Would you like to know how to get rid of fleas on Bulldogs? Fleas are present wherever you go especially if you live in a hot and humid area so knowing how to get rid of them is a necessity for dog owners.
There are more than 2,000 kinds of fleas. They are small but very fast creatures that can live in your dog’s fur. They measure from 1/16 inch to 1/8 inch. Because of their size and incredible speed, it is very difficult to notice if your dog has them – unless there is severe infestation.
Aside from itching and allergies, flea infestation can also cause tapeworm infestation in the dog’s tummy. Fleas carry tapeworm eggs and when dogs ingest tapeworm egg-carrying fleas, these eggs can activate inside the digestive tract and feed on your dog’s food nutrients.
Where Bulldogs Pick Up Fleas
Fleas are everywhere. And it is natural for your Bulldog to pick up fleas and other parasites in different places including:
- Your Yard – Fleas can hide in shrubs, tall grasses, and random plants. When your Bulldog plays near the area, then he can pick up a bunch of fleas.
- Boarding Kennel, Dog Parks, Anywhere with Dogs – You’ll never know if a dog your Bulldog is playing with has fleas. Your Bulldog can pick up fleas from places where dogs are present including the park, boarding kennels, doggie daycare, or more.
- Everywhere – Fleas can be present and lurking almost everywhere where there is dogs, grass, and other pets they could latch on. Fleas can also live for long periods of time with no food and that means they can live in blankets, curtains, carpets, furniture and more.
Finding Fleas
A single flea can be pretty hard to spot. But if you see one on your Bulldog, it means there is an infestation happening on his fur. If your Bulldog has flea infestation, you might see the following signs:
- Black specks that look like soil (flea dirt) all over his fur,
- Reddish spots on the skin and belly,
- And scratching.
How to Get Rid of Fleas on Bulldogs
There are many products that can help get rid of fleas in Bulldogs. But before you apply or put your Bulldog under any natural or chemical flea medication, it’s important to clean up first.
Clean up the house and your Bulldog’s bedding
Fleas can live in carpets and other furniture and they can live as long as 100 days without blood meal. This means that putting your Bulldog in flea medication without cleaning may not help in getting rid of all the fleas. So it is important to vacuum carpets, furniture, and the entire house to make sure that most fleas lurking in your home are removed. Wash beddings regularly, preferably in hot water. Of course, you will need to wash your Bulldog too. After his bath, then he’s ready for his flea medication.
Treatment Options for Flea Infestation
There are different treatments that can help get rid of fleas in your Bulldog.
Natural Ways to Get Rid of Fleas on Bulldogs
Natural Flea Repellant Spray – To make a natural flea repellent spray, boil a pot of water for 10 minutes then add five lemon slices into it. Turn off the heat after one minute. Let the water-lemon mixture steep overnight. You can use the solution as a repellant spray. Another way to use this is to soak a flea comb into the solution and run it through the fur. Fleas hate acidic environments so the acidity of the lemon spray should help those pesky pests away.
Apple Cider Vinegar – Apple Cider Vinegar can also make a good flea-repelling spray. Just mix equal parts of water and ACV, and use it on your Bulldog’s fur. You may also add ACV into your Bulldog’s drinking water to change his body’s pH level and make his “taste” unpleasant for fleas.
Brewer’s Yeast – Brewer’s yeast does not only keep your Bulldog healthy. It is known to help repel fleas as well. It is non-toxic and it can be mixed with dog food. Just like mixing ACV with water, mixing Brewer’s yeast with food can make your Bulldog’s taste repulsive to fleas. But, it is important to consult the veterinarian to know the correct dosage of Brewer’s yeast for your Bulldog.
Get Rid of Fleas on Your Bulldogs with the Following Medications
There are also medications that can help kill fleas and keep them away from your Bulldog.
Advocate – This is a spot-on treatment you can give your Bulldog once a month. Aside from controlling fleas, this product can also work against intestinal worms, ear mites, and other mites.
Like Advocate, Advantage is a spot-on flea treatment made by Bayer and is applied once a month. This product can kill adult fleas and its larvae. This product is effective for 4 weeks. Make sure to purchase the correct dosage (based on your dogs size- etc. small, medium, large).
Created by Merial, Frontline is a spot-on treatment that helps kill and repel ticks and fleas.
Vetguard is another monthly spot-on treatment. It can kill and repel ticks, fleas, and even mosquitoes. Vetguard can also break the life cycle of fleas and stop eggs from developing into adult fleas.
Nexgard- Nexguard is a once-a-month chewable made by Merial. It can kill ticks and fleas. It can also prevent infestation for up to 4 weeks.
Preventing Flea Re-Infestation on Your Bulldog
To prevent re-infestation of fleas, it is important to keep your house and your Bulldog’s beddings clean regularly. Putting your Bulldog on monthly preventatives such as Advocate, Nexgard, Frontline, and mope should also keep fleas away.
