Fleas are every pet owner’s worst nightmare. These are tiny creatures but don’t judge them on the basis of their size as even one flea is enough to cause a lot of trouble. Fleas are parasites which means that they spend their lives in other animals harming them for nutrition. Their most obvious prey are dogs, cats and rabbits. These little rascals get into animal’s coats for shelter, where they suck onto their blood for nutrition leaving flea bites on skin as a result. So, the most obvious question that comes to our mind is how do I keep fleas from biting me?
Flea Bites
Flea bites are a difficult thing for any pet owner to deal with. As the name indicates these bites are caused by fleas. These are red little bumps usually in form of clusters with a lot of itchiness on them. However, it is advised not to scratch these as it can cause opening in wound and hence chances of secondary infection increases. Flea bites can be fatally dangerous for the reason that fleas carry a lot of fatal diseases. The best cure for flea bites is prevention.
Preventing Bites
To prevent any flea attack from occurring try to keep your house as clean as possible. Avoid damp conditions from occurring within the boundary of your home. Do not allow your pets to spend time in damp environment. Bathe your pet on regular basis and also check them for fleas. Spray your lawn regularly with pesticides. Mow your lawn regularly as long grass provides a favorable environment for fleas. Keep your carpet dry by using vacuum on regular basis. You can also plant some of these trees and plants in order to prevent fleas as these are natural enemies of fleas and release fragrance which is not liked by fleas. These include citrus plant, tea trees, mint plant, eucalyptus tree, lavender, basil and Aloe Vera. Echinacea and garlic are equally useful against fleas.
Protecting Yourself from Flea Bites
If you want to protect yourself from bites, you can follow some simple steps. Keep yourself covered, especially in seasons where conditions are optimal for fleas such as spring. Try using natural remedies such as lavender oil, tea tree oil, garlic paste, crushed leaves of basil and calendula, apple cider vinegar and smells of citrus fruit on exposed parts of your body to prevent bites.
There are also medications available in pharmacies in form of lotions, creams and sprays to prevent flea bites. Mostly these are made out of extracts of natural remedies discussed above. These are easy to apply, and you can wear them all day without any hesitation of going out. Most of these artificial remedies include extracts of calamine which is a strong repellent against bites. These were some of the preventive measures one can use against bites. Remember that flea bites can always be treated but if you suspect you have any type of infection or allergic reaction reach out to your doctor for further guidance.