Consider applying Toby’s flea medication a two-person job until you're adept at it. Otherwise you're at risk of his squirming getting the medicine all over his coat instead of on the skin between the shoulder blades. Flea medication can be toxic, so you’ll need to wipe away any that winds up in his hair.
Full Answer
Can You reapply flea treatment early?
While you can reapply flea treatment early in some cases, you should talk to your veterinarian to find the best and most effective flea treatment for your pet. Your vet will know which products are working well in your region, as some that may have been effective at one time may no longer be killing fleas the way they used to.
How do you apply topical flea treatment to a dog?
Spread the dog's hair so you can apply it to the skin between the shoulder blades. Some will inevitably get on the hair, but you don't want the product to coat the hair. Always follow the manufacturer's directions when applying topical flea control.
How do flea treatments work?
These medications work by affecting the flea's central nervous system, causing death. Some contain growth regulators that prevent flea eggs from developing into adults. Even though you might place the liquid flea medication on only one or two areas of your dog, the oil in his skin spreads it throughout the body in a matter of 24 hours or more.
Why won’t flea treatment work on my Pet?
While it is tempting to try and save money by using only portions of products labeled for larger pets on smaller animals, it’s a process such as this that can lead to product inefficiency. Another reason for products not working is by not treating your home and yard, where in some cases 80% of the flea life cycle may occur.
What if flea treatment gets on fur?
Medication on Fur But if the flea medication gets onto Toby's hair on the back of his neck, he probably won't be able to get to it. Just to be safe, take the rag and rub in any flea gel glistening on his fur. That way the formula can get closer to his skin to protect him from any crawling critters.
Why do I still see fleas on my dog 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.
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.
How long does it take for flea medicine to dry on fur?
You can usually cuddle and pet your cat immediately after receiving an oral flea prevention medication. Topical products can take a few hours to soak into the skin layer. Avoid petting your cat for 24-48 hours in the spot where you applied a topical medication.
Is it normal to still see 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.
How long does it take for topical flea medicine to work?
Fortunately, all flea preventions, both topical and oral, show great speed in controlling flea infestations. Topical preventions have been shown to clear current flea burdens on dogs within 12 to 48 hours, and oral preventions often work within the first 2 to 4 hours.
Can you double up on flea treatment?
Never double up on products. There's no need to pair a powder with a spot-on treatment. 3. Wear gloves, or wash your hands with soap and water after you apply the drug.
Can I reapply flea treatment early?
A flea infestation on your pet or in your home can be difficult and frustrating to deal with. Yes, if after two weeks the flea preventive you applied isn't working, you can reapply flea treatment early, or switch to another brand.
Why won't flea treatment work on my cat?
Many of the spot-on flea products use the natural oils of the coat to spread the flea treatment over your pet. So, if you've just washed your pet and stripped the natural oils, they'll be less effective.
What if Frontline Plus gets on fur?
Don't worry, it will eventually work its way down to the skin. For future applications, use the applicator tip to part the hair until you see skin then squeeze to apply the Frontline. You can reapply in 2-3 weeks but this would be considered "off label use". Check with your vet before you do that.
How do I know if my dog's fleas are gone?
You are looking for and fleas that fall or jump off. Once you see one, it is safe to assume there are more. Apply petroleum jelly to the flea comb and brush your dog a second time. If your dog has fleas, they will get stuck to the jelly and you will be able to see them.
Can my dog sleep in my bed after flea treatment?
You can handle, stroke and cuddle your pet as usual as soon as the application site is dry. In the meantime treated animals should not be handled and children should not be allowed to play or sleep with them.
How to get flea medicine off Toby's neck?
While Toby is getting a massage, grab a rag, then go ahead and break the seal of the tube of flea medication. You’ll squeeze the tube onto the skin on the back of Toby’s neck – an area he can’t reach to lick off the medication. Part his fur until you see his skin, which can be tricky if he has long tresses. Place the open tip directly on Toby’s ...
How long does flea gel take to dry?
Let the formula dry for a full 30 minutes before allowing your mischievous chum to groom himself or before letting him come into contact with other animals in your home.
Can you put flea gel on Toby's neck?
But if the flea medication gets onto Toby’s hair on the back of his neck, he probably won’t be able to get to it. Just to be safe, take the rag and rub in any flea gel glistening on his fur. That way the formula can get closer to his skin to protect him from any crawling critters.
Can flea medicine cause vomiting?
If you leave wet flea product on Toby’s coat and she ingests it, or if another fur-covered family member pounces over and licks it off, severe complications can potentially result. Each type of formulation has its own warnings but, in general, ingesting even a small dab of flea medicine could lead to severe vomiting and drooling. In some cases, swallowing flea products can cause your feline to have tremors and no desire to eat. If you notice Toby isn’t acting like himself after you've applied the product, take your fur ball to the emergency clinic right away as a precautionary measure.
Can flea medication be applied to skin?
When you apply the flea medication, it’s essential to completely part the pet’s hair so that the medication can be applied directly to the skin. If you have a pet with thick fur, this can present a challenge. However, the medication won’t work correctly if only the hair follicles are involved – it must be applied to the skin.
Is oral flea treatment better than topical?
Oral flea treatments are more effective than topical medications. Plus, they have the added advantage of not being messy. And, you don’t need to worry whether you’re applying the medication properly.
Do fleas expire outside?
Fleas will expire outside in the cold, but once inside your home, they can cozily spend the winter in a warm climate. So, if you have an indoor flea infestation, keep the treatment going through at least two frosts.
