Getting Rid of Dog Fleas: What is the Best Flea Treatment for Dogs

What Kind of Flea Treatment is Ideal for my Dog?

Fleas are dangerous for your dog. These tiny parasites could cause itching and other skin infections. Flea prevention and treatment methods help you get rid of them and prevent them effectively. 

A dog flea is a flea species that specifically targets domestic animals like cats and dogs and mammals. They are external parasites that live on the blood of their host and can increase in number at an alarming rate. Besides animals, these fleas can infect humans also, especially the ones having pets and emotional support cats and dogs.

How to know if the dog is infected by fleas? When infected by these parasites, the dogs scratch and bite their bodies. This scratching and biting could cause skin inflammation and redness.

These fleas usually affect the head, neck, and tail of the dog. If your dog is constantly scratching these areas then it is a sure sign that he is infected by these fleas.

How to get rid of them? Choose from the flea treatment and prevention methods below.

Oral Flea Pills and Chews

Flea pills and chews are the easiest of the flea treatment and prevention methods. These pills and chews are easy to administer and are very effective to kill the fleas and ticks off your dog.

The medicine mixes with your dog’s bloodstream and works from within. It distributes the medicine throughout the body and to the skin’s surface. This kills fleas and prevents other diseases like hookworms, roundworms, and whipworms also.

Capstar Fast-Acting Oral Flea Treatment
Bravecto Dog Chews
PetArmour FatCaps

Topical Flea Treatment

Topical flea treatment solutions come in drops and liquid forms. They are designed to apply on the skin and treat the fleas while preventing them in the future. For best results. Apply the solution on your dog’s skin directly

Apply it especially between the shoulder blades. They are different for small and large breed dogs so get the one made for your dog.

Frontline Plus Flea and Tick Dog Treatment
Advantage II Flea Treatment

Flea Treatment Shampoos

These shampoos are used just like any other bathing component. Just bathe your dog with the shampoo and rub it properly into its skin. Bathing your dog with a flea prevention shampoo will kill the existing fleas and ticks and prevent their recurrence.

The best way of using it is to let the shampoo sit on the skin for a few minutes before rinsing.

Richard’s Organics Flea and Tick Shampoo
Adams Plus Flea and Tick Shampoo with Precor

Flea Treatment and Prevention Collars

Collars are more economical and easy to use than flea shampoos and solutions. They are flexible and you can adjust it according to your dog’s neck’s size. They are coated with flea repellant medicine that kills and repels fleas and ticks.

Most of these collars give solid coverage for several months.

Seresto 8 Month Flea and Tick Prevention Collar

Flea Prevention Sprays

Flea prevention spray is useful as the first step in treating the fleas and preventing them also. You can use these sprays around the house and on your dog. They are also great to be used in between baths.

Many brands offer eco-friendly and natural sprays that kill and prevent fleas and do not cause allergies either.

Vet’s Best Dog Flea + Tick Home Spray
Natural Care Dog and Cat Flea and Tick Spray 

You can use one or more of these flea prevention methods as a part of dog grooming also. Dog grooming is important for a healthy dog and with the help of a complete dog grooming guide, you can do it at home.

Best Flea Treatment for Dogs

Once you have detected that your dog is suffering from flea infestation, it is time that you find a befitting flea treatment for it.

Below, we have discussed some of the best and fast-acting flea treatments for dogs, talk to the veterinarian, and choose the one that is best suited for your beloved canine.

Richard’s Organics Flea and Tick Shampoo

Want something that you can just rub and wash? Richard's Organics Flea and Tick Shampoo is great if you are looking for an instant relieving item for your pup. The shampoo kills ticks and fleas repels mosquitoes also.

The ingredients contain sulfate and it is a paraben-free formula that utilizes essential oils as one of their main ingredients. All you have to do is to use it just like any other shampoo, wash it as a usual shampoo, and get rid of fleas in a great quick time.

It is quite effective and the results could last for up to four weeks and is great to be used in combination with other flea prevention treatment. It is safe for the dogs that have sensitive skin and leaves the coat shiny and healthy.

