Five reasons flea treatment for dogs might not work
- Medication choice:. There’s a bewildering array of products out there for getting rid of fleas; collars, flea spray,...
- Application error:. With spot on treatments, application of liquid to the skin is crucial. If most of the vial is...
- Wash off effect:. Have you washed your stinky hound after they’ve rolled in...
Full Answer
Why does my dog keep getting fleas after flea treatment?
Jan 22, 2022 · maybe because you're using the wrong product for the wrong weight category. check your dogs' weight and age and accordingly, your vet will prescribe a flea and tick treatment. you also need to keep your dog clean and manually discard any fleas you find is by brushing the dog's hair giving him baths with a medicated tick shampoo (make sure the dog doesn't lick the …
Why won’t my flea treatment work?
The reasons why cats and dogs seem to keep getting fleas, despite using flea treatment products, range from improper use to forgetting to treat the environment at the same time. Using flea treatment products too late. The most common reason why a flea treatment appears not to work is because pet owners fail to realize the enormity of the situation.
What happens if you treat your dog for fleas and not cats?
Dec 17, 2020 · If the product does not reach your pet’s sebaceous glands, it will not work effectively. This is common in pets that have extremely dry skin or thick fur. As with humans, exfoliating your pet’s skin and removing extraneous dead …
Can flea medicine cause allergies in dogs and cats?
If you don't have a flea shampoo, even a bath with regular dog shampoo will get rid of most of the fleas on your dog. If you have just put Frontline Plus on your pooch, though, wait at least 48 hours before giving him a bath. Otherwise, the medication may not have spread throughout your dog's body completely and won't work as well.
Why is no flea treatment working on my dog?
There are a variety of reasons why your flea medication may not seem to be offering any relief for your pet. The product may be a cheap over-the-counter treatment, you may be using the medication incorrectly, or you may not be keeping your pet's environment clean, which is vital to eradicating fleas.May 3, 2021
What do I do if flea treatment doesn't work?
Why Has My Pet's Flea Medicine Stopped Working?Make sure to apply topical medications correctly (do not split medications to use on more than one pet)Make sure your pet's skin is healthy so topical flea medications work well.Treat your yard and house where 95-99% of the flea population lives.More items...
Is it normal to still see fleas after treatment?
As eggs hatch and develop, you might find fleas reappearing 10-14 days after treatment - this is quite normal and provided the insecticide remains in place it will kill them. This is why it is important not to carry out cleaning which might remove insecticide.
Why does my dog still have fleas after using Advantage?
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.
What do vets use for fleas?
A tasty once-monthly chew that works against fleas, ticks, heartworm and some common worms. Available from vet clinics. One oral dose of Bravecto for dogs can kills fleas and ticks for 2–3 months....Spot-On:ProductCommentFrontline PlusKills fleas, larvae, eggs and ticks. Once-monthly application.4 more rows•Jul 16, 2019
Can my dog sleep in my bed with fleas?
Unfortunately, if your dog has fleas and sleeps in your bed, your bed will likely end up with fleas. Fleas can lay eggs in your pet's fur, and those eggs can fall off onto your bedding and other areas where your dog sits or sleeps.
How long does flea medicine take to work on dogs?
Flea pills work very quickly, beginning in as little as 30 minutes. Currently, there are no oral medications that kill ticks.
How long does it take for a dog to get rid of fleas?
Killing the fleas on your dog is just one part of the problem. You also need to determine how to get rid of fleas in your home. This requires patience. It can take as long as three-to-four months to get rid of an infestation, as it takes this long for all of the fleas in your home to go through their life stages.
How long will I see fleas after treatment?
Often owners will see fleas reappear about 3-4 weeks after the application as this is when the largest number of flea pupae (from eggs laid by the fleas killed 3-4 weeks earlier) are ready to hatch. Allowing your pet free access to all parts of the home will help to get the fleas to hatch out of their pupae.Dec 3, 2012
Can I reapply flea treatment early advantage?
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 can't I get rid of fleas?
These pests are very hard to get rid of. Fleas have flattened bodies so they can move through the fur of their hosts easily. They also have very strong exoskeletons, making them very hard to crush. They also leap out of danger quickly and are very small, so if they do get away they are hard to find again.
Are You Really Sure You’Re Doing It Right?
The first thing to check (and double-check and triple-check) are the directions of whatever flea medicine you bought. For instance, if you are givi...
How Healthy Is Your Pet’S Skin?
