Once you’ve discovered your pet has fleas, the safest way to proceed is to contact your veterinarian to determine the best flea treatment. Your pet’s age, whether it’s pregnant or nursing a litter, or has a history of sensitivity to medications or topical insecticides will help determine the safest and best flea treatment for your furry friend.
Full Answer
What is the best flea treatment for dogs and cats?
Oral, topical, and collar flea medications, especially the newer ones, are usually safe and effective for your cats and dogs. But it is always best to check with your veterinarian to determine the best flea prevention option for your individual pet and lifestyle.
How do I choose a vet for my Dog?
Here are some things to consider when selecting a vet: Arrange for a first appointment without your dog to speak with a veterinarian and get an overall feel of the facilities. During your appointment, look around and consider whether the space is clean, modern and well-organized.
How do you treat an allergic reaction in a dog?
Bathing and topical treatments — Cleaning your pet’s skin surface and hair coat using a pet-appropriate shampoo helps remove environmental allergens, bacteria, oil, and other irritating substances. Full-body bathing or localized cleansing can be performed on a twice daily or daily basis depending on your pet’s needs.
What can I give my Dog to hide pills in?
For most dogs, hiding the pill in peanut butter, squeeze cheese, a banana, or bread will do the trick. If your cat is picky and tends to spit out pills hidden in wet food or pill-hiding treats, oral medications might not be a great choice for them.
What factors to consider when treating a puppy for fleas?
Factors to consider include: Age: Flea treatments must be age-appropriate; many are not made for young puppies. Look at the product’s label for this information. Breed: Coat type may influence your decision. Thicker coats may be difficult for topical treatments. Your pet’s health history: Other medications or supplements that you give, ...
What is the best flea treatment for dogs?
Types of Safe Flea Treatments for Dogs. Veterinarians typically recommend dog flea and tick collars, topical flea and tick treatments , or oral flea and tick medications (sometimes in combination) to fully protect their patients. Here are a few of the safest flea treatments for dogs on the market today and some of their pros and cons.
How to treat fleas and ticks in dogs?
Keep in mind that no two pets are the same. Therefore, a product that’s commonly considered to be safe flea and tick prevention for dogs may be a great option for one animal and a mistake for another. Factors to consider include: 1 Age: Flea treatments must be age-appropriate; many are not made for young puppies. Look at the product’s label for this information. 2 Breed: Coat type may influence your decision. Thicker coats may be difficult for topical treatments. 3 Your pet’s health history: Other medications or supplements that you give, concurrent health conditions, and previous reactions to flea and tick preventatives should be taken into account. For example, neurologic problems have been seen in dogs when high doses of ivermectin (heartworm prevention ingredient) are given in conjunction with spinosad, a flea preventative ingredient. 4 Your pet’s lifestyle: The presence of children and other pets (especially cats) in the household and your pet’s daily activities/exposure to the outdoors are important details. 5 Where you live: Which parasites are common in your area? Is resistance to certain preventatives a concern?
Is a flea collar safe for dogs?
Under many circumstances, newer dog flea collars are safe options for flea and tick control (unlike older collars, which were largely ineffective). The Seresto collar is a very popular option right now. It uses flumethrin and imidacloprid to kill fleas at multiple stages of development as well as ticks. The collar’s effectiveness lasts ...
Can you treat a dog with thick coats?
Thicker coats may be difficult for topical treatments. Your pet’s health history: Other medications or supplements that you give, concurrent health conditions, and previous reactions to flea and tick preventatives should be taken into account.
Can ivermectin cause neurologic problems in dogs?
For example, neurologic problems have been seen in dogs when high doses of ivermectin ( heartworm prevention ingredient) are given in conjunction with spinosad, a flea preventative ingredient. Your pet’s lifestyle: The presence of children and other pets (especially cats) in the household and your pet’s daily activities/exposure to ...
Can flea and tick collars be used on cats?
As is the case with flea and tick collars, if you’re unable to keep your pet away from small children or animals who may come into direct contact with the medication before it has dried or absorbed into your pet’s skin, a topical treatment might not be the ideal solution. If you have cats in your home, you will want to talk to a veterinarian ...
What to do if your dog has allergies?
Take your pet to the vet — Since there are so many conditions that can appear clinically similar to allergies, having your veterinarian examine your pet is an important first step. Diagnostics, including skin impression smear and scraping, blood testing, and others may be needed to determine the nature of the condition and ...
Can you cheat on your pet's elimination?
Truly, it’s so important to not cheat on your pet’s food elimination trial. Additionally, I suggest diets that are human-grade and whole-food, as feed-grade ingredients in kibble or canned pet foods can potentially contain undesirable contaminants that could sicken your pet on a short- or long-term basis, or further contribute to allergies.
Types of flea medication
There are three primary forms of flea medication for dogs and cats. The main difference between the three is how you give them to your pet. They are:
Combination flea medications
Your vet’s office may recommend prescription combination products that can take care of fleas, ticks, heartworm disease, and internal parasites all in one oral or topical medication.
Can I use topical and oral flea medications together?
Generally speaking, if your pet is already on one type of flea prevention, it’s not necessary to double up with a second kind unless your veterinarian recommends it. One reason your vet may suggest using two types of flea medication is if your pet has a severe allergy to fleas.
Do vets recommend different flea medication for dogs and cats?
Vets do recommend different flea medications for cats and dogs. Dog-only flea medications are toxic to cats. Make sure the flea medication you give your feline friend specifically says that it is for cats. Read the label and look for visual clues on the medication’s box.
Are there any side effects to flea medications?
