How Can I Get Rid of Ticks & Flea for Dogs?

There are a few different kinds of parasites that can afflict your dog. The first is fleas. Fleas are common on companion animals, but your dog should never have to suffer with this parasite. Furthermore, if you allow fleas to remain, they can eventually invade your home and be nearly impossible to get rid of without a professional exterminator. The second parasite is ticks. When your dog is outside, ticks can attach themselves to your dog and can cause Lyme disease. Removing a tick from your dog is absolutely necessary.

Things You'll Need

  • Rubbing alcohol
  • Cotton balls
  • Tweezers
  • Flea shampoo
  • Flea medication
  • Flea powder
  • Vacuum cleaner
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Instructions

  1. Ticks

    • 1

      Add rubbing alcohol to a cotton ball and rub it over your dog's skin and the tick you found.

    • 2

      Look carefully at the tick and identify the head, which is attached to your dog, and the body, which is most likely filled with blood.

    • 3

      Grasp the head of the tick with tweezers and pull it out. Make sure you are not squeezing the tick's body because this can cause an infection in your dog.

    • 4

      Clean the area again with rubbing alcohol as you did before.

    • 5

      Take your dog to the vet for a checkup. Lyme disease and infections can be transmitted quickly, so a medical checkup will be needed.

    Fleas

    • 6

      Take your dog to the vet if you suspect fleas. Your vet can make sure there are no other medical complications, such as a flea allergy, and recommend treatment products.

    • 7

      Use a shampoo that kills fleas and eggs on your dog. Rub the shampoo on your dog's head first to prevent fleas from migrating to the face. Then, cover the rest of the body. Wait 10 minutes, or as long as the product recommends, and rinse.

    • 8

      Wait until your dog's fur is completely dry. Then, apply the medicated flea treatment that was recommended by your vet to the back of your dog's neck. This treatment needs to be repeated once a month.

    • 9

      Treat your house. If your dog had fleas, then your home does too. Carpet powders that are vacuumed up can be effective. Be sure to vacuum regularly in all areas, including under furniture, to remove fleas.

    • 10

      Contact an exterminator who can take care of fleas if you're having a hard time removing them from your home. When an infestation gets too bad, you will need help from a professional.