Treatment FAQ

how often can i use spot on flea treatment

by Prudence Gerhold Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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How often do I need to treat my pets? Every four weeks. Ticks have been found to be active even in cold winter months, so you should treat all year round. Remember FRONTLINE Spot On is not a tick repellent so you may still see some ticks on your pet.

Full Answer

How long does a spot on flea treatment last on dogs?

A spot-on treatment comes packaged in individual doses of liquid that can be applied by pouring the medicine onto your pet’s back, between the shoulders. One dose generally keeps a pet safe from fleas and ticks for one month, Dr. Wooten says, but will need to be applied more often if your pet swims or is bathed often.

How do you apply spot on flea treatment?

Applying spot on flea treatment? You need hands You’ll need about 2 more hands than you’ve actually got to apply spot ons with the same aplomb as your vet. So try to minimise the faffing around the process do as much prep as you can before you try and apply it.

Do spot-on treatments work on fleas?

That means any flea or tick that bites your pet will ingest it. Some spot-on treatments also work to prevent flea eggs from hatching, Dr. Wooten says, while others stop flea larvae and pupae from maturing.

What percentage of fleas should be treated?

And it’s not just adult fleas you need to watch out for, because they only make up less than 5 percent of the flea population. You should be treating your home for adults plus the other 95 percent—flea eggs, flea larvae and flea pupae.

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Can I reapply spot on flea treatment early?

If you are finding fleas on your pet even after applying your pet's topical flea treatment, you might consider reapplying it early. However, this solution is not always recommended and may lead to an overdose in some rare cases.

How often can you give spot on flea treatment?

Use it every 4 weeks for optimal protection. If your dog is unwell, please see your vet for advice before you apply a flea treatment.

How long do you have to wait between flea treatments?

The known safe answer is to wait the period of time the product is supposed to work, typically 30 days, before reapplying. An alternative is to bathe the pet in a detergent shampoo (meant to strip off skin oils) and reapply after 24 hours.

Can you put flea treatment on more than once a month?

can you use before 30 days is up. Under normal conditions this product is effective for one month. However, in cases of severe flea infestation, retreatment may be necessary earlier than 4 weeks. Do not retreat more often than once every 14 days for kittens or once every 7 days for small and large cats.

Can I apply advantage after 2 weeks?

Because it's been 2-3 weeks since the last application, yes you can apply it again. You can also give her Capstar. It's a one time pill that starts killing fleas in 30 minutes, and it's safe to use with the Advantage.

Can you double up on flea treatment?

It's not usually recommended to use more than one oral flea medication at the same time. However, Comfortis and Capstar can be combined. Another exception is Sentinel, which doesn't kill adult fleas, so it can be combined individually with either Comfortis or Capstar.

Can you use Frontline every 2 weeks?

FRONTLINE PLUS FOR DOGS should be applied every 2 weeks for control of paralysis ticks on dogs, or every month for control of brown dog ticks. FRONTLINE SPRAY should be applied every 3 weeks for control of paralysis ticks on cats and dogs, or every month for the control of brown dog ticks.

Why am I still finding fleas after treatment?

As eggs hatch and develop, you might find fleas reappearing 10-14 days after treatment - this is quite normal and provided the insecticide remains in place it will kill them. This is why it is important not to carry out cleaning which might remove insecticide.

Why has my dog still got fleas after treatment?

Not treating often enough Fleas go through a life cycle of egg, larvae, pupae and adult. Most flea treatments just kill adult fleas, but fleas can continue to emerge for months after you think an infestation has ended. When a newly emerged female flea finds a host, she can lay eggs within one day.

What if flea treatment doesn't work?

However, if you are still seeing high numbers of fleas or if you have concerns about the quality of your flea product then call your veterinarian for advice. There will likely be a waiting period (of a few days or weeks) before you can apply another flea treatment, depending on what you've already used.

What happens if you give a dog too much flea treatment?

Common signs of toxicity from flea products containing organophosphates are diarrhea, vomiting, difficulty breathing, small pupils, muscle tremor, weakness or falling over, and drooling. Organophosphate toxicity can be rapidly fatal, depending on the ingredients and dose the pet is exposed to.

How often do you use Spot On for dogs?

How often do I need to treat my pets? Every four weeks. Ticks have been found to be active even in cold winter months, so you should treat all year round. Remember FRONTLINE Spot On is not a tick repellent so you may still see some ticks on your pet.

How often can you use Frontline?

