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How to Effectively Treat Fleas in Your Siberian Husky

Siberian Husky

With dogs come fleas; it’s just par for the course in most households. It’s impossible to keep a dog inside 24/7 considering they’re animals that need exercise, time outdoors and playtime. Siberian huskies are larger dogs that certainly cannot spend their lives inside, cooped up in the indoors and never allowed outside. If you want an animal of this nature, allow us to recommend a cat that might be happy as can be inside, with a litter box and free of fleas – even though that’s not even a guarantee.

With dogs come fleas, and this is just a fact of life. With dogs with long hair, with dogs with short hair, with big dogs, little dogs, silly dogs, old dogs, serious dogs and puppies come fleas. Since your chances of avoiding them completely are pretty slim, you can at least prepare yourself for the onslaught of tiny little brown creatures that bite, itch and bother before your Siberian husky brings them home. The faster you put a stop to fleas, the more in control of the situation you become.

Does My Dog Have Fleas?

We don’t know the answer to this question; we can’t see your dog. However, if you believe your Siberian husky might have an infestation, it’s time to look for the signs. One sign will be itchiness. Does your dog suddenly scratch more than before? Does your dog seem to have inflammation of the skin, some hair loss or even a bit of sudden weight loss despite a consistent diet and exercise? If so, your dog could have fleas. What you need to do is a little search. If you check through your dog’s coat, you’ll see them milling around in there and you’ll know what kind of problem you’re facing.

Now What?

Now that your dog has fleas, it’s time to get busy. The faster you treat this problem, the better. Siberian huskies aren’t much different from other dogs when it comes to treating these irritating creatures, but you should make sure you’re doing it correctly or else you’ll find yourself treating your dog and house for fleas yet again.

Before you run out and buy a flea collar, you should know that they’re not as effective on larger dogs as they are on smaller ones due to the vast size of the dog and the ability of fleas to steer clear of these collars. Flea insecticide is the best way to go. You might choose to use whatever it is your vet recommends, or you might shop on your own and choose between flea shampoos, powders or rinses that are applied to the dog approximately once a week to kill the fleas already on your dog’s body.

The instructions are very easy to follow; but you should still speak with your vet prior to using anything on your dog. Your vet is familiar with the health history of your animal, and therefore more capable of providing you with the most effective solution for your particular dog – this is especially important if your dog suffers from any health issues.

Furthermore, flea shampoos and killers are ineffective unless they are applied to the skin of the dog rather than the fur. Many people assume that their dogs long, thick fur is what keeps the fleas from dying off, but it’s usually a lack of attention to detail. The chemicals should go on the dog’s skin and not his fur if you want them to work properly.

If you have other animals in the home, they’ll all require the treatment. Fleas are not particular and will visit the body of any animal it can find, particularly if it’s chosen host is being treated to kill fleas. Additionally, you must be careful using the same treatment on your small animals as on your Siberian husky, who is likely much larger. Also be sure to keep your animals from ingesting these chemicals, as it could be fatal.

Treat The House

Unfortunately, treating your husky and other pets is not enough. You have to treat everything. This means treating your carpet, your rugs and your entire home. You’ll want to thoroughly vacuum out your dog’s crate or kennel, wash his bed and make sure you clean your carpets like a pro. A flea control mist is a good idea when cleaning your carpets. This is going to require that you leave the house for several hours following your application – your pets, too. However, it’s designed to kill living fleas, larvae and eggs that have been buried deep within your carpet so that these creatures die immediately and cannot continue to bother your family. Additionally, this is going to kill any flea it comes into contact with for approximately 6 months, which can be a big relief for families with animals.

Check the Weather

Many people assume that there is only one time of year you have to worry about fleas, and that’s the time when spring is turning into summer and the temps are rising quickly. It’s true that fleas do come out in droves, breeding like mad and inhabiting animals and houses more than ever around this time of year.

However, this is not the only time fleas are a problem. While there are more during this time, they live all year and can inhabit your house and animal year round if not properly treated. If you assume your dog has fleas or you think you don’t have to treat your home or animal simply because it’s mid-December and fleas are gone for a few months, you’re mistaken. Treating your home and dog now will help you prevent a larger breakout or infestation in a few months when the temps begin to rise.

Fleas that will not go away might require a bit more action, and that could require a trip to the vet. Your dog’s vet can recommend treatments designed to help your dog overcome fleas, but unless you keep your home flea-free and treated properly, you’ll risk continuous infestations in and around the house.

Photo by Getty Images

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