Why aren't flea products working?
Another reason for products not working is by not treating your home and yard, where in some cases 80% of the flea life cycle may occur. Read how to control fleas indoors and outdoors.
Can Advantage II be applied on multiple spots?
For instance, for large dogs, Advantage II requires the product to be applied on multiple spots down the pet’s back.
Can pet hair medication be applied to skin?
This is something that can be somewhat of a challenge for thick haired pets; however, the pet medication will not work properly if only the hair follicles receive the medication – it must be applied to the skin.
Do pet owners see fleas?
All too often, a pet owner will come in and share their experience in which he or she regularly applies topical flea prevention, yet is frustrated that after several treatments they are still seeing fleas.
Can fleas be treated with oral flea medicine?
Consider switching to oral flea medications. The newer oral flea medications are becoming very popular and with good reason — they’re even more effective than topical treatments at killing adult fleas and keeping your pet flea-free.
How to apply flea control to dog hair?
Always follow the manufacturer's directions when applying topical flea control. Wear gloves when applying the product, or wash your hands very carefully afterward. Wait at least two days after applying flea control before bathing your dog. Bathing him sooner might interfere with skin absorption of the product.
How do flea pills work on dogs?
These medications work by affecting the flea's central nervous system, causing death. Some contain growth regulators that prevent flea eggs from developing into adults. Even though you might place ...
How long does it take for flea oil to spread to dogs?
Even though you might place the liquid flea medication on only one or two areas of your dog, the oil in his skin spreads it throughout the body in a matter of 24 hours or more.
Can you put flea medicine on your dog's shoulder?
Putting topical flea medication between your dog's shoulder blades is one of your warm-weather monthly rituals. You know the liquid keeps fleas off your dog and gets rid of flea eggs, but if you consider how it actually works, you'll know why it's important to ensure that the flea medication ends up on your dog's skin and not on his hair.
How to kill fleas on cats?
1. Using flea shampoo. One really common scenario is a frustrated pet parent who uses flea shampoo, then applies, for example, a topical flea treatment for cats, to kill the fleas. Many of the spot-on flea products use the natural oils of the coat to spread over your pet.
How long should I bathe my dog after flea shampoo?
So, if you’ve just washed your pet and stripped the natural oils, they’ll be less effective. Check the packaging for specific recommendations, but most say you cannot apply within 48 hours of a bath, and you shouldn’t bathe your dog for at least 48 hours after application, either.
How long does it take for fleas to hatch?
Pet parents often have unrealistic expectations, especially if they buy a product from the vets – but the truth is, the pupae can wait 12 weeks to hatch, which means you need to treat for 12 weeks, without a gap, to beat them.
Can fleas feed on rabbits?
There’s no point in treating your dogs if the adult fleas can feed on your rabbit, or on the neighbour’s cat that sleeps on your sofa sometimes! The minute you forget a day of your dog’s treatment, or use a sub-standard product, they’ll catch fleas again. Make sure you treat all the animals in the house so the adult fleas have nowhere safe to go! If you have a visiting cat, please check with their owner before applying flea treatment, to avoid double-dosing.
Can fleas and ticks harm dogs?
Fleas and ticks are nothing to joke about, as these parasites can cause serious harm to your dog’s overall health. There are steps you can take to ensure no unwanted critters make your dog’s coat and skin their home. Applying their pet drugs the correct way is arguably one of the most important.
Can you give a dog Comfortis?
Flea and tick preventatives can come in a liquid or chewable tab form so the way you give your dog the medication will vary depending on which brand you use. Revolution, Frontline Plus and Pet Armor are all topical medications and need some instruction to work correctly. Comfortis comes in a chewable tablet, so you can simply give the dog the medication as a treat.
Snuggles2012 PetForums Junior
I use a spot on to flea treat my cat. On the instruction leaflet it shows a diagram of the cat's fur perfecly parted, exposing a long strip of skin to apply the liquid to. In reality, I can never manage to expose anything like this much skin while I'm trying to keep the cat still, part her fur, and hold the pippette.
OrientalSlave Shunra Oriental Cats
Some of it always ends up on their fur, and it gradually spreads through their coat. The only problem I can see if it's all near the end of the fur is maybe it needs the cat's body heat to spread properly. My cats rarely get treated as they don't mingle with other cats, but when I treat them I put the nozzle of the pipette on their skin.
Jansheff PetForums VIP
I used to have the same problem and never managed to improve my technique. Then, despite trying to keep them separated until it had dried off (which was a right pain and they yowled to get back together) my three would obligingly wash it off for each other. It was such a hassle every month to get all three done.
Snuggles2012 PetForums Junior
Some of it always ends up on their fur, and it gradually spreads through their coat. The only problem I can see if it's all near the end of the fur is maybe it needs the cat's body heat to spread properly. My cats rarely get treated as they don't mingle with other cats, but when I treat them I put the nozzle of the pipette on their skin.
OrientalSlave Shunra Oriental Cats
I do move the nozzle along as I squeeze, and don't worry what the receptionist seems to think.
Snuggles2012 PetForums Junior
I used to have the same problem and never managed to improve my technique. Then, despite trying to keep them separated until it had dried off (which was a right pain and they yowled to get back together) my three would obligingly wash it off for each other. It was such a hassle every month to get all three done.
Snuggles2012 PetForums Junior
I do move the nozzle along as I squeeze, and don't worry what the receptionist seems to think.