For many of us, flies are just a nuisance we can easily swat away. But they can be incredibly unpleasant and potentially dangerous for dogs, who can’t simply bat these nasty pests away. So, how do you keep flies away from dogs?
Why are dogs vulnerable to flies?
When we think about flies, we often only think about fly infestations and their potential to spread disease-causing bacteria. But flies can be more harmful to others, such as your beloved pets. Here are the reasons why you don’t want flies around your dogs.
- Flies can start an infestation. Yes, flies can start an infestation directly on your dogs. The flies can attack ears, eyes, wounds, and other parts of the body and make them breeding grounds for maggots.
- Some fly species bite and cause infections. House flies are some of the most common kinds of flies that can trouble your property, but there are also others that don’t just nest around your home. They also attack your dogs. Some of these species are buffalo flies, horse flies, and stable flies. Their bites can also become infected.
- Flies are just health risks in general. Flies like to stay in filthy places, so they are physically dirty. They spit on your food. And they defecate around your property. There are just so many ways for them to spread bacteria. This is dangerous to both you and your pets.
What can you do to keep flies away from dogs?
Luckily, it’s really not that hard to keep flies away from dogs. There is a reason why many people don’t even know that dogs are vulnerable to flies. They are keeping flies away from their pets without even knowing it.
But if you are one of the unfortunate people who have to actively protect their dogs from flies, here are some things you can do.
1. Keep your surroundings clean
Flies like to breed in areas with easy access to food and water, including trash cans and even excrement. If you don’t give them easy access to these resources, they won’t see your property as attractive.
- Regularly clean your home. Make sure your home is always clean, both outside and inside. Also, practice proper waste management to prevent your trash cans from attracting flies. Don’t forget to wash your dogs’ bowls and excrements too.
- Store your food and water items properly. Store your food in cabinets, containers, and refrigerators to avoid attracting flies. Also, clean up food crumbs and water spills after eating. Remember that flies are small. Even tiny pieces of food and water are enough to attract them.
2. Get rid of active fly infestations
There may be a lot of flies on your property because there is an active fly infestation. Get rid of it now to significantly reduce the health risks associated with these pests.
- Call pest control professionals. It may seem weird to call professionals to get rid of flies, but remember that there are different fly species, and one treatment may be ineffective to some species. It’s important to determine the kind of fly on your property to know what kind of pest control method is the best for it. Leave it to the professionals to diagnose and solve your problem.
- Try DIY solutions. If you really want to get rid of the flies yourself, you can always just buy insecticides. But remember to buy one that specifically mentions that it can get rid of flies. There are also homemade solutions, such as vinegar fly traps.
3. Keep your dogs clean and healthy
Dirty and ill dogs are more vulnerable to fly attacks. Dirty dogs may have excrement all over their fur, attracting flies. Sick dogs may be too weak to defend themselves from merciless flies.
- Give them a bath regularly. Different dogs have different recommended bathing frequencies. Make sure to follow the recommended frequency for your dog breeds. But don’t be afraid to give active and dirty dogs an extra bath or two.
- Give them a balanced diet. Healthy dogs are less vulnerable to flies. They are clean, so they won’t attract flies unnecessarily. And they are strong enough to defend themselves when flies do attack.
4. Repel the flies pestering your dogs
There may still be flies around even if you don’t have an active fly infestation on your property. This is especially true during the summer where flies are just more active.
- Use commercial fly repellents. You can buy fly repellents you can apply to your dogs, but read the instructions carefully. Some may need to be applied multiple times a day while some have a longer-lasting effect. Some may be easily removed by water, which can be a problem for playful dogs. Find the appropriate repellents for your pets.
- Try natural fly repellents. You can also try essential oils of clove, lemon, or lavender. But remember to dilute them first in water before you apply them to your dogs. If you are not comfortable with this due to the risk of allergies and irritations, you can also spray the solution around your home to help get rid of flies, but don’t expect it to be as effective as commercial insecticides.
5. Take your dogs to the veterinarian
Remember that ill dogs are more vulnerable to fly attacks. If your dogs are getting swarmed by flies, you may want to get them checked to see if they have underlying health problems.
- Give them a general checkup. Run a general checkup to diagnose any problem that is making your dog weak and vulnerable to fly attacks.
- Check for possible fly infestation health risks. If your dogs have already been exposed to attacking flies, check if they have suffered from health risks, such as infections, infestations, and wounds.
It’s not that hard to keep flies away from dogs
Dogs are vulnerable to flies because flies can bite and make your dogs their breeding grounds for maggots. Thankfully, it’s fairly easy to prevent fly attacks. Simply keep your dogs and surroundings clean. If all else fails, there are always pest control professionals and veterinarians available to help you and your pets.