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. Spot-on flea treatments are applied directly to nape of your pet’s neck.
How do you use flea treatment on your neck?
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 do flea preventions work?
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.
Why won’t my flea treatment work?
Here are four common reasons why this might be happening. 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.
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.
Why does flea medicine only go on neck?
No, the back of the neck doesn't have magic medicine-absorbing powers. The reason for that placement is “so that the pet cannot lick the product,” Dr. Crudington says. Larger animals, however, may require a larger dose applied to several spots along the back, Dr.
How does flea medicine work on the neck?
Treatment collars contain medication that is absorbed into the sebaceous glands and spread using the natural oils in a cat or dog's skin. If only using a collar that repels, a parasite must bite for the pesticide to kill it. Treatment collars release ingredients that kill fleas and ticks on contact before they bite.
Where is the best place to put flea treatment?
Shoulder to shoulder It is best to apply the spot on in two places if you can; this increases the skin surface area being treated, which in turn speeds up absorption. And for smaller dogs and cats there can sometimes simply be too much fluid to apply in a single spot.
Is topical flea treatment better than collar?
Which Treatment is More Effective? Flea drops are more effective than flea collars since it absorbs better into your dog's system and transports the pesticide throughout the body more thoroughly. See how the Seresto collar, Bravecto chews, and Frontline drops compared to each other.
How does flea treatment on dogs neck work?
The newer collars contain flea and tick repellent chemicals that are continuously released from the flea collar and spread over the pet via the natural oils of the hair, coat and skin. These flea killing chemicals then adhere to the hair and skin and provide continuous protection.
Does flea treatment still work if on fur?
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.
How do I know fleas are dying?
A. The active ingredient in FRONTLINE (fipronil) kills fleas by affecting their nervous system, making them hyperactive before dying. These dying fleas often rise to the top of your pet's haircoat, so the presence of visible fleas after treating your pet, is a sign that the product is working.
How long does flea treatment take 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.
How long does it take for flea treatment to work?
Although it may happen a lot quicker it can take up to 24 hours for fleas jumping onto your pet to be killed. There are no flea products that stop fleas from jumping onto pets. This means that regardless of the licensed flea treatment you use - you may still see fleas on your pet until the flea product kills it.
Why do vets not like flea collars?
Ingestion of collars can be toxic. The chemicals that are meant to be on the skin are absorbed into the body when ingested. Dogs can be particularly sensitive to some chemicals. NEVER use any flea product on your dog without the consent of your veterinarian.
Why you shouldn't use flea collars?
Ranging from skin irritation and gastrointestinal distress, to organ failure and even death, flea collars have a long history of harmful effects in both cats and dogs. When used as directed, flea collars are still known to cause severe chemical burns and seizures in pets.
Do flea collars actually work?
Do Flea Collars Really Work? Yes! Flea collars are designed to kill fleas. Some collars target only adult fleas, while others may kill some of the younger stages of fleas, too.
How does flea and tick treatment work?
How Spot-On Flea and Tick Treatments Work. Pets’ skin absorbs the medication, which is then carried through the circulatory system, according to Dr. Wooten. That means any flea or tick that bites your pet will ingest it.
What is spot on flea treatment?
Spot-on flea treatments are medicinal liquids that protect your pet from blood-hungry parasites like fleas and ticks, says Dr. Sarah Wooten, DVM. 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 ...
What is flea protection?
Flea protection is an essential part of pet parenting—and one of the most popular ways to do it is spot-on flea treatment. But what exactly is this stuff? How does it work, and how do you use it? We’ve got the answers below.
How much Frontline Plus for dogs?
Frontline Plus For Dogs comes in three options: for dogs 5-22 pounds, for dogs 23-44 pounds and for dogs 45-88 pounds. Very large dogs may require more than one dose to cover their weight. Check with your veterinarian for the appropriate amount of treatment to give your dog. Fleas on cats can be just as aggressive.
Does K9 Advantix kill ticks?
Popular among pup parents, K9 Advantix II Flea & Tick Treatment for dogs is formulated to kill all life stages of fleas to prevent reinfestation—and fights against ticks, including deer ticks and American dog ticks, as well as mosquitoes and lice.
Can you put magic medicine on your neck?
No, the back of the neck doesn’t have magic medicine-absorbing powers. The reason for that placement is “so that the pet cannot lick the product,” Dr. Crudington says. Larger animals, however, may require a larger dose applied to several spots along the back, Dr. Wooten says.
Is it safe to use spot on flea and tick treatment?
Spot-on Flea Treatment Cautions. While spot-on treatments are effective and safe if used correctly, they can cause side effects if not used properly, Dr. Wooten says. Consult your veterinarian prior to applying spot-on flea and tick treatments, and read accompanying literature to make sure you’re using the product correctly and on ...
Apply the medication between the shoulder blades
First of all, find the area between the shoulder blades of the pet. It is the two bones below the neck. This is an area which is difficult for your pet to reach with his mouth and is the best place for treatment.
Apply the treatment on the skin
You need to ensure that the medication is absorbed for it to be effective. It needs to be applied directly to the skin for fast effect. Lift up the fur and expose the skin before applying.
Wash your hands after application
You never know if the medication will give you a skin irritation. You need to wash your hands before and after its application.
How to get rid of fleas in your house?
If you are following all the instructions and are still having problems with fleas, then you may need to go a step further than your pet. Check your yard and your house for flea infestations. After you apply the medication, vacuum your entire home to lessen the fleas.
When to give flea medicine to dog?
Try to give your dog flea medication right before bedtime. That way, he is less likely to go outside and roll in the grass.
Where to put flea drops on a cat?
Now, if you are applying flea medication to a cat, your best bet is to apply the drops on the back of the cat’s neck, preferably between the shoulder blades . Most cats hate anything and everything that touches their fur, especially when they can’t control it or get rid of it (think about how much they groom themselves!).
Do you need to keep your pet on flea and tick medication?
More than likely you keep your pet on a monthly flea and tick prevention routine. Contrary to what many owners think, even indoor pets need to be placed on a preventative routine. Even if your pet hates to sit still, applying flea medication is not too difficult.
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.
How to apply Bravecto to cat?
Bravecto. Hold the tube upright and turn the cap one full turn. Make sure the seal is broken but DO NOT remove the cap. 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.
Where to put hair on dog?
You must part the hair so that you can apply it to the skin at the base of the neck. Read the instructions on the package; most direct you to apply it all in one spot on the neck, while a few will have you apply it to several spots along the back that the pet cannot reach (for larger dogs).
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.
