What to do if your dog has fleas

It can be very upsetting to discover fleas on your dog. Luckily, you can effectively eliminate fleas by using the right method. Veterinary professionals can get you off to the right start by helping you choose a flea product that is safe and effective, and that fits your unique needs. They can also make sure you know how to use them properly so you don’t waste time and money on products and strategies that do not work. To get control of your dog’s fleas, it’s important to:

• Treat all pets with a veterinary-recommended flea product
• Follow a flea-treatment plan developed with a vet
• Use ongoing vet-recommended flea prevention to keep your dog protected all year round

Dogs can pick up fleas easily and carry them indoors. Flea eggs fall from infested pets into the environment, where they can spread through the home and to other pets. Using a vet-recommended flea treatment prevents owners from wasting time and money on treatment strategies that do not work. Cleaning the home, grooming your dog, and maintaining the yard can help with fleas, but the real key to getting rid of fleas is using a vet-recommended flea-control product correctly on every at-risk pet in your household. Properly treating your pets for fleas will not only prevent them from getting flea bites and reduce the risk of flea-related health complications but also help protect you and other people in the home. An online veterinary professional can help by offering advice on a safe and effective flea product that fits your specific needs.

Getting rid of your dog’s fleas works best when you:

• Have guidance from a veterinary professional
• Rely on vet-recommended flea products and use them as directed
• Stay consistent with the treatment plan provided

Treating a flea infestation takes at least three months because of the way fleas reproduce and how each stage of their life cycle responds to the treatment. Working with a veterinarian can help you avoid common pitfalls, such as:

• Choosing flea products that are ineffective or unsafe
• Using flea products incorrectly
• Not treating all pets in the household

If you see fleas on one pet, all other mammalian pets in the household need to be treated for fleas as well, even if you don’t see obvious signs of fleas on them. Only mammals get fleas, so treatment is only necessary for mammalian pets, such as dogs, cats, and rabbits. Since the most effective approach for a multi-pet household depends on several factors, it’s best to talk to a vet to find the right plan.

Veterinary guidance matters

Flea treatment isn’t one-size-fits-all. Vets consider a dog’s age, body weight, overall health, and environment, including the presence of other pets or children in the household, when creating a safe, effective plan tailored to your family’s needs. Unproven or unsafe flea-treatment methods can put your dog or other pets at risk of toxicity as well as flea-related health problems. Vets can guide you in treating your dog, your other pets, and your home, since addressing all three is key to making sure fleas are gone and don’t return.

Using recommended products exactly as directed

Working with a veterinary professional as soon as you notice your dog has fleas will help you avoid wasting time and money on ineffective treatments. Many over-the-counter (OTC) treatments or natural remedies lack scientific evidence proving their effectiveness and some may even be unsafe for your dog or for other pets in the home. A vet-recommended approach will work, killing adult fleas and preventing the development of flea eggs, larvae, and pupae. Without professional guidance, finding the right product can be difficult, leading to infestations being prolonged.

In addition to choosing the right flea-control product, it’s also important to use that product correctly. A vet can explain how to apply the product, how often to apply it, and the correct dose for your dog to ensure the treatment is effective and to reduce the risk of resistance, misuse, or the product simply not working as it should. Even an effective product will not work if it’s not used correctly.

Working with a vet will ensure you avoid common mistakes, such as:

• Choosing a product that’s not backed by scientific evidence
• Applying or administering a product incorrectly
• Being late with doses
• Not treating your pet long enough

Continuing treatment for the right length of time

Even though the most effective flea-treatment products work quickly and kill nearly all of the adult fleas that bite a treated pet, it’s important to continue treatment for a minimum of three months to fully eradicate an infestation.

Treatment targets adults, which only make up 1–5 percent of the entire flea population. Treatments are not very effective against the well-protected eggs and pupae that, along with the larvae, make up the other 90–95 percent of the population, which is why treatment needs to be repeated on schedule as the eggs, larvae, and pupae mature into adults. As well, in most cases, pets are re-exposed to fleas, so they are likely to return when treatment is stopped.

