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Eliminating every flea at all life stages, from eggs to adults, on your Shih Tzu and in your home is crucial, as any remaining flea or egg can lead to another infestation. Be cautious with chemical treatments such as pyrethroid-based products, carbamates (carbaryl or propoxur), and organophosphate insecticides (like tetrachlorvinphos). These have been linked to severe reactions in pets, including seizures, brain damage, and heart attacks, despite EPA approval. Fortunately, there are effective all-natural, chemical-free flea treatments. Here are the steps to get rid of fleas in a safe way:
Step #1: Gather Your Supplies:
1. A no-chemical, all-natural flea treatment. One that works well is Natural Care Flea and Tick Spray by the Out company, which works via a blend of two plant-based oils: peppermint and eugenol (derived from clove plants). This can be used both on a dog and on surfaces in the house.
Step #2: Remove the Fleas:
Step #3: Rid the House of Fleas:
Never assume that the house is clear just because you don’t see fleas. With any moderate to severe flea problem on a dog, hundreds of tiny fleas and eggs may be falling onto bedding, furniture, carpeting, and other areas of the house. Here is how to get rid of them all in the quickest and safest way:
1. Vacuum every area that you can, throwing away the vacuum bag after each sweep through the house.
2. If your Shih Tzu has a bed, there are fleas deep within the cushion. If the entire bed is not washable, throw it away and get a new one.
3. Wash as many items as you can. This includes all clothing, stuffed toys, linens, etc.)
4. Spray every surface, crevice and household object that you can with a no-chemical flea spray. (see Step 1: Gather your supplies).
5. It’s recommended to repeat this thorough house cleaning for 3 days in a row. What you may miss on Day 1 will be caught the next, and the 3rd day’s sweep will be a safety precaution.
6. Don’t forget about your car. If your Shih Tzu has been riding around with you, chances are high that fleas or flea eggs are in your car as well. Vacuum and then treat your automobile for 3 days, just as is done with the house.
To stop the relentless itching from flea bites, focus first on eradicating the fleas. Once you've used the first full-body flea spray, you can start relieving the itching. Even after the fleas are gone, bites may continue to bother your Shih Tzu for days or weeks. Use gentle, cooling, and soothing anti-itch products on their sensitive skin.
For best results, bathe your dog with a specialized shampoo and use a spray for particularly affected areas.
The Shampoo: It's advised to use a specialized shampoo that is designed to cool irritated skin since flea bites can cause terrible skin reactions. One that we like is Earthbath Tea Tree Oil and Aloe Vera Shampoo. It's formulated to help with hot spots, itching and other skin irritations.
The Spray: A topical anti-itch spray can work well to target particularly itchy, irritated spots and it can be good for daily use. There are two types: natural and medicated.
1- All-natural. These are best for mild cases. Some ingredients like oatmeal can combat itch and other natural ingredients like almond oil, aloe vera or chamomile can help to moisturize. One non-medicated spray that may offer some relief is Oatmeal Conditioning Spray by John Paul Pets, which has 13 conditioning ingredients, most notably oatmeal, aloe, and chamomile.
2- Medicated. This is best if a Shih Tzu has moderate to severe itching and you're looking for immediate relief. Topical medications like hydrocortisone can help with inflation and itch and lidocaine which acts as a numbing agent. Topicals like this usually have moisturizing and conditioning ingredients as well. For this, we recommend Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Hot Spot and Itch Relief Medicated Spray.
If you’ve successfully navigated your Shih Tzu’s flea infestation, you no doubt would do anything to prevent it from happening again. Or, perhaps having avoided it thus far but knowing how rough it can be, has you seeking something effective to keep fleas away. Here are some guidelines to help prevent fleas:
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