Treatment FAQ

how often do you give a puppy flea treatment

by Neha Runolfsson II Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
image

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

Fleas can still jump onto your puppy in the winter, and your warm home will be the perfect environment for triggering flea eggs to hatch. So, if you're asking yourself “how often should I give my puppy flea treatment?”, the answer is every 4 weeks for optimal protection – year-round, leaving no gaps.

How often should I treat my dog for fleas?

How often should I treat my dog for fleas? Dogs should be treated for fleas monthly (or every other month depending on the product you use) all year round to try and prevent dogs from developing a flea problem and infesting the home.

Can you put flea treatment on a 8 week old puppy?

Flea and Tick Protection for Puppies Most flea and tick products are not safe to use on puppies until they’ve reached at least seven or eight weeks of age (see chart below). Your veterinarian will be able to recommend a flea and tick preventative to use and advise you on when it’s safe to begin administering it to your puppy.

What is the best time of year to give flea treatment?

Although the summer is the most common time to see fleas, vets also see peaks in flea populations in winter, when central heating tends to warm up houses. This means that flea protection should be given year round, not just seasonally. When should I start flea protection?

Can I use flea treatment on a nursing dog?

Seresto is effective against fleas and ticks for up to 8 months and can be used on a dog as young as 7 weeks old. Speak with your veterinarian about this option. Grognet also points out that some flea shampoos can be beneficial for nursing dogs because it will prevent exposing the puppies to the chemicals, which are washed off with the shampoo.

image

How often should I give my dog flea treatment?

You should de-flea and worm your pet once a month. Not only will this prevent them from experiencing the side effects of either condition, but it'll allow your pet to be completely protected and free from suffering.

When should I give my puppy flea treatment?

Most flea and tick products for puppies are not safe to use until they've reached at least seven or eight weeks of age (see chart below). Your veterinarian will be able to recommend a flea and tick preventative for puppies to safely use, and advise you on when it's safe to begin administering it to your puppy.

How often should I worm and flea my puppy?

Puppies should be treated at 2 weeks of age every 2 weeks until 12 weeks of age. Thereafter, they should be treated at least every 3 months.

How often should flea treatment be given?

Pet flea sprays can kill fleas, but may need to be re-applied from as often as every few days, up to every few weeks. Flea tablets, once ingested, work in your pet's blood stream, killing fleas once they take a blood meal.

Can you give a 8 week old puppy flea medicine?

Puppies aged eight weeks and older can often be treated with standard flea control products. There are several different options including spot-ons, tablets and collars. Advantage spot-on is suitable for pets from eight weeks.

Do dogs need flea and tick medicine every month?

The best defense against fleas and ticks is to keep your dog on a year-round flea and tick preventive medication as recommended by your veterinarian. “Be sure to ask your veterinarian for advice about the safest treatment for your dog and your home,” advises Dr. Jerry Klein, AKC chief veterinary officer.

Can you flea and worm a puppy at the same time?

If Frontline is used, then worming is advised every 1-3 months. This is because Frontline is not effective against any worms. We also advise not to give multiple treatments at the same time. You should leave 2 weeks between administering spot-on treatment (e.g. Advocate) and a worming tablet (e.g. Milbemax).

Do puppies need 3 vaccinations?

Puppies are particularly vulnerable to serious diseases like parvovirus and canine distemper, so it's vital they receive their initial course of three vaccinations.

Do all puppies have worms?

Q: Do all puppies have worms? A: Not all puppies, but it is very common for puppies to have roundworms or hookworms, either passed in utero or through a mothers' milk. Because worm infection is so common, we normally deworm puppies just to be safe.

What age can you flea a puppy?

six to eight weeks oldYour vet will help advise you on when to start flea protection, but for most puppies the first treatment can occur once they are six to eight weeks old.

What flea treatment is safe for puppies?

Once your puppy is weaned, and is over 7 weeks of age, you can choose between several treatments to protect your puppy from fleas. Advantage, Advocate®, Advantix® and Seresto® are all options, depending on which other parasites you need to control at the same time.

How do puppies get fleas?

Puppies can become infested with fleas through contact with other animals or with contact with fleas in the environment. They have strong back legs, perfect to jump from host to host or even from the environment onto the puppy. Flea infestations in the home can sometimes go unnoticed for weeks or even months.

How old do puppies have to be to use flea and tick products?

Flea and Tick Protection for Puppies. Most flea and tick products are not safe to use on puppies until they’ve reached at least seven or eight weeks of age (see chart below).

How many fleas are there in pets?

Of the flea population, only 5 percent includes adult fleas on pets, Grognet says. The rest are in various stages of the life cycle and can be found outdoors or in your home. Vacuum your carpets (remember to remove the bag afterward) and clean all bedding your pet has used as well as any chairs with padding.

How to prevent fleas and ticks in puppies?

How to Prevent Flea and Tick Infestations. Once your puppy is old enough, it’s important to start using a monthly flea and tick preventive medication to help ensure that your dog won’t be affected by fleas or ticks in the future. Many of the treatments available and are effective for preventing both fleas and ticks.