While the correct use of vet-recommended flea-treatment products is the key to eliminating an infestation, additional management strategies may also help, such as:

• Regularly and thoroughly cleaning the home to help reduce the indoor flea population
• Routinely grooming of pets to help remove adult fleas and flea dirt
• Applying pet-safe treatments to the yard and home to decrease the number of fleas in the environment

These strategies alone are not effective in managing a flea infestation and only work when combined with the appropriate use of a vet-recommended flea treatment on all at-risk pets in the home.

Thoroughly cleaning the home

As part of your treatment strategy, a vet may recommend that you thoroughly clean your home to decrease the indoor flea population. If you find fleas on your dog, that means the home is also infested. Flea eggs are not sticky and fall off infested hosts into the environment, where they hatch into larvae. This means that fleas can develop on nearly any surface the dog has access to, such as human and pet bedding, furniture, upholstery, and soft toys. Cleaning the home can help reduce the number of eggs, larvae, and pupae in the environment. Cleaning is not a replacement for using a vet-recommended flea treatment on pets, but it can help get control of an infestation faster. Effective cleaning strategies include:

• Vacuuming carpet, furniture, upholstery, curtains, and other soft furnishings, then immediately emptying the canister or throwing the bag away outside to prevent fleas from escaping back into the home
• Washing human bedding, pet beds, and soft toys with hot, soapy water
• Cleaning with steam where possible

“Certain modern, vet-recommended topical flea treatments that are applied directly to the skin also provide some amount of treatment for the home because they remain active when skin cells are shed into the environment,” explains Dr. Jo Myers, a veterinarian on the Vetster platform. “Flea larvae that feed on these shed skin cells are killed, further reducing the indoor flea population.”

If considering the use of an indoor pesticide or environmental flea treatment, talk to a vet to ensure it’s safe for dogs and any other pets or children in the household. Always use these products exactly as directed. Many vets recommend using a flea-control spray that contains an insect growth regulator (IGR) that can help kill flea larvae. Flea sprays are often more effective than bug bombs because you can directly target the dark, low-traffic, hard-to-reach places where fleas are more likely to hide. Bug bombs release insecticide into the air, which then settles on exposed surfaces. Because the insecticide cannot land under furniture or penetrate deep into carpets, it often misses the dark, protected areas where flea larvae and pupae are most likely to develop. Consulting with a pest control specialist about treating the home may be beneficial in severe cases.

Bathing and grooming

Flea shampoos and dips are not usually recommended by veterinarians because there are safer and more effective options available. However, grooming may be beneficial in some situations.

Grooming supplies, such as flea combs and medicated shampoos, are widely available without a prescription but are limited in effectiveness. However, for puppies who are too young to receive the usual vet-recommended treatments, flea shampoo may be the only option. Using a flea comb in combination with a flea shampoo can kill a large number of fleas on the pet at the time of bathing.

However, flea shampoos and dips do not have residual activity, meaning fleas in the environment will immediately jump back onto your pet after they have been bathed, combed, or dipped. In addition, bathing a pet can remove a topical flea treatment you previously applied, making it ineffective. It’s important to always talk to a veterinarian before bathing or grooming your dog during their flea treatment.

Managing the outdoor environment

Yard-management strategies and pet-safe outdoor pesticides can help limit a dog’s exposure to fleas immediately outside of the home. However, they are not replacements for using a vet-recommended flea product on your dog. Pet-safe outdoor pesticides are often unnecessary when using modern, vet-recommended flea products, and fleas can still come into contact with your dog despite the best lawn care and management.

If you’re considering treating your yard with a pet-safe pesticide, it’s best to ask a vet about the best products to use and how to use them safely. Examples of how to manage your yard without pesticides include:

• Cutting back long grass, brush, and bushes
• Cleaning up leaf litter
• Discouraging wildlife from entering the yard with fencing and other deterrents, such as a gravel barrier between the yard and wooded areas
• Using cedar chips in the yard and garden

It’s always advisable to talk to a pest-control specialist before using any pesticides in your yard. Some products are not pet- or child-safe, and some regions have legal limitations on yard pesticide use.

