Just as puppies grow considerably with each passing week, the most effective flea treatment for baby canines changes rapidly. Preventing fleas is the best way to keep them off very young puppies. Mother dogs should remain on flea preventives throughout their pregnancy. Some flea control products are safe for pregnant and lactating dogs, and your vet can advise you on which preventives to use. Once your puppy passes the 12-week mark, you can use most commercial flea preventives on him, but always consult your veterinarian beforehand.
Its not safe to use commercial flea treatments on very young puppies. The best way to remove fleas from puppies in their first few weeks of life is via a gentle, daily flea combing. Replace the bedding in the whelping box and vacuum your house thoroughly, removing the contents of the vacuum cleaner bag. If a puppy is severely infested, take him to the vet for treatment. A flea infestation can prove fatal to puppies, as the parasites might deplete so much blood from your puppy that he becomes anemic.
Puppies at least 4 weeks of age and weighing 2 pounds or more can receive Capstar
You can give puppies a daily tablet, but theres one important caveat. You must make sure your puppy weighs at least 2 pounds when receiving Capstar. Thats not the case in many month-old canines. Undersized puppies might suffer from serious side effects, including neurological problems. Dont give Capstar to a puppy showing any signs of illness, even if hes in the correct weight and age range.
Your vet might recommend a flea bath for puppies under the age of 6 weeks if the animal is heavily infested. Use only the product that your vet recommends, and use it only on your puppy. Some flea baths for puppies can be toxic to cats, and vice versa.
Start by washing each puppys neck, and be sure to get him wet down to the skin. Apply the shampoo around the puppys neck, then thoroughly scrub his neck area. This method helps to prevent the fleas from traveling up to the puppys eyes and ears, where its more difficult to wash. Once youve washed the puppys neck, you can proceed to wash the rest of his body.
After using the appropriate flea shampoo in a warm water bath, thoroughly towel dry the puppy. If necessary, use a hair dryer â not on the hot setting â to dry him. Its vital that the puppy stay warm, as its hard for him to regulate his body temperature and he easily could get sick.
At the age of 6 weeks, puppies can start receiving the prescription topical flea preventive Revolution, containing selamectin. This once-a-month drug also prevents roundworms and hookworms in your pup, along with ear mites and ticks. Its also a heartworm preventive, but 6-week-old puppies are generally too young for heartworm exposure. If your puppy remains on Revolution as he grows, he should stay heartworm-negative. Your vet will give your puppy a blood test prior to prescribing Revolution and will require an annual blood test thereafter to ensure hes heartworm-free.
Once a puppy reaches the age of 8 weeks, he can receive many commercial flea preventives, including over-the-counter and prescription medications. Frontline, containing (S)-methoprene and fipronil and available in topical or spray form, can be used on puppies of this age. It also controls ticks. The spray form can be used on puppies younger than 8 weeks, but check with your veterinarian before using it on a younger animal.
Always check with your veterinarian before changing your petâs diet, medication, or physical activity routines. This information is not a substitute for a vetâs opinion.
Product | Minimum Age | Frequency |
---|---|---|
Seresto | 7 weeks | 8 months |
Trifexis | 8 weeks | 1 month |
Vectra 3D | 8 weeks | Monthly |
Virbac Effitix Plus | 8 weeks | Monthly |
Once a puppy reaches the age of 8 weeks, he can receive many commercial flea preventives, including over-the-counter and prescription medications. Frontline, containing (S)-methoprene and fipronil and available in topical or spray form, can be used on puppies of this age. It also controls ticks. The spray form can be used on puppies younger than 8 weeks, but check with your veterinarian before using it on a younger animal.
Puppies at least 4 weeks of age and weighing 2 pounds or more can receive Capstar
Your vet might recommend a flea bath for puppies under the age of 6 weeks if the animal is heavily infested. Use only the product that your vet recommends, and use it only on your puppy. Some flea baths for puppies can be toxic to cats, and vice versa.
At the age of 6 weeks, puppies can start receiving the prescription topical flea preventive Revolution, containing selamectin. This once-a-month drug also prevents roundworms and hookworms in your pup, along with ear mites and ticks. Its also a heartworm preventive, but 6-week-old puppies are generally too young for heartworm exposure. If your puppy remains on Revolution as he grows, he should stay heartworm-negative. Your vet will give your puppy a blood test prior to prescribing Revolution and will require an annual blood test thereafter to ensure hes heartworm-free.
After using the appropriate flea shampoo in a warm water bath, thoroughly towel dry the puppy. If necessary, use a hair dryer â not on the hot setting â to dry him. Its vital that the puppy stay warm, as its hard for him to regulate his body temperature and he easily could get sick.
Other signs in puppies include restlessness, licking and biting at certain areas on the body and, in more extreme cases, a flea infestation can lead to dehydration and anaemia since puppies are smaller than adult dogs. This can appear as weight loss, lethargy and pale gums.
Comb one section at a time, parting your pup’s fur to get as close to the skin as possible. Start at the neck and work your way across the whole body.
You may also come across tiny black flecks, which look a bit like ground pepper. This is ‘flea dirt’, the name for flea faeces. It can help to place a piece of white paper under your pet when using the flea comb to make it easier to see the fleas and flea dirt you’re uncovering.
1 Information is regarding mode of action and is not intended to imply parasites can be completely stopped from biting
You’ll know when to use a flea treatment on your puppy because it will coincide with them venturing outside for the first time – usually from two months of age. Puppies aren’t usually at risk of catching fleas until they step into the great outdoors.
Advantage is a spot-on flea preventive applied directly to your pup’s skin. It provides comprehensive flea protection by killing adult fleas on your pup and flea larvae in their surroundings. The active ingredient can kill fleas through contact, which means fleas don’t have to bite your pet for the treatment to work. Advantage kills fleas already on your pet within 12 hours of application, and can then kill reinfesting fleas within just 1 hour.
Whilst puppies are still with their mothers, treat the mother with Advantage. Because of the close contact and suckling between mother and pup, the puppies are also protected from fleas. Once the puppy is weaned, and taken away from mum, start monthly treatment with Advantage®. Advantage can safely be used to treat weaned puppies of any age.
Advocate, Advantix and the Seresto collar have the same super flea killing ingredient as Advantage, but they also do more. Advocate treats for fleas, heartworm and intestinal worms, Advantix for fleas, ticks and biting insects and Seresto for fleas and ticks. Have a look at the product information for these treatments, or call our Customer Care line – 1800 678 368 to help decide which is best for your puppy to combat the parasites where you live.
Additionally, if many fleas are present, very young puppies can become anaemic due to blood lost to fleas, and that can, in extreme cases, prove fatal.
Administering a flea treatment is a great way to deal with fleas if they have already taken hold. Keep in mind, however, that using some flea treatments on too young a puppy can be harmful. Learn how to use these treatments properly to effectively protect your puppy against fleas.
FAQ
When can you start treating puppies for fleas?
Can 8 week old puppies have fleas?
How do you get rid of fleas on puppies less than 8 weeks?
What is a safe flea treatment for puppies?