I hate fleas, although I’m sure my dog hates them much more than I do. How can he not? They are annoying and potentially harmful to your pet’s health. However, all this can be prevented with the correct flea & tick control. This allows you to stay one step ahead of these pesky critters and allowing you to avoid the hassle of applying flea treatments later on. Your dog will be happy you did.

As a pet owner, there are few aspects of keeping your dog or cat healthy more important than flea and tick control. The problem I found is that many of the popular and store bought flea and tick control products contain chemicals which are introduced to your pet with internally or topically. These chemicals can sometimes cause reactions such as rashes and illness. This is has led more and more pet owners to use natural preventative measures and treatments as a way to combat fleas and ticks as well as prevent further infestations.

I can’t stress this enough. Do not use flea and tick control products that are specifically made for dogs on a cat and vice versa. This can be very harmful to your pet. This includes items such as topical creams, shampoos, dips, flea collars and powders. It is always a pertinent decision to read through a product’s directions completely and carefully before using it on your pet.

One way to control fleas is through regular grooming. I like to make use of a fine-tooth comb or even a flea comb as a way to brush through your dog’s hair and check for fleas. The best places to check for fleas on your pet’s body are the base of the tail as well as the head and neck area in particular. When any are found, you then would want to give it a good bath using a natural flea shampoo.

Always maintain a clean indoor environment. This means regular vacuuming of the house as well as steam cleaning those rugs and carpets. Always dispose of the vacuum bags afterwards. This eliminates any pesky fleas living inside the vacuum bag. I also recommend wash your dog's bed at least once a week during the height of flea season. Use a combination of hot water and dry on high heat in order to kill off fleas, eggs and larvae.

Did you know that lemons contain natural flea-killing ingredients such as d-limonene? This is another great method of flea control is a natural skin treatment. Start by getting thin lemon slices and adding it in some hot water. Allow the mixture to soak overnight. Next, lightly dab the lemon water mixture onto the animal's skin.