The fastest way to get rid of fleas and ticks is to follow up with preventive measures once you have taken steps to eliminate them from your dog and home. Employ a multi-pronged approach for removing fleas and ticks in a fast and effective manner. Take care of your dog’s food, home environment, cleanliness of its hair and skin, and the treatment to get rid of fleas and ticks. Once the infestation is gone, take care to prevent them.
- Break the flea cycle
Interrupting the life cycle of the flea is the best and fastest approach to control fleas. In the lifetime of 18-28 days, fleas exist on your dog and in your home in different stages, as eggs, larvae, and adults. Taking measures to kill the adult fleas does not solve the problem as they represent only 5 %, whereas the eggs make up 50% of the flea infestation in a home. Control measures have to be implemented throughout the life cycle period to get rid of fleas. - Use flea and tick control products
Flea and tick control chemicals can get rid of them faster. Choose those pesticides that are low on toxicity and are approved by US EPA and FDA. They can get rid of the fleas faster. Study the labels to know about any adverse effects. Discuss with your vet regarding the prescription flea treatments. Use the correct dosage according to the age and weight of your dog. Once the infestation is under control, review the need for chemical pesticides. Follow up with natural repellents as a preventive measure.
Some products kill ticks fast, within 24 hours that protects your dog from further tick bites. But to prevent the ticks from further infestation, products such as tick and flea collars have to be used. They kill ticks before they bite, kill fleas, and provide protection to the whole body.
PETA suggests an insect growth regulator hormone called Precor, which would prevent further flea and tick infestation. Some flea and tick control products come with Precor. Spraying the carpets, floor, and upholstery every few months is a long-term preventive measure. It should not be used directly on your dog. - Follow up with natural repellents
Natural flea repellents can be used regularly in the bath or on the skin of your dog. Lemon, neem, essential oils, salt, and baking soda are natural ways to get rid of the fleas from your dog and the atmosphere. Use them as sprays, rubs or in baths in right proportions to keep the skin healthy and pest free. - Feed good food with a daily dosage of flea repellent
Keep your dog’s coat healthy and flea resistant by adding flaxseed oil or calcium ascorbate powder to its food in recommended doses. B complex vitamins too ensure the health of your dog’s skin. Garlic and black walnut capsules are flea repellents which can be added to the food. Generally, a diet rich in fresh whole foods and low on processed foods works better to repel fleas and ticks and helps your dog recover from the infestation faster.