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The suitable flea treatment for puppies depends on the age and the weight of your pup; it’s no brainer that the majority of commercial flea preventives are not safe for baby canines; hence, the best way to keep your puppy flea-free is to prevent these parasites in the first place.
Flea bites can cause constant itching and scratching for your pup, which is uncomfortable, not to mention that a severe flea infestation can lead to anemia and hot spots.
Flea and Tick Medications for Puppies
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Best Overall Capstar Fast-Acting Oral Treatment
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Best Overall Seresto Flea Collar For Puppies
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Top Pick Royal Canine Dog Food For Small Dogs
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Top Pick K9 Advantix II Puppy Flea Medicine
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Top Pick Frontline Plus Flea And Tick Treatment
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Top Pick Sentry FiproGuard For flea treatment
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Top Pick VECTRA 3D Gold puppy flea medicine
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Top Pick Adam Plus Flea Shampoo For Puppies
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Talk to your vet before you buy a flea medicine for your little pup, your vet will take into consideration the age and weight of your dog and recommend a safe treatment.
Capstar Fast-acting oral treatment
- Starts killing within 30 minutes
- Available without a prescription
- Kills fleas within 30 minutes
- Quick relief for your dog
The best way to treat fleas on puppies that weighs 2 pounds or more and are at least four weeks old is by using Capstar.
Capstar is a potent flea removal product; this over-the-counter product contains an active ingredient called nitenpyram, which starts working after only half-hour of consumption.
Capstar paralyzes the flea’s nervous system and kills them instantly. However, it only lasts for 48 hours, that’s why your puppy must consume the flea medicine continuously until all fleas are gone.
Note:
- Your puppy must weigh at least 2 pounds when consuming Capstar tablets.
- Undersized puppies might suffer from adverse reactions, including neurological conditions.
- Don’t give Capstar to your puppy if he is showing any signs of sickness, even if his age and weight are suitable for the flea treatment.
Seresto Flea collar for puppies
- 8 months flea and tick prevention
- Works through contact.
- Odorless, non greasy
- Vet recommended
Most veterinarians do not recommend using flea collars for puppies.
However, the seresto collar may be an exception since it is designed to release the active chemicals (imidacloprid and flumethrin) slowly.
This product may help stop flea larvae from sloughing. Seresto is potent against fleas and ticks, and it can be active for up to 8 months.
Seresto flea collar can be used on a puppy as young as 7 seven weeks old. Talk to your veterinarian before considering this option.
Bayer Advantage II Flea treatment For Puppies
- Kills fleas in multiple life stages
- starts working within 12 hours
- Easy to apply flea treatment
- vet recommended
This is one of the best flea control for puppies weighs at least 3 pounds; it contains two active ingredients, one that eliminates adult fleas, and the second one prevents young fleas from maturing and growing.
K9 Advantix II puppy flea medicine
- Topical tick and flea control for puppies
- 6 monthly applications
- easy to apply
- Veterinarian recommended
This product is one of the most popular flea treatments on the market for puppies weighs at least 4 pounds.
Bayer K9 Advantix has reached an excellent reputation because it actually works, and little puppies barely react when it is applied to their coat.
Unlike other flea preventives, once you apply K9 Advantix II, you will notice astonishing results and insignificant side effects within a few hours.
Once your puppy is eight weeks old, he is more likely to receive most of the commercial flea treatments and over-the-counter flea medicine.
Frontline Plus Flea and Tick Treatment for Dogs
- Safe For puppies 8 weeks and older
- Fast-acting, long-lasting
- Easy to apply
- Waterproof
The most effective and well-known flea treatment for puppies at this age is Frontline, the active ingredients are (S)-methoprene and fipronil.
Frontline for puppies is effective, it kills adult fleas and ticks, and it keeps your fur friend flea-free for an extended period.
Sentry FiproGuard For Small Dogs
- Harmless For puppies over 8 weeks of age.
- Protection against fleas, ticks and lice
- Effective, affordable
- 30 Days protection
Sentry FiproGuard provides effective and affordable protection against fleas, ticks, and chewing lice that last for 30 days.
This waterproof flea treatment can be used on puppies 8 weeks and older, it can also be used on pregnant and lactating dogs.
Just like Frontline plus, the active ingredient is Fipronil; This fast-acting element breaks the cycle of flea life by killing flea eggs and larvae and removing ticks that can transmit Lyme disease.
