Sometimes I might complain about living in an area that has colder weather compared to other parts of the United States. There are advantages though to NOT being in a warm climate. One thing that comes to mind right away is the fact that I have never had to deal with my dog having fleas. That might seem like a silly thing, but I recently visited some friends who live in Southern California, near the beach, and I was amazed to see how they had to do battle every day to keep fleas on their dog under control.
Even though they keep their house spotless, they were constantly trying to rid their dog of fleas which it then carried into the house. As a result, they have had to use flea bombs to try to rid themselves of the pesky pests. This is to say nothing of the constant discomfort their pet seems to be in. I was amazed to see them get their dog groomed, and then still have to deal with it being covered in fleas after day long visit to the beach and a roll in the yard. Yes, I certainly am glad that we do not have very much a problem with fleas in the area were I live.
If you have a dog that does have fleas, it is important to make it a priority to get rid of the fleas as quickly as possible. In some dogs the bite of a flea can cause an allergic reaction. When this happens you’ll sometimes the dog scratching itself endlessly as a hairless area develops. From my point of view, it looks like it is a completely miserable experience for the dog. Certainly, most people would not want to deal with the fleas hopping onto them. Yes, I think of my family and my pets are happy to have a little bit cooler weather and a lot less fleas.
On the other end of the spectrum you have dogs that live in the lap of luxury. I’m talking about having amenities better than some people do. You know, I see that they sell individually packaged dog meals now that you are supposed to heat up for your pet. I wonder what the people who buy these would think if they ever saw my dog in the backyard. I used to consider changing her name to “Recycler” back when she was a puppy because of a particularly disgusting habit she had. I think it is gone now. Some “luxuries” I understand. Things like heated dog beds can make an older dog more comfortable. I guess new things will keep getting developed as long as people are willing to pay for them.
