Ways to Prevent Fleas on Dogs

• Keep grass cut short
• Bathe dogs regularly
• Feed dogs dog treats and dog food with garlic and brewer's yeast
• Clean floors with borax solution
• Wash bedding weekly in hot water
• Vacuum carpets and furniture frequently
• Soak collars in lemon juice

Some people put brewer's yeast and garlic on dog's food to prevent fleas. I find it easier to make these garlic dog treats instead. They smell very strong but all my dogs love them. I use garlic powder since real garlic is more expensive and not anymore effective. The garlic powder alone will help repel fleas but if you add brewer's yeast you will get even better results. Brewer's yeast is not always easy to find. Some, larger grocery stores sell it as well as natural supplement stores. However, I live in a rural area and had to order it online.

These treats alone will not fight fleas. You still need to follow flea fighting guidelines and when fleas seem to be eliminated continue to feed the garlic treats to keep them away.

If your dog gets tired of these treats, consider my recipe for pumpkin peanut butter dog treats. I usually give my dogs the garlic treats in the morning before I leave for work and then give them the other treats at night before bedtime. My dogs also enjoy pretzels, apples, bread, and almonds as well for treats. The ASPCA considers all of those items safe for dogs, however every dog and breed is different so you should still check with your vet prior to giving your dog new food or treats.

There are four stages to the life cycle of a flea

1. The first stage is the eggs. Dogs are an ideal location for fleas to lay eggs. They will lay eggs in their fur or around their bedding. The female flea lays hundreds of eggs and may move to different locations to do so.
2. Once eggs hatch they become larvae. The larvae feed on dried blood from your dog as well as your dog's dander.
3. The third stage is pupa. Usually pupa are around areas the dog frequents and not always on the dog's fur or skin. Pupa can also remain dormant for months and suddenly when a warm and humid day develops the pupa will hatch into an adult flea. Once the pupa turns into an adult it jumps onto your dog.
4. The final stage is adult. Adult fleas can be found by using a flea comb on your dog. You may actually see them jumping around in different areas of your home.

Regular bathing and frequent cleaning can kill flea eggs, larvae, pupa and adults. Some commercial flea products only kill adult fleas and do not prevent fleas. If you choose a commercial flea product be sure to read all the labels and instructions carefully. Fleas are usually worse in the summer time, but can be a problem all year long. Some people use commercial products only during the summer months and use more natural methods at other times of the year.

I personally, do not use any commercial products and I live on five acres of land and have three dogs. It does take time to naturally deal with the fleas and there are times when the fleas do get bad despite all my prevention efforts. However, I have always been able to deal with fleas at their worst with frequent bathing and cleaning and often go months without any fleas.