Summer months are hard on pet owners because it is the time when dogs and cats are infested with fleas. Fleas are small, dark brown colored insects and are of the size of the head of a pin. They live in the temperatures of 65 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit and prefer humidity levels of 75 to 85 percent. Your pet gets fleas when it comes in contact with another pet that is infested with fleas. The strong legs of this insect helps it to jump from one animal to another and from the surrounding environment to the animals. Flea bite causes itching in most of the animals. Also, if the animal is allergic to flea, then the flea bite may cause inflammation, hair loss, and secondary skin infections.

How to look for fleas on your pets
Unlike other parasites that can be seen only through the microscope, fleas can be seen scurrying on the skin of the pet. They can be mostly spotted on the belly and the inner thigh areas of the pet.
Another way of confirming fleas on your pets is looking for flea dirt on the skin. The feces of the flea look something like a speck of pepper. It is nothing, but the blood digested by the pest. Take some out of the fur and place it on a wet paper towel. If the dirt turns into a stain of blood after some time, then you can confirm that there are fleas on your pet. To get rid of the fleas, you need to get a flea treatment done for your pet.

Eliminating fleas:
Getting rid of fleas can be done either naturally or chemically. If you choose to eliminate the fleas with chemical treatment, then you have a couple of options. Either you can hire a professional or you can do it yourself.
Hiring a professional will help you eradicate the fleas quickly. The professionals will use harsher chemicals to remove all the fleas from your pet’s skin in weeks. However, make sure nobody in your house is allergic to the chemical agents used in the treatment.
If you cannot afford to hire a professional, you can buy a flea eradication solution or powder from a local pet store. Make sure you understand how to use it before applying it on your pet.
Capstar is a tablet that needs to be administered orally. You can keep the tablet in a treat and give it to your pet. This tablet starts working in 30 minutes and within 4 hours, it kills 90 percent of the fleas.
You can also go for flea removal shampoos, if you think your dog can stand wet for 10 minutes. These shampoos are quite effective and kill flea in one treatment.
Before using any method, consult your vet to know which methods work best for your pet. However, to eliminate the pest problem completely, it is always better to go for professional help.