Both NexGard and Frontline kill fleas at all life stages, plus ticks. Both treatments have their advantages. There are several Frontline products: Shield, Plus, and Gold. Our top choice for an OTC flea preventive is Frontline Plus, which also protects against chewing lice and helps control sarcoptic mange infestations.
An oral fast-acting tablet that contains Nitenpyram is the safest way to kill fleas on dogs instantly. You can also bathe your dog in hot soapy water with Dawn to kill adult fleas, but this is not a good long-term solution.
1. Best Overall: Frontline Plus Topical Treatment. The most frequently recommended is a topical treatment.
His recommendations: Bravecto, NexGard and Simparica. Each of these come in chewable form and can be ordered through your vet or online through Chewy.com, which collects your pet's prescription information upon checkout.
BRAVECTO Spot On is our pick for the best flea and tick treatment for dogs. It has a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars on Pet Circle. BRAVECTO Spot On is a topical flea and tick treatment that treats and prevents flea and paralysis ticks for up to 6 months. It also helps control brown dog ticks and flea allergy dermatitis.
A study published in Veterinary Parasitology seems to back up the veterinarians and flea product makers. The ninety-day study found that topicals were 88.4 percent effective, while oral treatments were 99.9 percent effective. There were 128 dogs from five states involved in the study.
Just lukewarm water, or water and a mild soap, can help get fleas off your pet's fur and skin. The dish soap can help to drown adult fleas. If you're thinking about using a flea shampoo or something similar, talk to your veterinarian first. It can strip oils from your pet's fur and dry out their skin.
In order to get rid of fleas in all stages of the life cycle, two or more follow-up treatments within 5-10 days after the first application are needed. Additionally, vacuuming and sanitation practices should be ongoing throughout this period to pick up all remaining eggs and juvenile fleas.
But you're unlikely to need to see an emergency vet unless your pet has a severe case of flea allergy dermatitis or is very young, old or weak or is at risk of flea-related anaemia. Here are some tips to help rid your pet and your home of these nasty parasites. What you'll need: A fine-toothed flea comb.
You do not need a prescription for most topical flea and tick medications, including spot-on treatments, a Seresto collar, or flea and tick shampoo. 3. Prescription flea and tick medications may use more potent ingredients.
Over-the-counter flea treatments are effective, but it ultimately depends on the product. For example, Capstar is up to 90% effective at killing adult fleas.
The major difference between these two is the accessibility. Frontline Plus is available over the counter while Nexgard requires a prescription. With that said, the results of Nexgard are faster acting with a 24 hour turn around for ticks and four hours for fleas, giving your pet faster relief.
Apple cider vinegar can't kill fleas, but it can help to repel them. Fleas don't like the smell or taste of it, so they're likely to avoid your pet if they have it on their fur. Dilute apple cider vinegar in water and add it to a spray bottle.
Citronella, eucalyptus, peppermint, tea tree, and rosemary will all naturally repel fleas. If your dog doesn't mind a spray bottle, dilute a few drops of your chosen essential oil into a 300ml-400ml of water and spray directly onto your dog's coat.
Yes, Dawn dish soap effectively kills fleas and their eggs on dogs. Dip your flea comb into a bowl of soapy water with each pass to ensure the fleas are killed. What is the best homemade flea killer? The best homemade flea killer is a simple apple cider vinegar and water mixture (6:4 ratio).
You shouldn't need to use flea shampoo unless your dog has an active flea infestation. But if that's the case, you can wash your dog 1-2 times a week, but not long term.
How does my dog keep getting fleas? If your dog is constantly being reinfested with fleas after treatment, it is most likely there is an environmental infestation in or around your house. The adult fleas we see on pets represent only 5% of the total population. The other 95% are immature stages in the environment.
When it has a host, an adult flea can live about 100 days. But how long can they live without a host? Those fleas typically live only one to two weeks. The entire lifespan of a flea, from egg to adulthood, can last a few weeks or even a few months.
While Apple Cider Vinegar does not kill fleas, it may repel them because fleas dislike its smell and taste. One of the most simple ways to use this natural flea repellent is to make a solution out of equal parts apple cider vinegar and water.
Fleas generally cannot live in human hair. While most species prefer to live on the furs of animals, they can use humans as temporary vectors. In such cases, fleas can infest and bite humans. You may get infected if there is a serious case of flea infestation in your environment.
Even when treated with a suitable flea control product such a Frontline Plus, Advantage etc it is still possible for your pet to pick up new fleas from the outside environment or other animals. Flea eggs and larvae can also be brought into the home on shoes or clothing.
Treat your pet's flea infestation with Comfortis, the #1 recommended prescription flea-only medication. Comfortis is the FDA-approved chewable, beef-flavored tablet that kills fleas and prevents flea infestations on dogs and cats for a full month.
Spot-on flea treatments are only effective when applied directly to your pet's skin, not the surrounding fur. This can be a little tricky with longer-haired species, but it's important you make sure you can see your pet's skin before attempting to apply a spot-on.