If your dog has fleas, you need to do something about it fast. Have you ever been bitten by a mosquito? You know how that itching makes you crazy and you can’t stop scratching? Well, imagine that happening over, and over, every single day. It would drive you crazy, wouldn’t it? That’s what a dog with fleas feels. That unbearable itching makes him scratch and bites his skin until it is raw.
Don’t let your dog suffer. Fortunately, there are many flea and tick prevention methods. And if your pet is already infested, there are special treatments that can get rid of those pests and let your dog enjoy life again.
How do I know when my dog has fleas?
- Scratching, biting, or licking – this is the most obvious sign that something is happening with your dog. Fleas like to live in hard to reach places, like the tail, armpits, or groin, and once they start biting your dog will start scratching to try to get rid of them
- Red skin – Some pets are allergic to the saliva in fleas, which can cause rashes that are quite visible.
- Gums that are pale or discolored – if the flea infestation is severe, they can cause anemia, since the red blood cells are not enough to replace the ones that are extracted by the parasites.
- Flea debris – they look like tiny specks of dirt, but it’s actually flea poop combined with digested blood.
How to get fleas off my dog?
Let’s take a look at some of the best flea and tick prevention and medication treatments. Choose the one you think is the best one for your needs, and remember to regularly take your pet to the vet for his usual check-ups.
Best Flea Treatment for Dogs
Best flea medicine for dogs
Novartis Capstar Flea Tablets for Dogs and Cats
These oral treatment pills work for dogs and cats and are available in two versions: one for animals from 2-25 lbs and another for larger 25lbs and above. One single dose of Capstar should get rid of all the adult fleas on your pet. If the fleas return, you can continue giving another dose once per day until they are all gone; the box contains 6 tablets.
It can be used on puppies and kittens as long as they are at least four weeks old and have a body weight of at least two pounds. You can use them safely with pets that are pregnant or breeding, and it starts to work in as little as 30 minutes. Using nitenpyram as an active ingredient, these pills interfere with the nerve system in the fleas without any effects on your pet.
Best flea collar for dogs
PremiumCare Flea and Tick Collar for Dogs
This collar not only kills fleas,
but also ticks, larvae, lice, and even mosquitos. It offers long-lasting protection for up to 8 months, working around the clock to get rid of any parasites. Once you put it on it will kill 95% of fleas and ticks in the next 24 hours.
The flea collar can be used with a regular dog collar and fits any size and breed of dog. Just adjust to fit the length you need and cut the rest off. It is also water-resistant and will keep being effective after you bathe your dog or play with him in water.
Best dog flea shampoo
Wahl Dog/Puppy Shampoo
If you want to get rid of fleas on your dog but don’t want him smelling like a walking hospital, then you need this flea shampoo. Its formula is based on natural ingredients like rosemary, cedar oil, and mint, designed to repel fleas and ticks. There are no harsh chemicals in it and leaves your pet’s coat clean and refreshed.
This flea shampoo is PEG-80 free, paraben free, and alcohol-free. The formula is concentrated, so you only need a small amount to make a rich, foamy lather from head to tail.
Best flea fogger
Bayer Animal Health Advantage Cleaning Spray
If the fleas are just all over the place, you might need to bomb them with a flea fogger. The Advantage Household Fogger will kill all adult and pre-adult fleas for up to 7 months, and it also gets rid of the flea eggs.
The box includes three 2-oz canisters, and each one can treat a room of about 16ft x 16 ft with an 8 ft ceiling, or about 2,000 cubic ft of unobstructed space. To use it, shake the canister well and keep it in an upright position. Press the release valve down firmly until it snaps into place and put the canister on a chair, desk, or any flat surface in the center of the room you are treating.
Vacate the house for at least a couple of hours for the fogger to do its job, and then ventilate the area well before letting kids and pets back inside.
Best flea killer for the yard
Vet’s Best Flea & Tick Yard & Kennel Spray
This spray kills by contact and eliminates fleas, their eggs, and ticks. It’s made with plant extracts, including peppermint oil and Eugenol from clove plants. The formula is powerful enough to even kill mosquitoes and has a pleasant smell with no added chemicals or fragrances. Getting rid of mosquitoes is important since they can transmit deadly diseases, including heartworm.
Designed to be used on outdoor lawns, kennels, patios, and turf, you can treat up to 4,500 sq. ft. First, shake the bottle well, then connect to a garden hose and turn on the water on slowly. Spray thoroughly from side to side and distribute the formula evenly over the desired targets. The formula is not known for being harmful to flowers, shrubs or trees.
Best topical flea treatment for dogs
Bayer K9 Advantix II Flea, Tick and Mosquito Prevention
This topical flea treatment contains permethrin as its main ingredient and kills and repels fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, lice, biting flies, flea eggs, and flea larvae. It is a veterinarian-recommended treatment and starts killing fleas within ten minutes of being applied. It is also waterproof and is effective for up to 30 days.
This specific box contains four monthly doses and is meant for medium dogs 11-20 lbs. You can find different versions to suit your specific dog, from small dogs starting at 4 lbs, to extra-large dogs over 55lbs, and in doses of 2,4, and 6 per box.