Dry and unhealthy skin can affect how well spot on treatments work. A good washing and combing of your pet’s coat could help with the application o...
Where Are All The Fleas Coming from?
Some estimate that over 90% of the flea population lives not on your dog, but in your house and your yard. You may be doing your best to keep your...
When Did You Start The medication?
Once you see fleas on your pet, it’s going to be more difficult to get them off than if you were using the medicine as protection before the pests...
Are You Treating All Your Pets For fleas?
Well, are you? Just because one isn’t scratching as much as the other doesn’t mean that all of your pets aren’t suffering from fleas. That also mea...
What is the life cycle of fleas?
What is the flea lifecycle and why does it matter? Fleas have a similar life cycle to the caterpillar and butterfly. The adult flea lives mostly on your pet, although they’ll jump back off and spend some time in your house.
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.
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.
Why isn't my dog flea treatment effective?
Why Aren’t Dog Flea Treatments Effective? There may be a number of reasons why your flea treatment isn’t working for your pet. The product could be made of low-quality ingredients or low-powered chemicals, you could be administering the product improperly, or you could be failing to keep your pet’s area clean , which is essential for flea ...
What is Credelio flea and tick treatment?
Credelio is a delicious beef-flavored flea and tick treatment for dogs that treats and controls fleas and ticks. The monthly oral treatment kills fleas in 12 hours and controls dog tick infestations. Consult your veterinarian to determine which methods and products are best for you and your pets.
How long does it take for a flea to grow?
Your Flea infestation did not occur overnight and will not be resolved in a matter of days. In reality, all stages of the flea cycle can take three to eight weeks, or two months, to fully grow and mature. For at least two months, flea treatment must be taken exactly as directed.
How long does it take for Capstar to work on dogs?
Buy Comfortis for Dog. Capstar for dogs is an oral tablet that contains a fast-acting adulticide to combat adult fleas on dogs. Within half an hour of administration , it begins to work and kills all adult fleas within seven hours. Buy Capstar.
Can fleas be killed before they lay eggs?
Not using a flea product that kills quickly or contains an insect growth regulator: It is essential to begin killing fleas before they lay eggs or to use a flea treatment that eliminates the eggs. Breaking the flea’s life cycle is important. It takes a bit of time:
Do flea treatments kill fleas?
Since most flea treatments do not repel fleas, new fleas from the area can and will hop on your pet to eat. Flea treatments kill fleas either directly or indirectly by flea feeding on your pet. You should do some research on the product you’re using to see how quickly it starts killing fleas.
Can you take flea treatments with a meal?
Any oral flea treatments must be taken with a complete meal in order to be absorbed. Some topical flea treatments may be less effective if your pet is bathed or swims. Topical products should be applied directly to the skin between the shoulder blades in a two-inch area. Misconception on how flea treatment works:
When to start flea treatment?
Many vets encourage owners to use flea medication year round, but if you want, you can also begin treatment a few months before the peak flea season beings.
How long does it take for flea eggs to grow?
Flea eggs that were originally on your pet may have fallen off into the corners and cracks of your home, and that's just the start of the flea life cycle! Those eggs could take up to twelve months to become adult fleas, and when they do, those pests can then jump back onto your pet.
Can you use Spot on Flea and Tick?
How to Use Spot On Flea and Tick Treatment. This information is for informational purposes only and is not meant as a substitute for the professional advice of, or diagnosis or treatment by, your veterinarian with respect to your pet. It has, however, been verified by a licensed veterinarian for accuracy.
Why does my dog have a flea reaction?
By far the most reactions to flea medication occur when cats are exposed to certain flea medications that are meant for dogs, which might happen because a pet owner mistakenly buys the wrong product.
What happens when an animal licks flea medication?
Vomiting and Lethargy. You might think these signs are emblematic of a problem with an oral medication, however, Verbrugge says, these reactions are most common when an animal licks off the topical flea medication that’s been applied to the hair and skin.
How to tell if your dog has licked off topical medication?
Other signs that your animal has licked off the topical medication are drooling and foaming at the mouth. Some medications can cause mild oral irritation or ulceration in the mouth if licked in large quantities. Occasionally, these symptoms can also occur as the result of oral medications, said Milosevic.
Why do cats react to fleas?
By far the most reactions to flea medication occur when cats are exposed to certain flea medications that are meant for dogs, which might happen because a pet owner mistakenly buys the wrong product.