As per the customers’ reviews, it is probably the best shampoo that they have used and, therefore, the best flea treatment for dogs. You can actually see the fleas falling off the dog’s skin when bathing him. To top it all, it has a pleasant smell also.

Vet’s Best Dog Flea + Tick Home Spray

Other than topical solutions and shampoo, home spray products are also great to get rid of these parasites. Vet’s Best Dog Flea+Tick Spray is chemical-free and has a mix of essential oils and other natural components.

They are eco-friendly and are effective in killing fleas, ticks, and flea eggs, as well as keeping the mosquitos away. It is safe to be used around the house and on furniture, bedding, and floors. This spray is a great first step in starting your dog’s flea treatment.

They could be used on dogs aging 12 weeks and above and are great in heavy flea infestation season. Ideally, after your pooch has been out for quite some time. It is available in 32 and 92-ounce bottles and since it is an all-natural product, it could be used throughout the year.

Capstar Fast-Acting Oral Flea Treatment

Looking for something that would start working in as little as 30 minutes after taking the medicine? Oral medications start working after the first dose, nearly 90 percent of the adult fleas.

You will need to give the medicine daily until the flea infestation is cleared. However, the dose depends on the size, breed, and weight of your dog.

As an idea, you can give the medicine to the dogs that are up to four weeks and older and weigh more than two pounds. Besides a treatment, medicine could be used as a preventive medicine to avoid fleas in the future.

Though it could not be considered as a permanent or long term flea treatment option, it lasts 24 hours, it is a great first step towards starting the flea treatment. The dog owners say that the results are really fast and it could be used with the main flea treatment.

Bravecto Dog Chews

Considered as one of the best flea medications for dogs, Bravecto is a prescription based medicine and chewable flea treatment for dogs, which means that you will need a veterinarian’s prescription to buy this medicine.

These chews are highly effective flea treatments and its single dose could provide up to 12 weeks of protection against parasites like ticks and fleas. After the first dose, it kills more than 95 percent of the fleas within the first 24 hours.

These flavored chews are like treats for your dogs and they are available for both large and small breeds of dogs that are six months or older of age. The medicine is comparatively costly but the results are also significantly better than other medicine.

Frontline Plus Flea and Tick Dog Treatment

Looking for a trusted medicine brand for flea and tick treatment and prevention? Frontline is one such trusted name and Frontline Plus is great if have a large dog breed. The medicine is easy to use and is a topical medication that you will apply directly to your dog's skin.

It is easy to apply and protects your dog against various parasites like ticks, fleas, mites, and chewing lice. The content of the medicine contains (S)- methoprene, which is useful in attacking the eggs and larvae of the flea and stop them before hatching and growing into full insects.

It is an ideal flea treatment for dogs weighing between 45 to 85 pounds and the pet parents and ESA owners who have used the medicine for their dogs have claimed that the medicine gives 30-day protection to the dog and is equally effective in seasons that are notorious for increasing the flea infestation incidents.

Advantage II Flea Treatment

This treatment is ideal for the dogs that weigh between 3 and 10 pounds and you will need to apply it to your dog on a monthly basis. The medicine is great to prevent a number of dangerous topical fleas and their eggs and larvae.

The medicine is safe to be used on the dogs aging 7 weeks and older and since it is waterproof, your dog could play in the water as much as he likes. It will not wear off, which means that the protection continues everywhere.

You can buy Advantage II Flea Treatment in the treatment packs ranging from four to six treatments. As per the customer reviews, the medicine is impressively fast-acting and starts working within 12 hours after the application.

It works really well for a small dog. However, this is meant for fleas only and may not be suitable if you are looking for a broad spectrum of treatment.

Seresto 8 Month Flea and Tick Prevention Collar

Besides chewable gum and topical treatments, flea collar is another flea treatment and prevention that is truly effective in getting rid of dog fleas. These collars are designed and formulated to kill various pests like fleas, ticks, nymphs, and larvae on contact. It is a non-greasy and odorous solution to dog fleas problem and it starts working within 24 hours. 