Flea medications for dogs and cats are generally safe. Occasionally, an individual dog or cat may be a bit sensitive to one. For instance, topical medications may cause hair loss or a mild irritation in the area it was applied on your pet.
Are there any natural alternatives to flea medications?
There are many suggested natural alternatives to flea medications out there. However, they do not work as well as the manufactured products that have gone through safety and effectiveness testing.
How can I prevent fleas from spreading?
Fleas are great at hiding under your pet’s fur, so once you notice them, the fleas have already multiplied and set up residence in your home. That is why it is important to keep your pet on flea preventative medications.
What to do if my dog has allergies?
If your veterinarian feels that an allergy is a likely cause, he or she may propose allergy testing to try and determine the cause of the allergen that is causing the reaction.
How do you know if your dog has an allergy?
Symptoms of Allergies in Dogs. The symptoms of allergies in dogs may vary depending on the cause. A dog that goes into anaphylactic shock, for instance, will have a drop in blood pressure followed by shock, which is very different from a skin condition. In general, however, the following symptoms could be a sign of an allergic reaction.
Why is my dog's tail red?
There are three main causes of skin allergies in dogs: Flea allergy dermatitis is an allergic reaction to fleabites. Some dogs are allergic to flea saliva. This makes affected dogs extremely itchy, especially at the base of the tail, and their skin may become red, inflamed, and scabbed.
Why does my dog's skin itch?
Food allergies and sensitivities can cause itchy skin, as well. The most common places dogs with food allergies itch are their ears and their paws, and this may be accompanied by gastrointestinal symptoms. Environmental allergens, such as dust, pollen, and mold, can cause an atopic allergic reactions or atopic dermatitis.
What is an allergy in dogs?
Allergies are a misguided reaction to foreign substances by the body’s immune system, which, of course, people and pets can suffer from. There are quite a few different types of allergies in dogs. Skin allergies, food allergies, and environmental allergens all pose challenges for dogs and their owners, and to make things more complicated, ...
Why does my dog scratch his skin?
As your dog scratches, bites, and licks at his skin, he risks opening up his skin to yeast and bacterial infections that may require treatment .
What are the symptoms of a dog with food sensitivities?
Dogs with food sensitivities can present with several symptoms, including gastrointestinal signs such as vomiting and diarrhea, or dermatologic signs like itchiness, poor skin and coat, and chronic ear or foot infections.
What to do if you have a pet allergy?
What you can do in the meantime. If you suspect that you may have a pet allergy, take steps to reduce your exposure to your pets. Keep pets out of your bedroom and off upholstered furniture, and wash your hands immediately after touching pets. By Mayo Clinic Staff.
How to tell if you have a pet allergy?
Diagnosis. Your doctor may suspect a pet allergy based on symptoms, an examination of your nose, and your answers to his or her questions. He or she may use a lighted instrument to look at the condition of the lining of your nose. If you have a pet allergy, the lining of the nasal passage may be swollen or appear pale or bluish.
How to get rid of pet allergens in a bedroom?
Replace or move upholstered furniture. Replace upholstered furniture if possible, as cleaning won't remove all pet allergens from upholstery. Move upholstered furniture from your bedroom into another area of your home. Replace carpets. If possible, replace carpeting, particularly in your bedroom. Replace bedding.
What is an allergy test?
Allergy skin test. Your doctor may suggest an allergy skin test to determine exactly what you're allergic to. You may be referred to an allergy specialist (allergist) for this test. In this test, tiny amounts of purified allergen extracts — including extracts with animal proteins — are pricked into your skin's surface.
Why is it important to talk to your doctor about your pet allergies?
Talk to your doctor about whether reducing exposure to your pet, rather than finding a new home for your pet, may be sufficient for managing your pet allergy.
How long does it take for a cat to show allergic reactions?
Your doctor or nurse observes your skin for signs of allergic reactions after 15 minutes. If you're allergic to cats, for example, you'll develop a red, itchy bump where the cat extract was pricked into your skin. The most common side effects of these skin tests are itching and redness.
What does a blood test show?
This test may also indicate how sensitive you are to an allergen.
How to choose a vet without your pet?
Here are some things to consider when you're choosing a vet: Arrange a visit to the vet without your pet so you can tour the office. This is a great time to notice if the office is clean and well-organized. You can talk to the staff and see if they seem friendly and helpful. Ask about the services they offer.
What to do if your dog is purebred?
If your dog or cat is purebred, you can check in with local breed clubs. The club members often know which vets have experience with your pet's specific breed.
What to do if you disagree with your vet?
If you still disagree, you may need to schedule a second opinion or change vets. If you feel like your vet is not a good match for you for any reason, request a copy of all of your pet's records and find a new vet. You can ask the receptionist for copies, and you’re legally entitled to them.
Why is it important to have a veterinarian?
Your veterinarian will be an important partner for you in making sure your pet lives a long, healthy life. Think about the issues that are important to you, like the clinic’s hours and location. Knowing your preferences ahead of time will help you narrow down your choices.
When is the best time to get a vet?
The best time to find a vet is before you need one. Ideally, you'll choose a vet before you bring home your pet, and some offices can even help you find the best pet for your family. If you’re moving, you should look for a vet as soon as possible. Don't wait until your dog or cat needs a vet before you start looking for one.
Can I check if my dog is purebred?
You can also check with your state's veterinary medical association for a list of qualified veterinarians, or search the American Animal Hospital Association to locate accredited veterinary practices. If you’re moving, your current vet may be able to make recommendations. If your dog or cat is purebred, you can check in with local breed clubs.
Should I wait until my dog needs a vet?
Don't wait until your dog or cat needs a vet before you start looking for one. You don't want to have to deal with the stress of having to find a vet if your pet is sick or injured .
