Are flea bites causing your dog to shed everywhere? This is typically a sign of flea allergy dermatitis — an allergic reaction that’s characterized by intense itching to the flea’s saliva. Thankfully, there are some simple steps owners can take to help control their dog’s shedding.
Brush Frequently
One of the keys to keeping hair off the floor and furniture in your home is to frequently brush your dog. You can find special brushes available at most pet stores that are designed to catch loose hair when you use it on a dog. Depending on how much your dog sheds, you’ll probably want to use this on them at least once every couple of days. Just sit down in a comfortable area with your dog and gently run it over their coat starting from the front and working your way back. Once it gets full of hair, pull it out with your hand and toss it in the trash can.
Vacuum
If you have an indoor dog, you’ll need to stay on top of vacuuming the floors to prevent hair from building up. Try to get into the habit of vacuuming at least once a week to remove any excess hair that your dog has shed. This alone will help immensely in your battle against shedding.
Air Filter
A lot of dog owners overlook the importance of changing their home’s air filter. The fact is, however, that it needs to be changed once every month in order to trap shed hair and prevent it from traveling back into your home. If you leave an old filter in your home’s HVAC system, the return vents will suck up your dog’s shed hair and simply blow it back into your home. You can purchase air filters from most home improvement stores and Wal-Marts for about $10 bucks.
What About The Fleas?
Removing loose fur throughout your home will only mask the problem. In order to prevent your dog from shedding, you must kill the fleas currently on your pooch and discourage them from coming back. This can be done using either traditional treatment products, such as FrontLine or Advantage, or you can use an all-natural remedy like apple cider vinegar. If you’re struggling to keep fleas off your dog, be sure to read through some of our previous articles here at FleaBitesonHuman.com.