Ongoing flea prevention is essential for the successful treatment of a flea problem. Fleas can easily return after treating an infestation. In most cases, the vet-recommended flea-prevention product is the same as what is used in treatment. Because fleas can breed on any mammal in the home, it’s important to keep all mammalian pets on vet-recommended parasite protection to prevent future infestations. Keeping pets on flea prevention keeps them healthy by minimizing their chances of getting:

• Flea allergy dermatitis
• Tapeworms
• Flea-borne illnesses
• Anemia

Preventing fleas on pets is also important for keeping the people in your family healthy.

Do “natural” flea treatments work?

It’s easy to understand why some dog owners reach for OTC flea products labeled as “natural” when they’re concerned about safety. The truth is, “natural” does not mean “safe,” and modern vet-recommended flea treatments, both OTC and prescription, are very safe for the vast majority of dogs when used appropriately.

OTC flea products for dogs marketed as “natural” are not regulated the same way prescription medications are, which means they may not be safe or effective. There is no scientific evidence to show that “natural” dog flea products such as apple cider vinegar, essential oils, or diatomaceous earth actually work.

Online veterinary professionals are an excellent way to access accurate information about safe and effective flea treatment from the comfort of your home. Virtual appointments can be made based on your schedule, making them convenient and accessible.

A virtual vet can help choose the best treatment plan for your dog’s fleas. When determining the best course of action for treating a dog’s fleas, a veterinarian considers:

• Number and type of pets in the household
• Size, age, and health of the pets
• The dog’s environment and overall lifestyle
• The presence of cats or young children in the home
• An individual dog’s tolerance to medication
• Owner preference and budget

Talking to a veterinarian is the best first step to take when tackling a dog’s flea problem. Getting reliable information from a professional is the best way to avoid wasting time and money on treatment strategies that won’t work and might be dangerous for you or your pets. In some cases, online vets can prescribe effective flea control and have the prescription products sent directly to you.* Even if the vet cannot prescribe medication for your pet, they can help you navigate the choices of OTC products available and ensure you know what to use and how to use it so you can get rid of your dog’s fleas as quickly as possible.

Veterinarians can prescribe medications via telehealth when a valid veterinary–client–patient relationship (VCPR) exists. A VCPR can be established remotely in some states and provinces, while in others, an in-person examination is required. Please note that vets are not obligated to write a prescription — this is done at their sole discretion.

How can a virtual vet help my dog’s fleas?

Online veterinarians can help you navigate the choices of over-the-counter flea products and choose one that is safe and effective for your dog. In some states and provinces, a virtual vet may also be able to prescribe flea medication remotely, even if they haven’t seen you before in person. Refer to this up-to-date map to find out which states allow a new veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR) to be established virtually. This determines if you can get a prescription from a vet you haven’t met in person before.

What is the best treatment for fleas on dogs?

There is no single product that is “the best” for every dog. Several modern flea-control products are safe and highly effective, and veterinarians select from these options based on a dog’s age, weight, health status, and environment as well as household factors, such as the presence of cats or young children. Because many over-the-counter products are ineffective or potentially unsafe and because correct use is essential for success, the most reliable approach is to talk to a veterinarian. Your vet can help you choose an appropriate flea treatment for your dog and ensure you know exactly how to use it for the best results.

Do I need to treat my house if my dog has fleas?

If your dog has fleas, that means their environment does too, and that includes everywhere in your house where your dog spends time. Flea eggs fall off infested pets and continue to develop, rapidly increasing the population of new adults looking for a host. Thoroughly cleaning the home may help get control of a flea infestation quicker. However, it is not a replacement for using a vet-recommended flea treatment on all mammalian pets in the home. In many cases, modern flea-control products are so effective that additional home treatments are not strictly necessary, though your veterinarian may recommend cleaning strategies or environmental control in severe infestations.

What is the best home remedy to treat a dog’s fleas?

Natural flea treatments such as tea tree oil, apple cider vinegar, coconut oil, and other home remedies do not have scientific evidence to support claims that they work. Some home remedies, even those described as natural, may be dangerous to use on or around pets. The best way to tackle a flea problem is to talk with a veterinarian to get a recommended flea treatment that is safe and effective.

Disclaimer: This article, its content, and its related references do not constitute veterinary advice and should not be considered a substitute for veterinary care. If your pet is showing any symptoms that could indicate a medical emergency, please seek immediate emergency care.