This Examiner just got out of the hospital in Hamilton, Ontario thanks to a springtime bout with pneumonia to find that her apartment (and doggie) had fleas. What an awful thing to come home to, with the constant bites and itching.
I had someone else take care of my little Shih Tzu while I was gone for the week, so I was not at all pleased to have this problem dropped into my lap. Thankfully, my dog Angel did not seem nearly as bothered by this as I was but I knew I had to take care of this obvious infestation right away.
Of course, a dousing of Calamine lotion certainly helped me deal with the bites and itching but I knew I had a much bigger problem on my hands. My first stop was our local Ruffin’s Pet Centre where I purchased Zodiac, Double Action flea and tick shampoo so I could give Angel a nice, soothing bath. This parasite-control product includes active ingredients that work immediately to kill any fleas.
To get rid of the fleas, I purchased Zodiac, Premise Plus flea spray, which I used liberally on every single inch of rug space, my couch and even my stripped bed. I washed all of the bedding, all towels and even clothes that had been sitting in the hamper since I’d been gone. I should mention that I vacuumed before I began spraying.
I have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and was somewhat concerned about spraying anything in such a close space. However, I found that this product did not bother my breathing and in fact, smelled quite fresh.
To keep the nasty little critters off my beloved pet, I also bought Zodiac Powerspot Flea & Tick Control to put on her after her bath. This topical solution, which includes four monthly doses, is put on the skin on the back of the dog’s neck between the shoulder blades. It cost me about $24, much less than it would have to purchase a similar item from my veterinarian.
There are a number of very good flea control products on the market, such as Hartz® UltraGuard Pro® Flea & Tick Drops for Dogs and Puppies. Another option is to purchase a flea collar to protect your dog when outside. Either way, make sure you check with either your local pet store as I did or directly with your vet.
See Part 2: How Fleas Survive
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