solution to treat and prevent flea infestations. The newer models are one of the most viable solutions to the unwanted pestering of fleas, providing long-lasting protection against fleas that can last for several months.
How do dog flea collars work?
Different flea collars have different mechanisms:
Older style flea collars
The older style collars often work by discharging toxins in gaseous form to kill the fleas that are in close proximity to the flea collar. The ingredients are mantled on the outer surface of the collar. Therefore, the effect of the active ingredients is not consistent and decreases with time. There are also chances that the ingredients might be transferred to your skin while applying the collar to your dog. Older style collars also lack safety mechanisms, which can be a reason for concern if your dog is adventurous and very energetic.
Newer style flea collars
The newer style flea collars are much more advanced and are evidently more effective compared to the older style collars. The active ingredients are embedded within the collar which therefore avoids transfer of any ingredients to your skin. The ingredient release mechanism is slow and continuous, therefore providing gentle, all-round protection to your dog for a much longer period.
How to decide which flea collar is best for your dog
There are several factors that you should keep in mind when choosing a flea collar for your dog. The Seresto Flea and Tick Control Collar is clinically proven to kill fleas within 24 hours. It provides all-around flea and tick protection to your dog that lasts for 7-8 months on a single application. It is just as easy as putting a regular collar on your dog.
The Seresto Flea and Tick Collar is made with an advanced mechanism that gradually releases the active ingredients throughout your dog’s skin and fur. This is made possible by the unique design that allows it to store the active ingredients inside the matrix of the collar. As a result, the Seresto collar provides long-term protection to your dog.
One of the noteworthy advantages of the Seresto Flea and Tick Collar is that it does not require fleas to bite to be effective. It kills fleas upon contact and thereby prevents infestation. It can be applied to your dog alongside your dog’s pre-existing collar.
The Seresto Flea Collar also has a safety release mechanism to ensure the safety of your dog. Dogs can be very enthusiastic and curious at times. They love exploring, and they can sometimes run into trouble. If your dog gets stuck onto something, the ratchet-release mechanism enables the collar to widen, avoiding any chance of suffocation. The small Seresto dog collar has an added layer of safety; it comes with an inbuilt breaking-point, which allows it to break apart if adequate pressure is applied. Keeping the adventurous nature of dogs in mind, the Seresto flea collar is made to be water-resistant. It is also odourless and is available without any prescription.
Dogs are very energetic and adventurous, but flea infestations can cause immense problems for their health and can affect their experience of exploring the world. As a dog owner, you would want your furry friend to always keep their happy-go-lucky nature. Give them the best experience with the help of the Seresto Dog Collar, and help them enjoy life without pesky parasites holding them back.
