This will prevent flies from landing there again and give your dog’s wounds time to heal. Open bite wounds can attract more flies, so applying petroleum jelly to your dog’s ears is important to prevent more irritation.
For outdoor dogs, flies can be a significant source of aggravation, pain, and stress. All species of flies, such as houseflies, stable flies, buffalo flies, and sand flies, are drawn to waste materials, rotting food, and warm, muggy conditions. Fly bites on dogs’ faces, mouths, and bodies cause issues because they spread bacteria and lead to sores that can serve as fly breeding grounds. As a result, your pet may develop maggots that will eat away at it. Thank goodness, there are measures you can take to help prevent flies from landing on your dog.
During the hottest times of the day, keep your dog inside the house or in a protected area away from fly exposure. Flies reduce their activity significantly when the sun goes down.
If your dog lives in your yard or another outdoor space, remove any waste materials right away. Flies are attracted to feces. Regularly check your dog’s fur for feces and promptly clean it off
Clean up food that is left outside. Food that starts to spoil from the sun attracts flies.
Use home remedy solutions to repel flies. According to Cynthia Measom of Daily Puppy, you should combine two cups of vinegar, one cup of Skin So Soft from Avon, one cup of water, and one tbsp. of eucalyptus oil and one tbsp. of citronella oil together. You can apply this mixture to your dog’s coat in a spray bottle to keep flies away.
Apply petroleum jelly to your dogs ears to protect them. Flies cannot bite through petroleum jelly.
Professional life coach Rachel Cates has been writing since 2001. She writes for “The MPowerment Hour” and “Washington Spark” newspapers as well as for Ultimate Vision Life Coaching’s blogs. Cates graduated from Temple University with a Bachelor of Arts in broadcast communications.
Why do Flies Bite My Dog?
Flies may be attracted to a dog’s coat, particularly if it is matted or filthy due to illness, a skin condition, or diarrhea. The perineum is where flies lay their eggs, which causes an infestation, according to Dr. Emergency physician Virginia Sinnott works at Boston’s Angell Animal Medical Center. According to her, this type of infestation can be avoided by keeping an ill dog clean and indoors.
Horse flies, for example, can bite your dog in the ears, belly, or backside, causing pain, bleeding, and infection. Flies don’t pose the same health risks to dogs as other insects do, according to Sinnott, despite the fact that these bites are undoubtedly uncomfortable for our pets. “Mosquitoes are worse because they transmit heartworm disease, which is fatal to dogs and cats (especially in the South).” ”.
She also said that because flies are more active during the day in hot weather, you should keep your dog inside during those times if they bother her. But the most crucial thing is to address any medical issues that could make your dog more susceptible to a fly infestation.
How Can I Keep Flies Off My Dog?
Flies can be kept at bay by keeping your dog clean and healthy, but there are other measures you can take to literally get them off your dog’s back. Try applying petroleum jelly to the area to deter flies from biting your dog’s ears or other targeted area. A combination of apple cider vinegar and water, lemon juice and water, or any other number of over-the-counter insect repellants that are equally safe for your dog as they are for you can be used as at-home, pet-safe repellants. Before using any of these treatments, whether they are homemade or purchased from a store, be sure to consult your veterinarian.
How to Keep Flies Off Dogs: Keep Your Dog’s Environment Clean
The environment that your dog is in is a crucial factor in fly prevention. You need to take the following actions to avoid being bitten by flies.
When your dog is finished eating, be sure to pick up his bowl and wash it as soon as possible. Set a regular feeding time for your dog and immediately clean out any leftover food from his bowls. This will assist you in stopping the spread of any fly infestations.
To prevent the accumulation of stains or odors that might attract flies, this should be done at least once per week. Moreover, it will eliminate any fly eggs that might be concealed in the fabric.
Dog beds should be washed with pet-friendly soap and hot water. Afterward, you can sprinkle baking soda on the bedding to get rid of any lingering odors. Leave it on for about 15 minutes and then vacuum it up.
You shouldn’t leave food or bones out in his kennel because that will draw flies. Additionally, biting flies will be drawn to his kennel if it is filthy and smells bad.
Dog feces attract flies because that is where the eggs that hatch into maggots are laid. Your dog’s poop is loaded with the kind of dead material that maggots eat. You can eliminate flies in the area by maintaining a clean yard and keeping it free of animal waste.
It’s also important to keep your home free of trash. Biting flies drawn to trash will eventually move on to your devoted dog after feasting on the garbage. Garbage smells bad and that attracts flies quickly.
To avoid fly infestations, vacuum your carpet several times a week if you have any in your home. Flies will often lay their eggs in the carpeting. Although you can’t see them, they exist if you have fly issues.
A new infestation can be avoided by vacuuming several times per week and emptying the vacuum bag outside.
Learn why dogs dislike vacuums and how to deal with inappropriate behavior when you need to clean if your dog does.
To draw flies, you can use plants like venus fly traps or create a fly trap using sugar water. This resembles the yellow jacket traps you see, but instead of using meat, you use sugar water. The flies go in, but they can’t get out.
There are numerous pet-safe items that serve as organic fly repellents. They can also repel other insects like mosquitoes and gnats. The following are some good natural fly repellents:
FAQ
What can I put on my dog to keep flies off?
- Citronella;
- Lemongrass oil can be applied to your dog or the area to get rid of flies effectively;
- Catnip – this has also been proven to repel flies;
- Another effective natural fly repellent that is safe to use on dogs is coconut oil;
Is petroleum jelly safe for dogs?
Technically no, vaseline is not toxic to your dog. Additionally, it’s typically not the best option because your dog might lick it off their paws or skin. If your dog consumes enough, they may experience stomach upset, which could cause them to vomit or have diarrhea.