FRONTLINE PLUS FOR DOGS should be applied every 2 weeks for control of paralysis ticks on dogs, or every month for control of brown dog ticks. FRONTLINE SPRAY should be applied every 3 weeks for control of paralysis ticks on cats and dogs, or every month for the control of brown dog ticks.

What happens if I give my dog too much frontline?

Common signs of toxicity from flea products containing organophosphates are diarrhea, vomiting, difficulty breathing, small pupils, muscle tremor, weakness or falling over, and drooling. Organophosphate toxicity can be rapidly fatal, depending on the ingredients and dose the pet is exposed to.

How long do spot on flea treatments take to work?

24 hoursYour treated pet is a flea-killing machine and any fleas jumping on will be killed within 24 hours with FRONTLINE Plus® and FRONTLINE® Spot On, or within 6 hours with FRONTLINE Tri-Act®.

How to apply flea treatment?

How to Apply Each Brand of Topical Flea Treatment 1 Hold the tube upright and turn the cap one full turn. 2 Make sure the seal is broken but DO NOT remove the cap. 3 Cats: Part the hair at the base of the neck and apply the entire tube to the skin. You can apply to a second spot directly behind the first if there is overflow. 4 Dogs: Part the hair at the base of the neck and apply to the skin; do this in one or more spots depending on the size of your dog. For larger dogs, choose two or three spots along the spine to continue the application.

What percent of fleas should be treated?

You should be treating your home for adults plus the other 95 percent—flea eggs, flea larvae and flea pupae.

How many active ingredients are in flea prevention?

Flea preventions typically use one or two active ingredients to do the job of preventing fleas. Each brand will use different active ingredients, and these ingredients will work in different ways to prevent fleas. An overdose for most flea preventions could result in the following: Profuse drooling. Vomiting.

Why is flea prevention not working?

Incorrectly applying topical flea prevention is the most common cause for its failure to work. Flea prevention is expensive, and you don’t want to waste a dose.

How do experienced vets answer your pet questions?

Experienced vets answer all your pet questions via chat or video.

Can you overdose on fleas?

However, this solution is not always recommended and may lead to an overdose in some rare cases.

Do fleas jump on pets?

New fleas from the environment can—and will—jump on to your pet to feed. So, it’s extremely important to treat your pet’s environment, too. And it’s not just adult fleas you need to watch out for, because they only make up less than 5 percent of the flea population.

Where do you apply spot ons?

Spot-ons are insecticides that come in a small tube of liquid. The product is applied directly to the skin, usually over the shoulder blades or down the back.

How do experienced vets answer your pet questions?

Experienced vets answer all your pet questions via chat or video.

Does spot on kill parasites?

Spot-ons contain ingredients that are neurotoxins specific to adult parasites. Some products also contain ingredients to prevent larvae from developing. The oily liquid in which the medication is dissolved helps spread the product over the surface of the skin to the sebaceous glands. May kill as well as repel parasites.

Can PetMD answer pet health questions?

Note: PetMD isn’t able to respond to pet health questions or to offer veterinary advice.

How long does flea treatment last?

Note that under normal circumstances, the product will keep the fleas away for a month. But if there are severe infestations or frequent re-infestation, you might need to retreat earlier than every four weeks. However, if that’s the case and your pet needs more treatment, do not do it again for at least seven days.

How long does it take for flea spray to work on a dog?

Flea products are necessary for your pets, and they come in such as flea collars, sprays, tablets, and spot-on. Speak with a veterinarian before choosing the right product because some can take up to three days while others will only need an hour!

How long does it take for fleas to hatch out?

You did not use the product long enough to produce the desired results. Usually, it takes about six weeks or more for all the fleas to hatch out. At least three months of treatment promises eradication of the fleas.

How long does Advantage II last?

If you’re worried about new parasites, do not be. Advantage protects against them too and lasts up to 4 weeks, so no more itching or scratching all day long, giving you peace of mind and your pet the relief they need.

How to take care of a furry friend?

If you notice any signs that their skin is irritated, contact a licensed veterinarian and get them bathed right away with warm water and a mild detergent such as dishwashing liquid or baby shampoo.

Can you use flea spray on pupae?

You used sprays, and these are not as effective as topical medications. Sprays are incapable of killing fleas inside the pupae.

Is Advantage flea treatment safe for cats?

Flea treatment such as Advantage contains an active ingredient known as Imidacloprid. Though considered safe to use insecticide, it may cause some harmful reactions when used on cats younger than seven months of age. And result in shaking, drooling, vomiting and a stark drop in appetite.

