Best Flea Treatment for Dogs

Fleas are blood-sucking parasites that affect pets and wild animals. They live in the fur of their host animal where they suck blood three times a day. If the infestation is not controlled, it can cause anemia which results to death if not treated immediately. When adult fleas feed on the pet’s blood they also leave saliva which triggers allergies and causes skin irritation.

This condition is referred to as flea allergy dermatitis. Some other health-related problems that arise from this infestation are tapeworms and other infections transmitted by the parasite’s bite.

If you have a dog, chances are you’ve had an experience with fleas.  Now that there are safe and effective flea control options available, using them will prevent an infestation from occurring in the first place.  Pet owners today are educated by their veterinarians to use a flea control product year-round.  Owners using one of these products may never see a flea in their pet’s lifetime.

There are different ways on how you can control fleas in your pet. First is to use preventive measures so that these parasites will not be able to enter your house. Second is the option of killing the fleas with pesticides or insecticides. Third is use home remedies that are effective in getting rid of them.

Fleas are certainly a nuisance, but even more importantly, they can cause health problems in your dog.  The topical products recommended by veterinarians today are a far cry from the dangerous dips and sprays of the past.  It’s important to follow your vet’s recommendation and not purchase topical flea products sold over-the-counter. 

A lot of these products are unsafe for pets and your family.  NEVER use flea control products for dogs on a cat!  This is very dangerous and could end up being fatal.

Fleas can cause health problems in dogs. 

When a very young/small or ill dog is infested with fleas, the amount of blood they’re removing from his body cannot be replenished fast enough.  This causes a condition called anemia.  Fleas are also carriers in the life-cycle of the Tapeworm. 

When a dog ingests a flea carrying a tapeworm, it completes its life-cycle and ends up in the gastrointestinal system of your pet.  Some dogs are allergic to flea’s saliva.  When bitten by a flea, they develop severely itchy skin, scabs, and hair loss.  This type of allergy is as common as dog food allergies. 

The products available today kill fleas before they have a chance to bite, thus preventing the vicious cycle of flea bite allergies.

Also read: Is Cesar dog food good for shih tzu?

What is the best flea treatment for dogs? 

The major brands available today are Advantage and Frontline.  These are considered the best flea treatment for dogs.  Both products are recommended by veterinarians and are extremely safe.  They are not absorbed into the dog’s bloodstream and therefore do not pose a threat to your dog as the over-the-counter flea treatments do.

Using Chemical For Treatment

Using chemical treatment is the most common method because it is effective in killing these parasites within a short period of time. However, this only gives instant results and continued use may result to adverse effects on your pet’s health. Some of the side effects include kidney failure, seizures and even death if not monitored by a veterinarian regularly.

How do Advantage and Frontline work?

 Both products remain just above the top layer of skin.  They spread over your dog’s body using the natural oils of the skin and aren’t absorbed into the bloodstream. 

Unlike other flea products, the flea doesn’t have to bite your dog in order to be affected by the product.  Just landing on your dog is enough to kill the flea. 

Once the product is applied, almost all of the fleas currently on your dog will die within 8 hours.  It continues to work effectively for about a month.  Any flea that jumps on your pet will die.  If you have a minor infestation in your home, Advantage or Frontline should be effective enough to treat the environment as well. 

This is possible because as I said, any flea that jumps on your pet will die.  Dander and hair falling from a treated pet will treat fleas in the bedding, carpet, etc.

If you have a severe infestation in your home, I recommend using an Area Treatment Spray.  These sprays are very effective and don’t require you or your pets to evacuate the home for any amount of time.  You can spray the carpeting, furniture, bedding and curtains. 

It’s recommended that you repeat the treatment in about 3 weeks to ensure you’ve gotten rid of all fleas and newly hatched fleas that were protected by the egg the first time around.  Vacuum thoroughly before treating and put a flea collar in the vacuum bag to kill any live fleas you collect.

If you are giving medicated shampoo to your dog, make sure that it is in accordance with the dosage requirement. Another drawback of using chemical treatment is that it may not be effective against all types of flea breeds and they only work for a few hours after application.

Some side effects associated with these treatments include allergic reactions such as skin irritation or rashes, vomiting, and loss of appetite.

The natural method of dog flea treatment is safe and very effective in preventing and controlling the infestation. Baking soda and apple cider vinegar are some of the natural preventives chosen by many pet owners because they are readily available at home.

Using these preventive flea treatments will help you and your pet live a comfortable, flea-free life!