What months do dogs need flea treatment?
December through February are arguably the lowest risk months for parasites, so many pet-parents will forgo coverage in those months, and start flea and tick prevention again in March or April when the weather begins to warm.
How often should you give your dog flea treatment?
monthlyPets, especially dogs and cats, require regular attention to keep them in perfect health. One tip is to administer flea and worm treatment; a monthly top-up that can help to protect your pet against serious health complications in the long-term.
Should I give my dog flea and tick medicine year round?
We always recommend giving flea and tick protection year round as the weather is unpredictable. Fleas can live outdoors and can survive in temperatures as low as 33 degrees for up to 5 days (long enough to jump on to your dog or you during your short walk outside and make their way in to your home!).Mar 30, 2017
Do dogs need flea treatment every month?
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.
Can I use Frontline every 2 weeks?
Treat all your dogs and cats every month for optimal flea control. When applied correctly, FRONTLINE PLUS remains active against fleas for at least one month. If you are in a paralysis tick area, apply FRONTLINE PLUS FOR DOGS every 2 weeks to provide paralysis tick control for your dog.
Do my dogs need flea medicine in the winter?
Yes. Though many species of ticks and fleas are slowed down or dormant during the winter, certain areas of the United States are not cold enough to truly kill these parasites and stop their activity. Because ticks and fleas can carry diseases that could harm your dog, it's best to keep them protected all year long.
What month does flea and tick treatment start?
Flea and tick season will start with the onset of spring in late March to early April. However, depending on how far south you go, it may end in either November or December according to when the temperatures drop for winter.Feb 24, 2022
Should I give my dog NexGard year round?
Ball stressed that for maximum effectiveness NexGard should be administered year-round. "Even when it is cold outside during the winter, fleas can still survive inside the house," said Dr. Ball.Oct 12, 2014
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?
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, ...
Does Trifexis work against ticks?
Trifexis employs spinosad and milbemycin oxime to keep dogs protected from heartworms and intestinal parasites as well as fleas, but it does not work against ticks. Your vet will need to prescribe this treatment. Bravecto chews (it also comes as a topical) offer protection from fleas and ticks for 8-12 weeks per dose.
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 ...
Do tick collars leave traces?
All flea and tick collars tend to leave traces of the chemicals that make them effective around the dog’s environment and on your pet, so this may be a concern with young children who tend to put everything in their mouths. Some dogs have had local skin reactions to the collar that have resolved when it was removed.
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 ...
When should I give my puppy a flea collar?
Seresto Flea and Tick Control Collar is suitable for puppies to wear from the age of seven weeks.
How long does a dog's flea collar last?
In the case of Seresto Flea and Tick Control Collar, your dog is protected for up to eight months. Make a note of when you need to replace the collar so you can check you have enough protection left to cover your holiday period, or if it’s coming to the end of its eight-month protection period, replace it with a fresh collar before you leave ...
How many eggs do fleas lay on a dog?
If you do spot a flea on your dog or any other household pets that haven’t been treated, you’ll need to act quickly to defend your home. Female fleas can lay 40 eggs every day, so the number of fleas in your home and on your pet can multiply rapidly. Image.
How to avoid fleas in your home?
There are some key things you can do to avoid suffering from a flea infestation at home: De-fle a all household pets regularly – fleas will jump onto all animals in the home, so treat all pets (cats, dogs and rabbits) for fleas regularly to ensure they’re covered at all times.
Why does my dog have a itch when I bite him?
Some dogs are allergic to flea saliva, so fle a bites trigger an itchy skin condition called flea allergy dermatitis, which can lead to hair loss and make your pet miserable. Fleas also carry the tapeworm parasite which can be passed onto dogs and cats when they’re ingested, such as through grooming.
How does a spot on flea treatment work?
Spot-ons work by transporting the active ingredient across your dog’s body on the skin and hair, and some spot-on products kill fleas through contact. This means your pet doesn’t need to be bitten for the treatment to work, helping to reduce potential risks of disease infection. Image.
How long do fleas lay dormant?
In fact, flea eggs, larvae and pupae can be found in the home anytime and in the pupal stage can lay dormant for several months, so you may not realise you have any fleas in your home until you turn on your central heating and they begin to hatch.
What is the best way to apply flea treatment?
Have your dog in a seated position so they are not moving around as you put the product on, you may need a helper if your dog is a wriggler. Choose a spot on the back of your dog’s neck, ideally by the base of the skull. Part your dog’s fur so you can see their skin and apply a small blob directly to the skin.
Need advice on applying flea treatment?
For expert advice on applying flea treatment, get in touch with your local vet.
Do dogs need a bath for fleas?
Bathing your dog can be an effective way to remove large numbers of adult fleas. While some shampoos contain pesticides that are specifically designed to kill fleas and other insects, almost any dog shampoo will reduce the number of fleas on your pup, if used correctly.
Alternative flea treatments
Effective flea control requires the use of a long-acting flea preventative. This way, when your dog once again encounters fleas in the environment, those fleas do not have the opportunity to set up an infestation.
How to give a dog a flea bath
Follow these steps on how to give a dog a bath if you're looking to use a flea bath as a sole treatment or in addition to administering a long-acting flea preventative:
When to see a vet
Fleas are typically accompanied by a small degree of itching. If your dog is experiencing severe itching, however, you should seek the help of a veterinarian. Many dogs have a condition known as Flea Allergy Dermatitis (FAD), which is an allergy to proteins that are found within flea saliva.
Conclusion: Know your options
While it is important to know how to give a dog a flea bath safely, it’s equally important to be knowledgeable about other flea control options. Using long-acting flea prevention all year round can help you stop flea problems before they have a chance to get started.
How to treat fleas on a dog?
Flea spray is similar to flea powder in that it is a topical flea treatment that you simply apply to your pet’s coat and then leave alone. It kills fleas, normally at any stage in the life cycle, on contact, so it is important to spray the entire body. You can avoid spraying the head, though, as that is likely to get spray in your pet’s eyes or ears. Instead, start from the neck and work down all the way to the paws and back all the way to the tail.
How to use flea dip?
It is a concentrated liquid solution that kills fleas, and often most other pests, on contact. Typically dips are applied using a sponge, by pouring it over the pet and massaging it in, or by submerging the pet’s body in it. Because of the concentrated amounts of potentially dangerous chemicals, dips are no longer the favored method of pest control, as the wrong dosage could harm your pet as well as the pests you are targeting. This makes flea dip a method best used by or under the supervision of your vet.
How do flea collars work?
Some of these collars work by releasing the chemicals into the air around it, so that any fleas in the area around the collar are killed, and others work by releasing chemicals into your dog’s skin, so that the fleas are killed as soon as they try to eat.
Why do dogs have to have a spot on their neck?
Typically they are applied to only one spot (hence the name), normally the back of the neck, because that makes it impossible for your dog to lick it off. Bigger dogs might need multiple spots, and these are typically also done along the spine, again to prevent it being licked off.
Can fleas be treated with insecticide?
Many pet parents are wary of treating their dogs with insecticide and other harsh chemicals. Although these flea treatments are designed to be safe when used according to their manufacturer instructions, there are some gentler, more natural options that can be used as your primary method of flea treatment or used to supplement another method.