Fleas - Once picked up, the parasites spread rapidly on the animals and in the surrounding area. In severe cases, you can even see them jumping on the ground or the pets themselves, or seen as swarming in their fur. Fighting it requires patience, a thorough approach and the right flea powder for dogs, cats and humans.
Flea feces
The reddish to black crumbs are about the size of a grain of sand and produce red to rust-brown traces when they are crushed and rubbed between two sheets of paper. It can be removed from fur and hair with a flea comb, lice comb or other narrow-toothed comb.
Flea bites
Fleas will take several test bites before actually sucking. This results in multiple stitches or bites, redness and itchy areas. As a rule, these do not swell too much, but show a clear puncture site and a circular reddening around it.
Fleas
The parasites are red-brown to black, one to four millimeters in size, have a stocky body and can jump up to a meter. The body is flattened. They can be seen as black dots on the human body, but are more difficult to see in the fur of animals.
Flea powder especially for humans is therefore not available in stores. It is important that the fleas and their eggs are fought in the vicinity so that they do not pass back to humans as hosts. The following procedures are recommended for this:
Flea powder, such as kieselguhr or agents with isopropoxyphenyl, can be divided into two variants. Flea powder such as diatomaceous earth clogs the parasites' respiratory organs and causes them to suffocate. Chemicals like isopropoxyphenyl, on the other hand, poison the fleas and impair the growth of the insects and theirs Larvae can prevent further development - but they are also harmful to the nerves and can damage the airways irritate. This usually also applies to other insect growth inhibitors, such as:
Whether dog or cat - so that the flea powder works properly and can eliminate as many parasites as possible with each use, the following points are necessary in the treatment:
In order to avoid a new slip and repeated stings, the environment should therefore be treated in any case. This can be done on the one hand with flea powder, on the other hand with flea spray and flea bombs for the environment. It is important to treat all surfaces that:
Flea powders aren't the only ways to fight the parasites. As mentioned, there are also other means and measures to get rid of the parasites. These include:
Recognize fleas
There are several ways to identify fleas. These include:Flea feces
The reddish to black crumbs are about the size of a grain of sand and produce red to rust-brown traces when they are crushed and rubbed between two sheets of paper. It can be removed from fur and hair with a flea comb, lice comb or other narrow-toothed comb.
Flea bites
Fleas will take several test bites before actually sucking. This results in multiple stitches or bites, redness and itchy areas. As a rule, these do not swell too much, but show a clear puncture site and a circular reddening around it.
Fleas
The parasites are red-brown to black, one to four millimeters in size, have a stocky body and can jump up to a meter. The body is flattened. They can be seen as black dots on the human body, but are more difficult to see in the fur of animals.
Flea powder for humans
Human fleas exist, but are extremely rare. Much more common are dog and cat fleas that have "got lost" or use humans as hosts for emergencies. This behavior stems from the fact that the parasites feel more comfortable in the thick fur of pets than on bare human skin. In addition, people can change their clothes and wash, shower or bathe more often than is the case with animals. This makes it more difficult for the fleas to spread on them. The parasites on humans are also recognized more quickly.Flea powder especially for humans is therefore not available in stores. It is important that the fleas and their eggs are fought in the vicinity so that they do not pass back to humans as hosts. The following procedures are recommended for this:
- Wash all textiles as hot as possible and often
- Change and wash pillows, blankets and bed linen regularly
- Treat the soil with a flea powder for surrounding application or diatomaceous earth
- Repeat applications frequently in order to control newly hatched fleas at an early stage and to prevent them from reproducing again
Flea powder for dogs
Flea powder, such as kieselguhr or agents with isopropoxyphenyl, can be divided into two variants. Flea powder such as diatomaceous earth clogs the parasites' respiratory organs and causes them to suffocate. Chemicals like isopropoxyphenyl, on the other hand, poison the fleas and impair the growth of the insects and theirs Larvae can prevent further development - but they are also harmful to the nerves and can damage the airways irritate. This usually also applies to other insect growth inhibitors, such as:- Diethyltoluamide
- Lufenuron
- Methoprene
- Pyriproxyfen
Flea powder for cats
As with dogs, cat flea powder often contains isopropoxyphenyl, which quickly kills adult fleas. But just like with dogs, these products cannot be used on every animal. Sick, pregnant, lactating or animals under the age of six months cannot be treated with it. In addition, the use of flea powder in cats is usually difficult and requires at least one other helper. Instead of the flea powder, we recommend other products that are easier to apply.Use flea powder on animals
Whether dog or cat - so that the flea powder works properly and can eliminate as many parasites as possible with each use, the following points are necessary in the treatment: 1. If possible, bathe the animal thoroughly and use an appropriate shampoo against vermin. Then let the fur dry thoroughly.
2. Brush the fur, remove any knots and felt. Finally, blow-dry if possible to loosen the fur.
3. Do not spread the flea powder over the fur until it is completely dry. To do this, comb against the grain and only then apply the powder.
4. Spread the powder by stroking and brushing against the grain down to the skin and massage in.
5. After a few days, the powder residue can be combed out again.
Tips: It is important that the product does not get in the eyes, nose or snout. Licking the coat after the treatment should also be avoided as a matter of urgency. In addition, the application must be repeated once or twice a week until no more fleas, larvae or flea droppings are found.Flea powder for the environment
Flea powder for the environment should be used or an appropriate spray instead used to prevent further spread of the parasites and also fleas that have fallen off kill. It must be noted that flea eggs can still hatch for up to three months after being laid. After a supposedly successfully defeated infestation, there can be another outbreak - if the control was not thorough enough.In order to avoid a new slip and repeated stings, the environment should therefore be treated in any case. This can be done on the one hand with flea powder, on the other hand with flea spray and flea bombs for the environment. It is important to treat all surfaces that:
- which cannot or cannot be washed at all
- Carpets
- Upholstered furniture
- Sleeping places for the animals
- Floors with grooves, such as parquet
Alternatives to flea powder
Flea powders aren't the only ways to fight the parasites. As mentioned, there are also other means and measures to get rid of the parasites. These include:- Washing textiles as hot as possible and as frequently as possible
- Steam cleaning of textiles and surfaces
- Use of spot-on on animals by the veterinarian
- Veterinarian for the animals, exterminator for the apartment
- Protect animals against fleas in advance
prevention
Since fleas are usually introduced by cats and dogs, it makes sense to protect pets against the parasites. The following means are recommended for this:- Spot-ons that are spread over the skin of the animals - but where caution is advised when dogs and cats are held together
- Flea tablets, which, however, can attack the nervous system of dogs and cats
- Use flea collars
- Avoid typical habitation areas for mice and hedgehogs
- Lay out flea traps in the garden
- Carry out regular checks and grooming