Best Flea Treatment for Dogs
Dogs can easily get fleas, and these fleas can result in severe issues like anemia, tapeworm, and dermatitis. You have to prevent your dog from these invasive bugs. Along with fleas, ticks can also be dangerous for dogs and dog owners. The good news is many products supply the best flea treatment for dogs available in the market.
If your dog has got fleas, try to get rid of them as soon as possible. Fleas can result in irritation, hair loss, and itching. Some dogs have sensitive skin to experience severe skin allergies and infections from just one flea bite. Fleas are dangerous for humans as well. This article will discuss the best flea treatment for dogs. Moreover, we will discuss the best prevention approaches.
When you are a new dog owner, and you don’t know much about the best dog products, you can get confused by looking at multiple products available in the market. This buying guide will help you to choose the best flea treatment for dogs. Moreover, we will provide you the helpful products for flea prevention in the future. One thing is for sure that you can’t take fleas lightly because they can result in minor irritation to a deadly disease. Whenever you identify your dog has got fleas, take immediate action, and get rid of fleas before converting them to a fatal disease.
Types of Best Flea Treatment for Dogs and Prevention Products
There are lots of different options available in the market. Some can help treat fleas, and some are for fleas’ prevention.
Flea Shampoos
It is an ideal choice to kill fleas that are currently present on your dog.
Flea Sprays
These products are frequently applied to the skin and coat of your dog. This treatment method is less effective as compared to other treatment methods.
Flea Collars
These collars are worn around the dog’s neck, and they deliver preventive medication to the skin and coat of your dog.
Topical Preventives
These products are typically applied in one spot. For better results, apply the product on the back of the neck d only once a month.
Flea Pills
Dogs have to take flea pills by mouth. These flea pills are an effective treatment for killing fleas.
Best Flea Treatment for Dogs
As mentioned earlier, there are plenty of options available in the market, so this buying guide will help you choose the best flea treatment product for your dog.
Frontline Plus
It is the most effective flea treatment product, helping to kill both ticks and fleas at all life stages. Frontline Plus is a topical treatment form, and it is the fact-acting solution that is available in liquid form, and you need to apply it once a month for flea treatment and protection.
Pros
- The safest and effective option
- Easy to use
- It kills fleas and ticks
- It provides 30 days protection against reinfestation
- Safe to use for nursing and pregnant dogs
Cons
- A more expensive product than other tropical options
- Not ideal for puppies under eight weeks of age or under 5 pounds
It is the best flea treatment product for dogs.
Seresto Flea and Tick Collar
It protects against fleas and ticks. A good thing about this product is that you don’t have to apply this monthly. Only one-time use of this product can provide eight months of protection. Seresto has powerful ingredients and can be spread in low concentration in your dog’s hair and skin.
Pros
- Two-way release safety feature
- Easy to use because of its non-greasy nature
- Water-resistant
- Easy to wear and comfortable
Cons
- It isn’t ideal for puppies under 18 pounds or less than seven weeks of age.
- Never combined with other flea prevention products.
So, if you want long-lasting protection, it is the best option.
Natural Flea and Tick Dog Shampoo
When your dogs get fleas, bath them with this shampoo because flea shampoo can clean the dog’s coat and kill fleas. It is useful for all life stages and repels ticks, fleas, and larvae for seven days. It contains natural active ingredients.
Pros
- It doesn’t contain insecticides like pyrethrins
- Won’t wash away on bathing
- It is safe for adult dogs
Cons
- It isn’t recommended for cats
- You can’t use it for puppies under 12 weeks of age.
It is the best product made of natural ingredients, so it is safe to use for dogs with sensitive skin.
Zuba Flea and Tick Spray
It is an effective and fast-acting solution for adult fleas. It is effective and safe to use on a dog’s bedding and other household surfaces. This product’s beauty is that it is made of natural and organic ingredients and free from chemicals. Moreover, it protects against ticks, mosquito bites, and fleas.
Pros
- Includes natural ingredients, so safe for use around children
- Easy to apply
- Only a gentle massage into a dog’s coat can produce significant results
- Chemical-free and pleasant smell
Cons
- Not useful for long-haired dogs. Moreover, it is not an ideal choice for cats.
Novartis Capstar Flea Tablets
After trying flea collars, flea shampoos, and flea sprays, if results are still not satisfying, try oral medications. Flea pills are an effective solution and can help kill fleas in less than 30 minutes. The specialty of these tablets is that no prescription is required for their use. It is the most effective and fast-acting solution for killing fleas.