What happens if you treat your dog and not your cat?
“If you treat your dog and not your cat, the fleas will keep on breeding, keep on laying eggs, and you will continue to see them in the house.”.
How many active ingredients are in flea medicine?
There are more than a dozen “active” ingredients across the spectrum of flea medications. These are the ingredients that give each medicine its potency. Also in each respective formula are numerous “non-active” or “inert” ingredients, which are basically vehicles that help make the active ingredient more effective or palatable.
Is hair loss a problem for cats?
Milosevic adds that hair loss is particularly common in cats. Like redness of the skin, hair loss is not considered an emergency, but you and your vet should find a new medication for your afflicted pet. While this might suggest a topical problem, the tail base is, in fact, a hot spot for flea allergies.
What is the best treatment for fleas?
Topical medications such as Bravecto topical, Revolution, Frontline Plus, or Advantage Multi are very popular and effective methods to get rid of fleas, eggs, and larvae, but they need to be used properly in order to work.
Why do cats and dogs keep getting fleas?
The real cause, however, is often unrelated to the efficacy of the flea treatment product but more with the way or time it has been used. The reasons why cats and dogs seem to keep getting fleas, despite using flea treatment products, range from improper use to forgetting to treat the environment at the same time.
Can you give a dog a flea collar?
You can use Bravecto chews or Nexgard for dogs, or Capstar, which can be given to both cats and dogs. If your pet refuses the chews, the Seresto flea collar is not only effective in killing fleas (and ticks) and its larvae, it also provides one of the safest and longest lasting flea protection for your pet. Seresto.
Can flea pupae jump on a dog?
This means even if you have been vigilant about killing fleas in your house and yard, given time, the flea pupae will become adults, free to jump onto your pet if your cat or dog isn’t protected. Bravecto Chews. NexGard Chewables.
Can you use flea treatment on pets?
It is not enough to simply use flea treatment products on your pets when you are fighting a flea infestation. You need to get rid of fleas in the house and yard at the same time. Otherwise, the hidden flea eggs and larvae will simply grow to become adult fleas, re-infesting your pet.
Can you see fleas in your carpet?
When you see a few fleas either hopping on your pet’s fur or in the carpet, you are already dealing with a full-blown flea infestation. What you cannot see are the flea eggs and larvae buried deep in the fibers of your home furniture and pet’s bed, which make up 95% of the entire flea population. It is not enough to simply use flea treatment ...
What is Advantage Yard and Premise Spray?
The Advantage Yard & Premise Spray and the Enforcer Flea Spray for Homes are just two products that can help you win the war on fleas & ticks! Insects are known for their ability to develop resistance to insecticides. Currently, there are insects resistant to EVERY synthetic chemical insecticide used. There are many factors to developing resistance.
How do insects develop resistance?
There are many factors to developing resistance. In a population of insects, there may be a few individuals that carry the genes for resistance. These genes arise from mutations and are rare. In the natural environment, the mutant insect is typically compromised, weaker and produces fewer offspring.
Why do insects die when exposed to insecticides?
Upon exposure to insecticides, insects that do not carry the resistance genes die. This allows the individuals with the resistance genes to survive and reproduce, creating more resistant insects. So with every generation, the number of resistant insects increase.
Can flea medicine be absorbed by pets?
If the product doesn’t hit the skin, it will not be absorbed in your pet’s sebaceous glands. That’s where the flea-fighting magic happens! Make sure you are using the entire tube of medication on your pet. Don’t skimp and try to save a few dollars by splitting the product between months or between pets.
Can you rub a pet's coat the wrong way?
With topical spot-on products, it’s important that the product reaches your pet’s skin and doesn’t sit above their epidermal layer. You’ll want to rub your pet’s coat the wrong way so you can see skin. If the product doesn’t hit the skin, it will not be absorbed in your pet’s sebaceous glands. That’s where the flea-fighting magic happens!
Can you switch to Advantage 2 Frontline Plus?
For example, if you’ve been using Frontline Plus on your pet for years, and notice it isn’t as effective, try switching to Advantage II . Don’t switch to a product with the same active ingredient as what you have been using. In all likelihood, it will not be effective.
Can you exfoliate your pet's skin?
As with humans, exfoliating your pet’s skin and removing extraneous dead skin cells will provide a clean surface for the topical. Follow the directions on your topical, but the directions on most topicals advise to make sure the coat is completely dry before applying the product.
