You may have noticed your Yorkie itching its body with its little paws aggressively. This must have made you think that your Yorkie has contracted fleas and you may wonder how to get rid of fleas on a Yorkie?
Well, this article is the right place you’ve come to. We will answer the question: how to get rid of fleas on a Yorkie? how to prevent it, some home remedies you can use, and lastly some commonly asked questions about the same.
So without further ado let’s get into it and understand how to get rid of fleas on a Yorkie?
How To Get Rid Of Fleas On A Yorkie? Top 5 Ways
Listed below are the ways to get rid of fleas from your Yorkie’s body:
1. Check Your Yorkie For fleas
Firstly before getting into how to get rid of fleas on a Yorkie? It is important to check for fleas in the first place. Gently go through your Yorkie’s fur and look for any black fecal matter or fleas.
2. Brush Your Yorkie’s Fur
If there are pleasant fleas, a flea comb really helps. Start by brushing your Yorkies hair first from the top part of the body, neck and then going down to the legs and paws. In this way, the fleas will either appear on the comb or fall out.
3. Bathe Your Yorkie With A Flea Shampoo
You can also bathe your Yorkie using a flea shampoo. Make sure to lather up your Yorkie really well, covering its whole body, neck area, and legs, and paws with the shampoo.
Make sure it sits on there as per the instructions on the shampoo bottle and then rinse well.
4. Make Sure Your Yorkie’s Bedding And Your House Is Clean
Another way of getting rid of fleas on a Yorkie? Is to make sure your Yorkies bedding is clean. This is because fleas love staying in warm places. Thus if your dog is infested with fleas, it is very likely they are in the bedding too. Thus, clean them often.
Also, clean your carpet and furniture well, and again fleas love staying in moist or warm regions and your Yorkie is likely to contract it from these places too and these pets all around the house.
5. Keep Your Yorkie healthy
Make sure your Yorkie is eating healthy as this too helps in managing and reducing flea infestations.
Thus, this was the basic idea of how to get rid of fleas on a Yorkie. We will dive into some more details concerning the same.
Understanding Flea’s Life Cycle
The first image of a flea that comes to mind is an adult size flea but very few people know the whole life cycle and development of these insects. Knowing the life cycle of fleas will help you tackle a flea infestation in your Yorkie.
Stage 1- Flea Eggs
Once an adult flea finds a host, it will start laying about 20-50 eggs each being around 0.5mm in size. Your Yorkie may unknowingly contract these fleas and scatter these eggs all around the house because of moving around.
When the temperature outside gets warm the eggs begin to hatch and then enter the next stage which is the larvae stage.
Stage 2- Flea Larvae
This develops for over 1 to two weeks and is about 5mm long after this. They look transparent and have no legs. The larvae feed on adult flea feces which is dried blood that looks like black specks. These can be easily noticed on bedsheets.
Sate 3- Flea Pupae
This is the stage of transforming into an adult flea. It takes several days and weeks for it to mature completely. This is also called the cocoon stage as the cocoon acts as a protective shell for the pupae.
The adult flea fully develops when they find a warm host body nearby. Then they reach the final stage that is they become flea adults.
Stage 4-Flea Adults
Once they are out of the cocoon and find a host, they begin feeding on them. If they don’t feed as soon they also can die. Soon, once they feed they tend to grow in size. They also turn darker in color.
Once they have fed enough they appear like fleas with a lighter-colored body. Also, when they are used to living on your Yorkie’s body, the female fleas will reproduce and lay more eggs thus, perpetuating the cycle.
Causes Of Fleas In Yorkies
Yorkies are small and short pets and hence are closer to the ground. The fleas present on the grass thus find it easy to get to these tiny Yorkie’s bodies.
Also, cats, squirrels that carry fleas may drop them all around, and thus, when your Yorkie is playing in the yard he might contract it.
Rats also carry fleas and if these rodents are present in your house, there is a high possible chance of flea infestation. These fleas like to stay in warm places like on the carpet or the bedding of your Yorkie.
Thus, eventually, when your Yorkie goes to these places, they are flea-infested.
6 Ways To Determine If Your Yorkie Has Fleas
A flea infestation makes your Yorkie very uncomfortable due to the constant itching. If not treated it has serious effects in the long run. So how do you know if your dog has a flea infestation? Let’s find out
1. Observe If Your Yorkie Itches Or Chews It’s Body
If you notice your Yorkie itching its body with its paw or chewing on its body more than usual, it is a sign of a flea infestation.
2. Examine Your Yorkie’s Skin For Red Bumps Or Scabs
Look for red bumps or rashes on your Yorkie’s skin. You will have to examine this very carefully as flea bites are not easily visible.
Run your fingers over your Yorkie’s body. Fleas are usually are around the tail, behind the ears, or abdomen but make sure to look everywhere.
3. Use A Flea Comb
You can make your Yorkie stand on a white towel and then brush its body with a flea comb. In doing so, if there are fleas present, they will fall off and be visible on the white towel. You can also use soap water and brush through your Yorkie’s skin with the comb.
You can also check for black specks which is flea fecal matter. This too indicates a flea infestation.
4. Check Your Yorkie’s Bedding
Check your Yorkie’s bedding area as fleas are usually present there. Use a damp cloth to clean the area or wash it often.
