When you notice your furry friend scratching away and crying, you probably assumed your dog had fleas. When the problem continued and you started to become prey to the tiny beasts themselves, you probably decided to take action. The key to whether or not your efforts were successful is in how you tried to get rid of the flea problem.

Much More than Just a Dog Problem

Most people rush to get a flea medication for their dog when they notice excessive scratching. One of the first pitfalls of flea treatment is the generic flea medication. Many caring owners see the high price tag stuck to the flea meds available at the vet and rush to the local grocery store to buy a much cheaper version. The only problem with that is that they don't work.

The cheaper the flea med, the more likely you are to see little to no difference in your pet's condition. In the meantime you have wasted precious time as the fleas will continue to multiple at fighting fast speeds until they are no only all over your dog, but also all over your carpets, your furniture, your yard and even you!

There are only a handful of flea medications that actually work and paying the full price for them is well worth it. These medications include Frontline and Advantage. They not only kill the fleas on your pet, but any flea larvae as well. But buying these medications and giving them to your dog is still not enough to squelch your problem.

Treating Your Home

By this point, fleas are all over your home and continuing to breed within your carpet or drapes. Every part of your home must be treated with a reliable, pet friendly pesticide to kill any fleas and larvae in your home. After your dog and your home are treated, it is essential that you treat your entire yard. If the yard is not treated, your dog will go outside and bring new fleas into your treated home and the problem will continue.

After you have treated your dog, your home and your yard, you still need to be aware of other flea factors such as any contact your dog might have with other dogs or wild animals such as possums that have carry a good deal of fleas.

For more information on controlling flea infestations caused by your dog, contact Austin Vet Clinics.