For millions of dogs and people, the tiny flea is a relentless enemy. The flea is a small, brown, wingless insect that uses specialized mouth parts to pierce the skin and siphon blood. When a flea bites your dog, it injects a little amount of saliva into the skin to prevent blood coagulation. many animals can have fleas without showing suffering, but an unfortunate number of dogs become sensitized to this saliva. In particularly allergic animals, the bite of a single flea will cause severe it...
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Commercial flea killing compounds can work if used properly but they are not the only alternative to stopping fleas. There are effective home remedies that work as well or better.

The life cycle of the flea has four different stages including the egg, larva, pupa and adult.

The adult flea uses your dog as a place to take its blood meals and breed. Fleas either lay eggs directly on the pet where they may drop off, or deposit eggs into the immediate surroundings around your home. Simply pu...

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Commercial flea killing compounds may work if used properly but they should not be the only alternative to stopping fleas. For millions of dogs and people, the small flea is a relentless enemy.

The vacuum cleaner can be a real aid in removing flea eggs and immature forms. Give special attention to cracks and corners. At the end of vacuuming, either partial vacuum up some flea powder into your vacuum bag, or throw the bag out. Otherwise, the cleaner will only serve as an incubator, releasi...

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More than 30 million Americans live with one or more dogs (Marks, 1999). pet owners many use poisons in and around their homes to address mites. Although many chemicals were beneficial, poor planning or improper use of a pesticide product may be be very toxic to dogs. Of course the best way to avoid toxicity is to avoid using chemical products. However, if these chemicals must be used be sure to read the labels, use the products properly, and be highly careful. Remember that dogs could be not...
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The following compounds are samples of the chemicals used in homes and gardens.

•    2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). This pesticide is a chlorophenoxy compound that functions as a systemic herbicide and is used to address many types of broadleaf weeds. Classified as a General Use mite killing (GUP), 2,4-D's diethylamine salt is a slightly toxic category III chemical when ingested orally. However, this product is classified as a highly toxic category I chemical when exposed to the eye...
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Guidelines to avoid toxicity
As mentioned previously, the best way to avoid toxicity is to avoid using chemical poisons altogether. An integrated pest management program may be the most reliable strategy for controlling mites. This methodology employs physical, mechanical, cultural, and biological strategies to keep pest numbers low. Least-toxic chemical pest modulate methods could be used only as a last resort. The following pest manage methods do not involve chemical poisons:
•    Physical ...
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