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Fleas happen. It is a fact of life for any pet owner. You are not a bad pet parent if your dog gets fleas, but knowing what kills fleas on dogs instantly can be beneficial. Some remedies are quick and easy, while others are more hands-on and labor-intensive. After using any product that kills fleas on dogs instantly, using an appropriate maintenance deterrent is equally important. Wading through all the products on the market can be daunting, but knowing the facts can make it an easy choice. Commercial Products from Your VeterinarianYou should always seek the recommendations of a veterinarian before starting any flea control program. They are trained to help you keep your pet safe and healthy and will help you develop a flea treatment program. Treatment plans usually include an initial treatment to kill existing fleas, followed by a regimen to keep fleas from bothering your dog. The most common product used to kill fleas on dogs instantly is Nitenpyram, more commonly known as Capstar. This single-use tablet is administered orally and kills fleas within 30 minutes. It is recommended that you contain your pet in a small area when using Capstar. A sheet or blanket your pet can lay on will catch the fleas as they drop off making cleanup easier. Capstar is very effective and available from your vet or without a prescription at many online pet supply outlets. Your vet may recommend bathing with special flea shampoos, which will also kill fleas instantly. A good bath is followed by combing with specially designed flea combs to remove any remaining eggs. Also available from your vet is lufenuron, which is an insect development inhibitor. Given monthly in pill form it does not kill adult fleas, but does prevent reproduction. Natural and Over-the-Counter Products for MaintenanceFollowing a flea treatment, your dog will need a maintenance product to keep the fleas away. These might include collars, drops, powders, shampoos, or a combination. Many pet owners select natural options for this task. Products such as vitamin B, brewer’s yeast, and garlic have not been tested for effectiveness. If you do opt for natural deterrents, be aware that your results may not live up to claims you see on the internet. Flea drops are applied directly to your pet’s skin. Through natural movement, the active ingredients are dispersed to maintain effectiveness. Most drops are good to kill adult ticks and fleas and include a development inhibitor to prohibit eggs and larvae from developing. Spot-On Bug Off contains Permethrin and Pyriproxyfen, which effectively control fleas. If you find it difficult to work with drops, you may opt for a flea collar for your pet. The rated effectiveness of collars varies from 30 days up to one year, depending on the manufacturer and active ingredients. Collar-Me-Tickless is a good example of a mid-range product, providing up to six months of active protection for your best friend. Continued Protection for Your PetWhether you have a major flea problem or a minor one, treating it promptly will keep both you and your pet happier and healthier. Follow the instructions from your veterinarian and product usage guidelines. Your pet depends on you. Medically reviewed by Vincent J. Tavella DVM, MPH — Written by Daniela Ginta and Donald Collins — Updated on February 22, 2022 Fleas are some of the most annoying pests to deal with. They’re small, jumpy, and multiply quickly. Pets can pick up fleas from being outside in nature, around other animals, or when humans track in the insects on our shoes or clothes. Excessive itching and scratching is a telltale sign your pet may have fleas. You may even spot the little acrobats. On average, fleas are 2-4 millimeters long, making them visible to the naked eye. If your family pet has fleas, it’s likely that your yard and house will become a breeding ground. Acting quickly is key to preventing spread. A flea infestation can test your patience and require persistence. But you can eradicate the problem with a combination of cleaning methods, sprays, and pet-friendly topical medications among other options. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the life cycle of the flea depends on a lot on environmental conditions. Fleas flourish in warm climates and usually (but not always) die in the winter season. Flea eggs are small but can be seen if you’re looking closely. They are smooth and white or light in color. A single adult female flea can produce up to 2,000 eggs in her lifetime. These eggs may be laid in your pet’s fur, deep in the carpet, or in tall grass. In ideal conditions, fleas will evolve from egg to adult within 2 to 3 weeks. Adult fleas can live up to 100 days. Fleas are ready to feed within a day of hatching, and begin to suck blood within 10 seconds of landing on a host. If the weather isn’t ideal and there isn’t a host to feed on, flea larvae may remain dormant for months while waiting for better conditions to develop. This is a key reason dealing with infestations can be so difficult. The length of time required to get rid of a flea infestation depends on your environment, and how long the fleas have been there. Prompt cleaning and using topical flea medications for your pet may get rid of the majority of fleas within a day or two. However, it can take days to weeks for all the fleas present in an environment to die, even with the most conscientious approach. Fleas lay a lot of eggs very quickly, and some fleas have developed resistance to medications and insecticides. If you have a large property or multiple pets with fleas, it may take longer to get rid of the problem. The key to handling fleas is persistence. If your pet is a walking carrier of mature fleas, your home can become the nursery. Since the flea has multiple life stages (egg, larvae, cocoon, adult), when adult fleas are present, it is assumed all of these stages are also present throughout your house. This means that you have to tackle the problem from all angles in order to truly eradicate the infestation. To do this, you must treat your pet and its living environment at the same time. Depending on your pet’s boundaries, this may include your whole house or yard. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends the following cleaning approaches:
The advent of topical flea treatments for pets have made insecticides pretty outdated. Topical prescriptions stop or augment the flea’s reproductive cycle and rapidly kill an infestation. If you do aim to use an insecticide or other chemical cleaning treatment, please proceed with caution. Many are toxic to humans, pets, and the environment. Here are some tips:
The best way to eliminate fleas from your yard is to think about where they’re most like to hide. Fleas love places that are: Direct sun-exposed areas can get too hot, so you probably won’t find many fleas there. Problem areas will likely be found by observing where your pet likes to lie down. Once you have your target zones, here’s what you can do to eliminate the fleas:
If you know there is a flea infestation on your property, it may be wise to limit your pet’s time playing on the lawn until the problem is under control. For some pets, like cats, it may be advisable to keep them indoors only. If you suspect that your pet has fleas, you should act fast to prevent them from spreading. You may be able to see the insects hopping around on your pet’s fur, but sometimes a closer look is needed. A flea comb may reveal adult fleas or their eggs. Dabbing around with a wet cloth on your pet or its bedding can show flea dirt (flea waste that will appear as bloody specks). A flea infestation usually requires a combination of tactics. Even if you use a topical flea medication or spray, you still need to continue cleaning. Fleas lay a lot of eggs, and the cycle can start over if you aren’t vigilant.
Flea collars can be highly toxic and irritate your pet’s skin. Avoid them when possible! While many vet-approved or prescribed sprays and topicals are considered safe, some pets may still be sensitive to their ingredients. Stop any treatment if you notice that it’s causing irritation to your pet’s skin, or another kind of allergic response. Inform your vet if your pet has any known sensitivities to medications or ingredients. Going up against a flea infestation can seem overwhelming, but there’s plenty of tools at your disposal. You can kill fleas on contact and interrupt their reproductive cycles if you act fast. This includes vacuuming and doing laundry at high heat, keeping your yard neat, and treating your pet with a topical anti-flea ointment. The most important thing to remember is that you must treat your home, yard, and pet at the same time. A combination approach works best to eradicate fleas and prevent future infestations. Last medically reviewed on February 22, 2022 |