How long does Seresto work on dogs?

This product may be useful at stopping flea larvae from molting. Seresto is effective against fleas and ticks for up to 8 months and can be used on a dog as young as 7 weeks old. Speak with your veterinarian about this option.

Why is flea and tick prevention important?

Why Flea and Tick Prevention Is Important. In addition to being uncomfortable for your dog, fleas are also the leading cause of tapeworm, a parasite whose larvae is carried by fleas. Ticks can transmit Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Ehrlichiosis, Anaplasmosis, and other serious conditions.

How old is Capstar for puppies?

Flea treatment: According to veterinarian and AKC Family Dog columnist Jeff Grognet, Capstar is safe to give to puppies as young as four weeks old (and a minimum of 2 pounds). This medication is given in a tablet form to treat flea infestations.

How to treat a dog with a tick?

After visiting woody areas or spending a lot of time outdoors, give your dog a tick check, looking him over for any embedded parasites. If you spot a tick on your pet, carefully remove the tick from your dog and contact your vet in case further treatment or testing is necessary.

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 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.

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 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 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 old can a puppy be to get flea and tick treatment?

What age is safe for tick and flea treatment? In general, it is not safe to use flea or tick medication on puppies younger than seven or eight weeks old. However, there are options that are safe for even very small puppies. One such option is a tablet that works only for 24 hours, but it is not very preventative.

How old should a puppy be to avoid fleas?

You have to consider the puppy’s age. If younger than eight weeks , it is recommended that you avoid any of the shampoos and other topical treatments available on the market.

How to get rid of fleas in puppies?

An alternative is using a flea comb. For puppies younger than four weeks, the best solution is a comb. With this, you can safely get rid of fleas – if you can get your pup to keep still long enough. Manually comb out all the pests you can, and then either squash them (which might be too gross for some people) or dump them in boiling water.

How to get fleas to hatch?

Try using dehumidifiers. Flea eggs need a suitable environment to develop and hatch – at least 50% humidity. You can use a dehumidifier to make your home less of a breeding station. If your puppy is older than eight weeks, you can start using methods like flea and tick collars and other, stronger shampoos and spot-ons.

How to get rid of a puppy that is too old?

When your puppy is old enough, you can use one of the many solutions available these days, such as flea collars and medication.

How to make a flea trap?

To make the trap, fill a shallow bowl with water. Make sure it will be easy for the fleas to jump in. Then add about 20ml to 30ml of dish soap to the water. This will help reduce surface tension, causing the fleas, which are usually too light to go below the surface, to drown.

What to do when you get a new pet?

Spread the love. When you get a new pet, you obviously want to give them the best possible life and home. Included in this ‘best possible’ scenario, is proper health care and grooming. You don’t want your little furry friend to suffer and itch because of fleas and ticks.

What to do if your puppy has fleas?

The main points to remember are that you need to: Treat all dogs and cats in the home with flea treatment.

When should fleas be protected?

This means that flea protection should be given year round, not just seasonally.

Why does my puppy have sores?

Hair loss and sores. If your puppy is itching a lot, they may damage their skin, leading to sores developing and hair loss. Anaemia. In young puppies, a flea infestation can cause so much blood loss that the puppy becomes anaemic. This can look like weakness, and pale gums.

How to get rid of fleas in house?

The initial population of fleas can be reduced by: 1 Flea treatment for all pets. 2 Flea-killing house spray (make sure to read the safety label). 3 Carpet cleaning. 4 Regular hoovering and sweeping, including in the darkest and hardest to reach areas. Don't forget to throw away the dust bag from your vacuum cleaner after every use, else the flea larvae may escape back out! 5 Hot washing fabrics at over 60 degrees, as this will destroy any fleas.

What does it mean when a puppy has a tapeworm?

This can look like weakness, and pale gums. Tapeworms. If your puppy has a tapeworm, it may have come from a flea. Tapeworms can survive inside fleas, and get transmitted into your puppy if they accidentally consume the flea when licking their coat.

How to tell if a puppy has fleas?

You may be able to see live fleas in your puppy's coat if you part the fur or stroke them backwards. Fleas are very fast though, and can be difficult to spot! Around the base of the tail and on the tummy are good areas to look. Hair loss and sores.

Can fleas die from flea treatment?

The flea treatment for your pets will turn them into walking ‘flea killers’ and means that adult fleas will die without producing any more eggs. By treating the house, you will kill or remove many of the eggs and pupae that can be found in the home.

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.

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.

How long do fleas live in the environment?

Flea eggs and larvae can live in the environment for days or weeks. It is best to regularly vacuum all the locations of your home where your pet spends time, wash all bedding in hot water, and keep your pets on flea prevention.

Where to apply hair spray for dogs?

You can apply to a second spot directly behind the first if there is overflow. 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.

Can you treat fleas in your home?

Your Home Hasn’t Been Treated for Fleas. In conjunction with topical flea treatments, you need to treat your home to provide the best defense against fleas. Most flea preventions do not repel fleas. Flea preventions kill fleas either by direct contact with the fleas or from the fleas feeding on your pet.

image
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9