Something that makes this collar an even better solution is that it lasts longer than the topical solutions and is great for the dogs that have sensitive stomachs or dog owners that do not like to use anything chemical on their dogs' skin.

It is suitable for the dogs that are at least seven weeks old and weighs over 18 pounds of weight. The collars are available in multiple sizes and the customers claim that since they have started using the collar, they have noticed a significant improvement. And they do not have any side effects also.

Natural Care Dog and Cat Flea and Tick Spray

If you are looking for a natural solution to your pet or ESA's flea and tick problem then Natural Care Dog and Cat Flea and Tick Spray is an ideal solution or it. It is free of every chemical and contains plant-based ingredients like peppermint oil and clove extract.

It may not be as broad-spectrum treatment as many other medication options but it is great to kill fleas, ticks, and flea eggs. Since it does not have any additional chemicals, it is safe to be used in the house like on countertops, bedding, and upholstery.

It works on the fleas immediately and kills them only after a few puffs. Besides, the peppermint smell is quite pleasing and keeps the house smelling good too.

Adams Plus Flea and Tick Shampoo with Precor

Another shampoo on the list, Adams Plus Flea, and Tick Shampoo is effective in getting rid of fleas in various stages of their growth. Once you start using it, it gives coverage and protection of up to 28 to 30 days.

The shampoo contains pyrethrins and pyrethroids, which are potent insecticides and provide strong protection against these harmful fleas. The natural pyrethrins are useful in killing ticks, fleas, larvae, lice, and eggs while precor, it's another ingredient inhibits the growth of these eggs and stops them from growing.

Other than chemical insecticides, the shampoo has natural ingredients like coconut extract, oatmeal, and aloe vera, all of which are great to keep your dog’s skin healthy and flea free. Other than this, it also helps in removing dandruff and cleaning the skin thoroughly.

However, the smell is somewhat strong and it may not be safe to be used for puppies under 8 weeks of age.

PetArmour FatCaps

Considered as one of the most effective and strongest insecticides on the market, it starts killing the fleas in as little as 30 minutes after taking the dose. It is instant relief for the dogs and is a great option for large breed dogs. It is cheaper than many other dog flea medicines that provide instant relief.

However, giving the medicine could be a little tricky as most of the time, dogs are very reluctant to take any medication. This is why you will have to disguise it into its food.

How to Prevent Fleas in Dogs?

Prevention is better than cure and this is why as a pet and ESA owner, it is important that you find the best methods to prevent this nuisance from happening at all. Fleas are really dangerous and if they are left unattended, they could cause serious harm to your dog.

Since they feed on the blood of their host, they bite into the dog's skin and these fleas bites cause irritation and itching.

This itching leaves the skin sensitive and open to other diseases as well. To prevent it from happening, the following are some of the ways that you could use to get rid of these fleas and prevent them from happening again.

1. One of the main causes of fleas could be your animal's unwashed bedding of things that they interact with. Therefore, the simplest way of preventing this infestation is to keep everything clean. Wash your animal's bedding and other clothes and toys regularly.
2. Ask the Vet for a monthly tick and flea preventive medicine shot. This medicine works effectively and comes in different forms like medicated powders, pills, and shampoos. Use that best work for you and your animal.
3. Use flea collars for a complete protection and prevention. These collars are easy to use and you can rest assured that your dog or cat is safe and covered against the nasty fleas.
4. Apple cider vinegar is great to keep fleas at bay. ACV does not kill the fleas but its strong smell repels fleas and you may see them jumping off your dog. However, it is more of a prevention method than a cure.
5. Some essential oils also work great to prevent fleas and neem oil is one of such oils. The oil has antibacterial properties and you can use it on the areas that are more prone to fleas. These areas are head, tail, ears, flanks, and shoulders.

A flea infestation can be quite painful and dangerous for your pet or emotional support animal. In case your dog or cat gets the fleas, start the treatment immediately and once clean, add some preventive measures to your daily cleaning routine.