GUEST SPEAKER: Professionally Grooming Dogs With Fleas

Posted on August 19, 2009 by Nancy Houser

Here at 3 Pigs Professional Pet Salon in Overton NE I have seen quite a few pets with fleas this summer. Sometimes the fleas are not readily seen alive on the pet, but when you run the bath water, it runs reddish and your can see the dried blood from the fleas.

Fleas have been exploding in population this summer. I personally have had to spray my lawn three times and have used Frontline on all my own animals. The dogs that come into the shop that have fleas I give a ‘Capstar’ pill to them according to their weight. This pill will kill any fleas on the dog starting in about 45 minutes.

Then I give them a good flea bath. Kenic Flea shampoo is one of the best professional shampoos to use on dogs and cats. A lot of flea shampoos that you purchase at Walmart and over the counter cannot be used on cats.

Cats have very thin skin and absorb chemicals into their bloodstream very easily. Thus, they can convulse and become very sick and even die from an overdose of a specific chemical.

Right now I am using Bio-Groom Flea and Tick Shampoo on most of my own dogs and it works well. but you must leave it on 10 minutes, where Kenic is a 4-5 minute wait. Good flea and tick shampoos can be purchased through some vets and online through: KV Vet out of David City, Nebraska; Ryans Pet Supplies; and Pet Edge.

Always realize that fleas bring worms right along with them. So if your pet was infested with fleas and you suddenly see sections of tape worms in their stool — you know where they came from. Also, remember that pet bedding and the areas they live in have to be treated at the same time the pet is treated. Eggs, larvae and fleas have to bekilled altogether to maintain a flea-free home.

Fleas take blood from your pet. Your pet can become anemic and lose their hair, their skin changes and they can become depressed and listless. They are a serious problem. Frontline Plus is the best product on the market because it kills, eggs, larvae and live fleas for one month. Every month your pet must be treated once again.

There are other products that are topical on the market and cheaper, but you risk them not working as well, and always check with your vet, even if it is just over the phone. You can waste a lot of money by purchasing cheaper products over and over again, and they simply never work.

(Peggy is a professional dog groomer and guest speaker from 3 Pigs Professional Pet Salon in Overton NE)

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