Dog Fleas Prevention and Remedies
Human fleas, dog fleas, cat fleas, and the stick tight fleas of poultry all attack dogs and cats, and the human flea can also breed on hogs. The cat flea, dog flea, and human flea serve as intermediate hosts for the dog tapeworm, which can infect human beings. All three of these flea species can-although they usually do not-carry bubonic plague. Fleas are also apparently associated with summer eczema of dogs. To this list of evils must be added the torment caused by fleas and the fact that, uncontrolled, they can completely overrun houses and farm buildings. Why put up with them, asks Bishop, when they can easily be suppressed?
For dogs and cats, scatter a small amount of derris, cube, or fresh pyrethrum powder next to the skin along the neck and back; or wash the animal in water containing derris or cube powder and soap. Repeat the treatment every 10 days or 2 weeks. For hogs, sprinkle the back lightly with crude petroleum or strained crankcase oil. For poultry, destroy the fleas on the premises.
Flea eggs are deposited on the host but soon drop off and hatch out tiny maggot like larvae, which become pupae about the size of wheat kernel and finally adult fleas. To kill fleas and larvae on the premises, use a creosote oil spray. In infested buildings, such as homes, where creosote oil would be damaging, scatter flaked naphthalene liberally-about 5 pounds to a room-and close up and vacate the building for at least 48 hours. Close cutting of grass will usually kill fleas in lawns, or the grass can be sprayed with nicotine sulfate.