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The flea is among the Labrador Retrievers' mortal enemy. It may
be a very small creature but its effects on a dog are very much
felt. If you don’t believe me how powerful a flea is; here are
some quick facts. The
flea has already outlived us humans because they have been around
for millions of years. They can quickly adjust to a new environment
and have no problem with its new living conditions. They could
even produce thousands of off-springs in the span of months.
Their leap is also powerful for their size; they could leap
as high as 15 to 36 inches high. In a human world, that’s equivalent
to leaping over the Washington monument.
Those things
may be pretty amazing but when it comes to your Labrador’s health,
fleas are very much irritating. These fleas cause mild skin
irritation to becoming severe allergic reactions. Since these
guys feed on blood, a Labrador Retriever with lots of fleas
can have anemia or even die. These guys are the real vampires.
Labrador Retriever’s that are not susceptible to fleas are those
that live in extremely dry places or high environments.
It is very
hard to see if your Labrador Retriever has encountered fleas.
However you can check out for signs. Look for scabs, extreme
scratching, flea dirt or dark specs that are all found on your
dog’s skin. Fleas can even become more dangerous when they carry
tapeworms. Check out the rear area of your dog if there are
any white rice specs that are present as they are signs of tapeworms.
Fleas are
very hard to get rid of. It will take you 3-4 weeks to get them
away from your Labrador Retriever and your environment. There
are lots of different flea products that can be used and are
all different depending on the life stage of the flea. The best
thing to do is combine all of them.
Getting
rid of fleas:
Adult fleas
on your Labrador Retriever can be killed using flea shampoos,
powders, and sprays and regularly combing of flea combs. It
is not enough to get rid of the fleas on the dog alone. The
fleas at your place should also be getting rid of.
To get
rid of fleas at your house you would need to vacuum and wash
the dogs bedding at least once a week. Every two to four weeks
also spay insecticide on your house’s cracks or crevices. Using
chemicals to get rid of fleas could be dangerous. So the best
way is to get help from your vet or hire a professional.
If your
Labrador Retriever stays mostly outside, getting the dog in
the sunlight helps. Fleas can die from the sunlight. You may
also want to spray your yard.
Now that
those pesky fleas are gone, you and your Labrador Retriever
can have a more fun. You can snuggle the dog more without worrying
of getting some fleas on you too. |
