Summary: How often should I treat my dog for fleas
- Treat your dog for fleas monthly (as a minimum)
- Always check your dog for signs of new flea infestations even if you treated them recently
- When you know your dog has fleas, you need to treat all areas of your home for fleas too
- Use proven flea treatment to treat your dog both curatively and prevtatively
Do I need to treat my pet for fleas?
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. You should be treating your home for adults plus the other 95 percent—flea eggs, flea larvae and flea pupae.
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.
Can dogs get fleas all year round?
However, due to central heating and a warming climate, fleas have become a permanent problem for dogs all year round. Any gaps in preventative flea treatment, at any time of year, can allow fleas to complete their life cycle. "Fleas can remain dormant in their pupal stage for many months, hatching out when conditions are optimal.
How to prevent flea infestations in dogs?
The most important way to prevent a flea problem developing in your home is to treat every area that your dog has access to with a the help of products that kill flea infestations. Browse products that kill fleas in your home. ⇢
Can I reapply flea treatment early?
Yes, if after two weeks the flea preventive you applied isn't working, you can reapply flea treatment early, or switch to another brand.
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 overdose your dog on 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.
Can I give my dog flea treatment more than once a month?
You give you pets a once-a-month flea treatment, but you see some fleas before those 30 days are up.
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.
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?
By allowing treated pets to access all parts of the home you usually let them into, your pet acts as a 'living vacuum cleaner' to kill the newly hatched fleas before they can lay more eggs. Because of this, it is normal to see fleas on treated pets during this time.
What happens if you give a dog two doses of flea medicine?
This can result in repetitive nerve discharges, or twitches and tremors, in affected dogs. So if a dog has a mild overdose of flea medication, symptoms, you may notice include twitching, excessive salivation, paw flicking, vomiting and diarrhea, and depression.
Can I put Frontline on my dog twice?
If a pet still has fleas, many veterinarians will use the product more frequently than once monthly, sometimes as often as once every 2-3 weeks. However, this process is often considered to be “off label use,” and I would not use the product this way unless first speaking with your pet's veterinarian.
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.
Why is flea treatment 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. Topical medication should be applied directly to the skin, not the hair. You must part the hair so that you can apply it to the skin at the base of the neck.
What do you do when flea medicine doesn't work?
It's time to go and see your vet. Don't be embarrassed – your local veterinarian deals with fleas all the time and it is no reflection on your home or ability to care for your pet. Your vet will be able to work out what's gone wrong and help you to get rid of the fleas.
How long does flea medicine last on dogs?
Depending on which product you buy, these are effective for between three and 12 months, Dr Huggett told us and explained more. "Most veterinary medicines that you apply to your dog to kill fleas should be used monthly to effectively prevent a flea infestation.
How to prevent fleas in dog?
The most important way to prevent a flea problem developing in your home is to treat every area that your dog has access to with a the help of products that kill flea infestations. Browse products that kill fleas in your home. ⇢.
How do you know if a flea comb is lodged?
The spines on a flea comb are far smaller and closer together than a normal brush or grooming comb, meaning the fleas become lodged between the spines of the comb. After thoroughly combing an area, stop and look at the comb’s teeth to see if they have trapped any fleas.
What does it mean when a dog has a flea infestation?
Anaemia. Fleas can drink up to 15 times their own weight in blood per day, so a heavy flea infestation can mean your dog won’t have enough red blood cells to remain healthy and carry oxygen to other parts of the body. Read more about anaemia in dogs ⇢.
How to tell if a flea is flea grit?
Thoroughly brush their coat, ensuring any dirt and grit falls onto the white paper. Adult fleas falling from the coat will be easy to identify on the white paper. If any red-brown circles form on the white paper, this is a positive indication of flea dirt.
What is a wet paper test for fleas?
The wet paper test to check for fleas. Flea dirt (flea faeces) consists of undigested blood, so when this grit-like material is applied to a wet or damp surface, red, pink or reddish-brown circles can be seen. Select a flea comb or brush, and stand your dog over a piece of wet, white paper or a wet, white sheet.
How to kill fleas on dog?
Treat your pet with a product to kill any fleas already living on it. Use a licensed veterinary medicine product (look for the Vm number on the pack) which has been proven to kill fleas. Be sure to read the packaging carefully to make sure it’s suitable for your dog and you use it correctly. 2.