VECTRA 3D Gold for Extra Small Dogs
- Can be used on puppies 8 weeks and older.
- Kills fleas in 6 hours
- Long Lasting, quick drying
- Prevents re-infestation
Vectra 3D for Dogs is a potent topical treatment that works to eliminate fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, and mites. The active ingredients in this flea medicine are permethrin, dinotefuran, and pyriproxyfen. They are effective at killing fleas as they land on your pet.
The insect growth regulator blocks the development of the flea eggs, which breaks the life cycle of these parasites.
Adam Plus Flea shampoo for puppies
- protects from flea infestation for 30 days
- cleanses and deodorizes your pet's coat
- Breaks the flea life cycle
- Safe for puppies
Treating a puppy with flea shampoo is out of the question for puppies under 12 weeks.
However, once your little pup reaches 12 weeks or older, there are some safe to use shampoos for puppies that effectively kills fleas, ticks, flea eggs and larvae
One of the best flea shampoo for puppies in the market is Adams plus Flea & Tick Shampoo.
When applied as guided, your pup will be protected for 30 days after just one bath.
What makes this product suitable for puppies is the sensitive skin formula with soothing aloe, coconut extract, oatmeal, and lanolin.
How To Get Rid Of fleas On Puppies
Since the majority of topical flea treatments are unsafe for puppies 8 weeks and younger, Dr.Dryden recommends looking for non-chemical alternatives, such as flea combs, soothing shampoos, and other grooming tools.
Home remedies and natural flea treatments are much safer for little pups.
Indeed, these types of treatments are not 100% effective, but they will not cause any harm to your pup because they don’t contain insecticides and harmful chemicals.
In most cases, your vet will recommend a topical natural remedy or oral medicine; they are both practical and suitable.
Combing
It’s tough to deal with fleas on young puppies since you can’t use any commercial flea treatments. However, the best way to get rid of fleas on new born puppies is using daily, gentle flea combing.
Also, make sure to replace the bedding in the whelping box and clean your house thoroughly with a flea vacuum cleaner, make sure to vacuum carpets, rugs, beddings and anywhere you suspect that it contains adult fleas or flea eggs.
Bathing
Puppies and kittens are more sensitive to anti-flea products, especially to those available commercially.
Unfortunately, you can’t wait for them to grow up because fleas can be fatal for babies.
The best way to approach the problem is through bathing.
Use dishwasher soap to deal with your pup’s fleas, making sure that the animal is thoroughly washed.
Use lukewarm water for the job so that your pooch wouldn’t protest too much.
Flea bites can be fatal for puppies, as the parasites can such a large amount of blood from your little pooch that he starts suffering from anemia, if your puppy is severely infested with fleas, take him to the veterinarian for treatment.
Flea prevention for puppies
Fleas barely live on their hosts. They spend most of their time in your carpets and beds.
Treating the puppies without addressing the environment is useless.
As your pup grows, you can start using flea pills for dogs that can prevent flea’s infestations effectively.
Clean your house thoroughly and remove any eggs or larvae buried in your rugs, matting, carpets, and furniture.
Use a powerful Vacuum cleaner on your furniture that has upholstery or stuffing, once you’re done, throw the vacuum bag outside immediately.
To eliminate flea and flea larvae effectively, Use hot soapy water to wash your bed covers, as well as your dog’s bedding.
Final Thoughts
Newborn puppies are the perfect host for fleas to get fed and lay their eggs.
Fleas can be a source of distress as they make the fur of our beloved puppies itchy and irritated.
In some severe cases, due to blood loss caused by these pesky parasites, the puppy may get anemic.
Unfortunately, it can be a bit tricky for young puppies to get rid of fleas because their bodies are not prepared to handle powerful pesticides that can be found in the majority of anti-flea products.
The removal of the fleas involves keeping the puppy clean while treating the mother and any bedding or soft furnishing the puppy has access to.
If newborn puppies have fleas, chances are the mother is Infested too. And therefore, the mother should be treated to avoid reinfecting the young puppies
Please be aware that if other animals in the house are in contact with the mother dog, or the puppy, they must also be treated.
We use only prescription drugs, prevent over-the-counter, or “natural” drugs.
It’s vital to be careful about the product you chose for treating fleas on the mother, especially If she still provides milk to her puppies, as certain chemicals may be transmitted through the milk and lead to severe illness for the young puppies.
Therefore, it is crucial that you use prescribed medicines created for lactating mothers.
Last update on 2024-12-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API