Pros
- Useful for dogs with flea allergies
- It contains active ingredients but has no adverse effects on dogs
- Quick solution for killing fleas
Cons
- Not recommended for puppies less than two pounds and under four weeks of age
- When this treatment is used for optimum results, it may cause negative reactions.
It is an effective oral treatment method for fleas.
Buying Guide
Important Things to Consider When Buying the Best Flea Treatment for Dogs
Many new dog owners lose lots of money because they don’t know much about the best dog products. Whenever you visit an online store or local market, you see lots of flea treatment options for dogs, and you get confused. You don’t know the best flea treatment method for dogs. This buying guide will help you make decisions regarding picking the best products for flea treatment.
Topical or Oral Treatments
The two best flea treatment methods for dogs are topical and oral. Topical treatments are available in concentrated liquid form. Liquids are applied to your dog’s skin for flea treatment and prevention. Sometimes, you will have to wait for months to see results, but they provide long-lasting protection.
On the other hand, most oral treatments are in the form of a tablet and contain insecticides. These insecticides travel into your dog’s bloodstream, and when fleas try to bite your dog, they ingest insecticides and got killed. Oral treatment is best for fast controlling of infestation and lasts for around 24 hours.
Protection Period
Another essential thing to consider while selecting the best flea treatment for dogs is the protection period. Always read the label provided by the manufacturer to check the protection period. It is essential to read the label because topical treatment products offer protection for up to a month, and oral treatment provides only short-term protection.
Waterproof
After reading each treatment method’s pros and cons, if you have decided to buy a topical treatment product, then ensure that the product you have chosen is water-proof. It will ensure that the product doesn’t wash away on bathing.
Safety
Never decide in a hurry and spend some time on finding safe and effective products for flea treatment. The best way to identify the effectiveness and safety is by reading the ingredients list. Research more about the ingredients? If you want to purchase products online, like Amazon, you can read the buyer’s reviews. Moreover, you can ask for vet help to choose safe and effective products for your dog.
FAQs About the Best Flea Treatment for Dogs
Q: How Does Flea Medicine Work?
Answer: Flea treatment medicines are used to kill fleas and ticks. Most products contain natural ingredients that repel adult fleas and larvae. Oral treatments contain some insecticides that travel into the bloodstream. So, both oral and topical treatment approaches kill fleas without having any side effects.
Q: Which Flea Medicine Is Best?
Answer: People want to know whether they should choose oral or topical medicines for their dogs. The best answer is that oral medication is the best option if you want a fast and rapid solution. On the other hand, topical medication is best for long-term protection against fleas.
Q: Can We Use Vinegar to Get Rid of Fleas?
Answer: Yes, if you want to use a natural product for flea control, then you can use vinegar as well. Fleas avoid the strong smell, and vinegar contains acetic acid to be an effective solution. You can use vinegar, but it’s not as effective as the other commercial products are. Moreover, vinegar can dry the dog’s skin and irritate.
Q: What Is Another Home Remedy for Killing Fleas on Dogs?
Answer: You can mix baking soda with salt to get rid of fleas. You can apply this solution to carpets and furniture to get good results. Please avoid using this on a dog’s skin because, like vinegar, it will dry the dog’s skin and results in skin irritation.
Q: What Are the Benefits of Flea Tablets?
Answer: There are lots of benefits of flea tablets. Some major benefits are given below:
- More effective and fast solution than other topical treatment forms.
- Tablets contain active ingredients actively absorbed into the bloodstream, so when fleas bite dogs, they ingest insecticides and die.
- Easy and convenient to use.
- The effectiveness of the tablets depends on brands.
Conclusion
Dogs can get fleas at any time, and as a dog owner, you want to find out the best flea treatment for dogs. Don’t get confused when you visit an online store or a local market, as this buying guide is sharing enough information to choose the best medicine for flea treatment. We have tried to cover all the options in detail to decide after reading this guide.
Different products react differently and protect for different time periods. It depends on you which treatment method you want to choose for your dog. Some products are effective for short-term treatment, and some provide up to eight months of protection against fleas. All the products we have discussed in this article are made of organic and natural ingredients. It means that all the products are safe to use without any side effects.
Moreover, we have covered frequently asked questions to clear all your queries. FAQs will clarify your mind regarding commercial products and home remedies for flea treatment. Indeed, commercial products are safe to use and more effective solutions than home remedies. So, you can choose any of the mentioned above products according to your needs and budget. All the products are safe to use, so don’t worry about the negative effects. If the problem is severe, then visit the vet before starting any medication.
