Dogs that are not treated for fleas before they get them will have a very difficult time with exterminating them. Veterinarians can provide several options for flea prevention and flea control. There is also an approach that can deter fleas from biting.

The "Dip"

If your dog is already infested, you will need to wash or throw out everything the dog has laid on or slept on. As for your dog, he or she can go to a vet at a clinic like Kenmore Veterinary Hospital and receive "the dip" treatment. This is a chemical bath whereby your dog is almost completely submerged in a medical pesticide bath to kill the fleas and larvae and poison any eggs that may be on your dog. Your dog then stays with the vet until he or she is dry, or you can bring your dog home and keep him/her in a crate for a few hours. (It is recommended that you do not pet your dog or allow your children to play with the dog until the treatment is completely dry.)

Flea Powder

Flea powder looks like talcum or baby powder. You can buy it over-the-counter at a pet store or you can purchase it from some veterinarian clinics. It is becoming less common, since the powder can be accidentally consumed by small children. If you use the powder, be sure to wear protective gloves and really rub the powder into your dog's coat, from his/her head all the way down to the tip of his/her tail. It is also advisable to apply the powder outside so that any loose powder ends up on the ground and any fleas that attempt to jump off and escape do not end up jumping around your home and waiting for the powder to wear off.

Spot Liquids and Edibles

Other flea products include spot liquids, flea killers that your dog absorbs via the skin on his or her neck. These potent fluids kill fleas and keep them off your dog for up to a month. Edible flea killers are similar in that your dog consumes a tablet or medicinal treat that kills the pests for a month or more. Both of these products are available from your vet or a pet store, and both cause your dog's blood and skin to taste terrible to the flea. Of course, before the fleas have a chance to to take a full sip, they are dead.

Teaching Your Dog Not to Scratch

If you are going for an approach to flea control that doesn't use chemicals, this approach can help. It will be difficult to accomplish, since it is a dog's natural inclination to scratch. However, if you can successfully teach your dog not to scratch, then he or she is not encouraging blood flow to the itchy spot, where a waiting flea or two is happy to take a meal.