Fleas are one of the most common problems in households raising dogs. And it is an extremely annoying problem, not just for our pets but for us as well. A lot of people ask, “Can humans get fleas?” Well, fleas are blood-sucking insects and humans are warm-blooded animals so fleas do bite humans. However, these small suckers cannot last long on a human body because of our lack of body hair, whereas it thrives in dark, moist, and warm areas like a dog’s fur, which is why they infest dogs a lot.
If you have been bitten by a flea, you can imagine the sting and itchiness it brings. If your dog is infested with fleas, imagine how tough life must be for him as hundreds of those creatures crawl on his body and bite him. When you see your dog with flea bites, it is important to address this problem as soon as it is discovered.
Here are a few ideas from PetMD.com on how to handle fleas in dogs.
Best Dog Flea Treatments we found are:
Oral and Topical Flea Control
This dog flea treatment has proven to be some of the fastest ways to rid your pet of fleas. However, what you use should depend on what your dog needs or is comfortable with. Oral treatment involves ingesting a dog flea pill or chewable, whereas topical treatment (also known as spot-on treatment) involves applying medication on your dog’s hair between the shoulder blades so your dog cannot lick it off. Talk to your vet for advice on which one to get.
Prescription Flea Medications
Prescription treatments present one of the best ways to kill fleas fast. Bravecto (fluralaner) begins to kill fleas within two hours and lasts three months. Products containing spinosad such as Comfortis and Trifexis begin to work within 30 minutes and last for one month. Since these products are prescription treatments, you have to get your veterinarian’s prescription.
Different products have different usages and effects. Some products do not harm adult fleas but instead prevent their eggs from hatching, thus breaking the life cycle of the flea. If the fleas are not able to reproduce, their population will eventually dissipate as long as your dog is not coming in contact with new fleas continually.
Non-Prescription Medication
There are products that help treat fleas without needing a prescription. The downside, however, is these may be less effective in killing fleas. These products include flea shampoos, flea powders, flea sprays, flea collars, oral flea treatment, and spot-on products. There are many cases wherein dog flea and tick is still found on the pet even after using these products. However, there are also some products that get good reviews from pet parents.
There is no best dog flea treatment. You just have to find out which one works best for your dog.
Read the full article here for more information on how to handle dog fleas and ticks.