Treatment FAQ

how often to use flea treatment on puppies

by Marcelle Bogisich Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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How Often to Flea a Puppy:

Route of puppy flea treatment How often to apply/administer
Shampoo 2 weeks*
Topical/Spot-on 4 weeks
Spray 4 weeks
Tablet/Chewable 4 to 12 weeks
Apr 6 2022

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.

Full Answer

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?

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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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.

Do 8 week old puppies need flea treatment?

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.

How often can you apply flea treatment?

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 often should I bathe my puppy?

A good rule of thumb is that you should bathe your dog once a month. Of course, if he rolls around in the mud, you can bathe him more often. Or if your puppy is prone to dry skin, you can wait longer between baths. Just be sure to choose a puppy shampoo that is gentle on his skin!

Do dogs need flea treatment every month?

Treat all the pets in your home regularly (usually every month but some products vary so check the insert or ask your vet) with a suitable flea treatment. Regularly wash your pet's bedding on a hot wash to get rid of any flea eggs that might be lurking there. Use a long-acting household spray regularly.

How can I treat my 12 week old puppy for fleas?

You have to mix a small amount of dish detergent in lukewarm water and use it to wash the puppy. Let the soapy water remain on the body of the puppy for at least five minutes, so that the fleas are killed. You may also use flea shampoo for puppies under 12 weeks (as prescribed by the vet).

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).

Can I give my 7 week old puppy a flea bath?

Flea treatments for puppies 6 to 7 weeks of age and older Once your puppy is at least 7 weeks old, he or she can use Advantage II if the puppy weighs at least 3 pounds, or K9 Advantix II if your pup weighs at least 4 pounds.

Is it common for puppies to have fleas?

And, unfortunately, they're pretty darn common. There are plenty of ways that your puppy can get fleas, which means that most pups will have at least a few of the bugs at one point or another.

Can you bathe a 4 week old puppy with fleas?

The best way to treat puppies this young is with a warm bath and some dawn dish soap. You can't really use any flea treatments on them. However you should, and can treat the mother. You should also wash any bedding and make sure that you keep the puppies free of fleas at all times.

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 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 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 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 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.

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.

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