5. Examine Your Yorkie’s Gums
Due to blood loss from the fleas hosting on your Yorkie’s body, they may suffer from anemia. This can be observed if their gums turn pale which indicates blood loss. Thus, you can even check your Yorkie’s gums to understand if they’ve been infested with fleas.
6. Use A “Light Trap”
A light trap is a good way to check for a flea infestation. Pour some water in a bowl and keep this near your Yorkie’s bedding along with a nightlight. Fleas are attracted to light and therefore will jump towards it. It will result in them falling in the bowl. If you find this, your Yorkie definitely has a flea infestation.
Make sure you keep your Yorkie in a separate area overnight to avoid them drinking that water from the bowl.
7 Ways To Prevent Flea Infestation In Your Yorkie
1. Keep The Environment Clean
The best way you can avoid fleas in your home and in your Yorkie is to keep the environment and house clean. Make sure you change your Yorkie’s bedding often and wash them thoroughly each time you clean it.
Also, make sure you clean your yard by mowing it and applying flea disinfectants if needed. Once your Yorkie comes back into the house after being in the yard, make sure to clean your Yorkie thoroughly with a comb so as to avoid flea infestation.
2. Regularly Brush Your Yorkie’s Hair
You should brush your Yorkie’s hair very often. Since they are hairy little pets, they are very susceptible to attracting fleas as fleas love staying in warm and humid climates.
You can use flea combs for the same as they tend to get deep into the Yorkie’s fur and clean out any flea dirt or fleas from it.
3. Keep The Yorkie’s Bedding Clean
This is an important measure you have to take. As Yorkies spend quite some time in their bed, if they are carrying fleas, it is very likely that these fleas have spread to your Yorkie’s bedding.
Thus, even if you treat your Yorkie for fleas making sure that they are completely rid of it, once they go back to their unclean bed, the fleas will crawl right back up into their skin.
Therefore, it is very important to keep the bedding clean and wash it often using proper disinfectants.
Take a look at the best Yorkie beds here.
4. Keep Your House Clean And Regularly Vacuum It
Vacuuming and cleaning the house regularly is another important preventive measure.
Since fleas stay around in the carpet, bedding, floor cracks, and furniture, your Yorkie is very likely to contract the fleas too as it is constantly moving around the house and around these places.
Thus, cleaning and vacuuming the house regularly will stop the infestation of fleas and get rid of any flea fecal matter too. Thus, your home is less likely to become a breeding ground for fleas.
5. Provide A Healthy Diet To Your Yorkie
Put your Yorkie on a healthy diet that will provide him with all the basic nutrients that he needs. This will help your furball be less likely to contract fleas. You can also consult your veterinarian for more advice on food items that would be best for your Yorkie.
6. Use Repellants On Yorkie’s Hair Before An Outdoor Activity
Using spray repellents or dog collar flea repellents will help your Yorkie be perfectly safe and protected from fleas.
7. Home Treatments
Another way of getting rid of fleas in Yorkies is using home treatments. Although cleaning disinfecting your yard, cleaning your Yorkie and their bedding, giving them medications is beneficial, there are some home treatments that act as a quick fix.
Home Remedies To Get Rid Of Fleas In Yorkies
Listed below are some home tricks and tips you can use to get rid of fleas in your Yorkie.
- You can mix ⅓ cups of apple cider vinegar with ⅔ cups of water. Bathe your Yorkie in this. Your Yorkie might smell of vinegar after this but it will get rid of the fleas.
- You can also squeeze some lemon juice in 8 oz. of water. Put this in a sprinkling bottle and sprinkle this mixture on your Yorkie. This too will help in getting rid of the fleas from your pet’s body.
- You can also add brewer’s yeast or add some garlic to your Yorkie’s food. Garlic is not harmful to dogs if used in the right amount and it helps in getting rid of the fleas.
- You also keep combing your Yorkie’s fur with a flea comb as this really helps in getting rid of the fleas. You can dip the comb in soapy water and then brush through your Yorkie’s fur.
- Another ingredient that keeps fleas away is lavender oil. Add a few drops of lavender oil in your Yorkies shampoo or bathtub and the smell will definitely help in getting rid of the fleas. Be careful about it getting in your Yorkie’s eyes
- Make sure you groom your Yorkie often. Fleas love living in the dirty, tangled, and messy hairs of your Yorkie. Thus, the more you keep it neat and clean, the less likely a flea infestation will occur.
FAQs on How To Get Rid Of Fleas On A Yorkie
1. Can Vinegar Kill Fleas On Dogs?
Yes, apple cider vinegar in limited amounts can be used on dogs. It should always be diluted with water as the concentration of it is high.
2. What Do Vets Recommend For Fleas?
Vets usually recommended flea medications and FDA-approved chewable. They also recommend flea sprays and repellents. They may also recommend certain cleaning products to use on your pet.
3. Can I Sprinkle Baking Soda On My Dog?
Yes, you can definitely sprinkle baking soda on your dog. In fact, covering your dog’s fur in it will help neutralize the odor and dampness of the skin. It is best to first comb your pet fur for the baking soda to sink in better.
Conclusion
Given above are various products as well as home remedies recommended as an answer to your question: how to get rid of fleas on a Yorkie? Make sure to use what is best for your Yorkie as per the situation and even after consulting your vet for the same.