How to spot on a dog?

To be effective a spot on needs to reach the skin. On cats and dogs with thin coats this is easy, but on those with a thick undercoat or just wildly long fur finding the skin can be difficult. Have a practice on a non-spot on day to see if damp fingers will help keep the fur parted and so make application easier. This doesn’t mean soaking your pet’s neck, just getting enough moisture on your fingers to help the fur lay flat and leave a target gap. This effectiveness of this trick depends on the pet and their fur – but it can also prolong the process and which would be a bad thing.

What is Frontline Plus Spot On?

Frontline Plus Spot On for Dogs gives long-lasting protection against fleas and ticks. It also controls biting lice.

Why do cats put on spot ons?

Shoulder to shoulder. Spot ons are applied to the shoulder blade area so that your pet cannot lick it off, or wipe at it with a paw. Finding such a spot can be particularly tricky for a cat, as they can bend every which way when they want to.

Can you put a spot on a dog?

It is best to apply the spot on in two places if you can; this increases the skin surface area being treated, which in turn speeds up absorption. And for smaller dogs and cats there can sometimes simply be too much fluid to apply in a single spot.

Is spot on application easy?

This is either the easiest or most difficult aspect of spot on application. For an indoors only cat, it is a piece of cake. For a dog that likes to walk for at least an hour, and it happens to be lashing down with rain, it is more difficult.

How to treat fleas in puppies?

Regular bathing with Dawn dish soap and using a flea comb to comb out as many as possible will help. Revolution is a monthly topical that is approved for safe and effective use on puppies as young as 6 weeks, but it’s by prescription so it has to be obtained from a veterinarian. Capstar is a pill that kills adult fleas for 24 hours and is safe to use in puppies older than 4 weeks. The most effective treatment would be to give capstar and apply Revolution so that you immediately kill the bulk of the fleas and then slowly kill off the juveniles and eggs as well as protect from reinfestation. You should also treat the environment if there is a large burden of fleas. You can do this by washing all fabrics such as bedding in hot water and frequent vacuuming. When you vacuum, dump the vacuum outside the house so that any fleas that are sucked up do not get back into the environment. You should also treat your yard. Equally important is to have the puppy treated for tapeworm once the fleas are taken care of. Tapeworm is caused by a dog eating an infected flea so it’s always a good idea to treat for them when you’ve had a flea problem.

How long does it take for fleas to kill?

We’d start with Capstar, which kills most of the fleas within 30 minutes. Then a good flea comb, then spot-on treatment. You must also wash ALL bedding, spray the carpets with a pet-safe flea killer with IGR, then vacuum-empty the vacuum bin or bag as soon as you’re done. You will want to vacuum very thoroughly every 10 d

What to use to catch fleas and eggs?

I’d also suggest a flea comb - they have very close tines, so they let the fur through, but catch the fleas and eggs, and can speed up the whole process (as well as making you feel better as you crush the little b*st*ards to death).

Why do fleas run up my dog?

the fleas typically dont jump off, rather they run to the top of the dog, to avoid the warm water and its mild dose of flea rinse. . the purpose is to make them run up the dog, which they will, thus into the more concentrated flea rinse along the back and up the tail, around the ears and bottom,, which is where they will congregate..

How to get rid of fleas in a house?

Then a good flea comb, then spot-on treatment. You must also wash ALL bedding, spray the carpets with a pet-safe flea killer with IGR, then vacuum-empty the vacuum bin or bag as soon as you’re done. You will want to vacuum very thoroughly every 10 days and again empty the bin or dump the bag as soon as done. Use a good spot-on flea preventative every month. Don’t forget the heartworm preventative as well, or you can use Revolution or Simparica which kill fleas, ear mites, heartworms and is good for roundworms and hookworms too.

How long does it take for a cat to get fleas?

If the pet has a couple of fleas, then it’ll be pretty quick - about a day, depending on when the fleas eat, and then again once the already laid eggs start to hatch, so it’s important to give regular doses - we do the cat on the 1st of every month so it’s easy to remember.

What is the best way to treat a cat with a spot on?

A Spot On treatment is usually applied on shoulder blades and the tip of the tail. This solution usually contains moxidectin which is capable of killing heartworms, ringworms, ear mites, fleas and ticks. The solution once applied is absorbed by the skin and enters bloodstream of the cat.

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