Review of the most effective flea treatments for dogs. How to remove fleas from a dog at home using various means. What to buy for fleas for a dog.

You can add brewer's yeast to your dog's food. This is a very good replacement for chemicals. The dosage should be selected in consultation with your veterinarian. Brewer's yeast works by making your pet's fur and skin unattractive and flea-repellent over time.

Drops are also used for prevention local application. They are one of the most effective and popular means of preventing fleas. The dose used must be prescribed by a veterinarian.

Another simple method of prevention: once a month you can give anti-flea tablets to your dog. Again, dosage is determined by the veterinarian. Basically, these tablets prevent fleas from breeding on your dog. However, the possibility of a bite remains.

But the risk of having uncomfortable “guests” is even higher - communication between pets. A dog easily picks up fleas, even if it is half a meter away from an infected animal. There is also a risk when interacting with a completely domestic animal.

Larvae, like fleas themselves, can be everywhere. But they are the easiest to bring into a person’s house. On shoes or clothes along with dirt and stuck leaves.

Fleas are tenacious creatures. It is not difficult for them to move freely from one place to another in search of food. They can get into the house through open windows and doors, and even in women's handbags or grocery bags.

IMPORTANT: Fleas are often confused with lice. They are easy to distinguish: the body of lice is usually large and flat, and the legs are short. Fleas brown, and lice are grayish-white. The latter are less common, mainly in unkempt pets and stray dogs.

Flea classification

It is difficult for a non-specialist to distinguish one type of flea from another, because to the eye they look the same. But the flea classifier includes many families and species of these insects.

The human flea feeds on the blood of both humans and their domestic animals. They are saturated with blood in 20 minutes, and then digest it for another six hours.

IMPORTANT: Grass fleas often inhabit vegetable gardens and eat plants. But this does not mean that they are harmless to humans and animals.

Another special species is the bed flea. Already from the name it is clear where it lives.

How fleas reproduce on dogs

The peculiarity of their reproduction is that in cold weather they prefer not to mate. The ideal temperature for this is 18-25 degrees. Mating itself takes several hours, so it does not happen on the dog’s body, but somewhere in a secluded corner.

The life cycle of these bloodsuckers includes four stages:

1. Egg. The female lays them little by little: only 4-8 eggs at a time. Eggs rarely remain on the pet itself; they usually fall to the floor due to their non-stickiness.
2. Larva. The dog flea hatches after 8-14 days and begins to feed on the excrement of adults. She needs excrement because it contains undigested blood. Their diet also includes other waste, including rotted grass.
3. Doll. After two molts, the pupa weaves a cocoon, which subsequently sticks to it. The flea remains in this stage until a victim appears nearby.
4. Imago. Stage adult. Their lifespan greatly depends on the conditions in which they live. At low temperatures they live longer.

Symptoms and external signs

The main symptom is the dog’s anxiety: it tends to change its position while resting, twitch, and jump up. A flea-covered dog stops loving bathing. Any entry into the water evokes an irresistible desire to get out onto land.

An obvious sign is that the animal has bitten itself, scratched itself furiously, and its eyes are filled with irritation or anger.

Other signs are visible when scratching: red spots on the skin (this is not an indicator if the dog has allergies), eggs and excrement on the fur. Wounds and areas with ulcers also indicate possible infection.

Fleas bite in their favorite places - the withers, ears and stomach. That's where you should look for them first.

The danger of fleas for dogs and humans

In addition to discomfort, the dog has a risk of getting sick or becoming infected with something else. Fleas are especially dangerous due to the following consequences:

Fleas will not spread to humans, but if they bite, they will bite. Accordingly, the owners have the same risks.

How to remove fleas from a dog

Getting rid of them should begin immediately from the moment the “vampires” are discovered. When a dog is literally eaten by fleas, much more serious and expensive treatment may be needed.

Shampoos

Most harmless and suitable for puppies. Especially those based on natural ingredients. Insecticidal shampoos easily cause allergies.

For thorough flea removal, it is better to use something else.

Popular shampoos: “Doctor Zoo”, “Bars”, “Clandestine”, “Beaphar”, “Master Bruno”, “Lugovoy”, “Fitoelita”.

You can make your own shampoo. They do it like this: rub baby soap, pour three glasses of water or a decoction of herbs (it can be wormwood, geranium or lavender), cook over low heat until thick, cool, add three egg yolks to everything. If desired, add essential oil (any effective one). It must be used immediately: lather and leave for ten minutes, then rinse with vinegar, heavily diluted with water.

Sprays

Among the advantages is the ability to destroy insects over a large area at once. This option is inconvenient, as it imposes some restrictions:

• After use, you must not wash your dog for two days;
• Handling must be done with gloves;
• It is necessary to ensure that the dog does not lick the product;
• It is recommended to use outdoors or in a well-ventilated area.

Popular sprays: “Bars”, “Hartz”, “Beaphar”, “Frontline”.

Drops

Flea drops have gained popularity in the market due to their strong insecticide properties. They last for about a month, protecting your pet from re-infection. Apply on the back between the shoulder blades and sacrum. As with the spray, the dog is not washed for two days.

Popular drops: “Stronghold”, “Bars”, “Praktik”, “Clandestine”, “Frontline”, “Advocate”, “Blokhnet”, “Advantix”.

If your dog has fleas, mandatory Along with their destruction, it is necessary to disinfect the living space, the pet’s kennel and those areas of the house that the animal visits. Washing floors with wormwood infusion and carpet cleaning are suitable for this. baking soda and table salt (tromped into the carpet and left overnight).

Chewable tablets

Lozenges and tablets are not recommended for puppies under 14 weeks of age. They contain an insecticide that enters the bloodstream. This method of control is rarely used - the death of the flea does not occur immediately and the owners have no desire to feed their pets poison.

Popular tablets: Sentinel, Capstar, Bravento, Comfort, Frontline.

Anti-flea collars

IMPORTANT: Insecticidal collars can cause harm to the animal. They have many contraindications that you should definitely familiarize yourself with.

The peculiarity of the collars is that they can be worn from two months to six months.

Popular collars: “Clandestine”, “Beaphar”, “Leopard”, “Doctor Zoo”, “Bolfo”.

Insectoacaricide powders

A budget option, but time-consuming. Like many products used to remove fleas, these powders are toxic. The method of applying the powder depends on the instructions.

Folk remedies for fleas

Sometimes toxic drugs are contraindicated for a dog, for example, during pregnancy. Then it is better to resist blood sucking at home, using folk remedies.

Herbs

The best assistant here is wormwood. It is rubbed into the pet’s fur in the form of a decoction, and the floors in the house are also washed with it. An alternative is tansy.

In rare cases, they resort to celandine, but with caution - it is toxic. It is infused with vodka and dripped onto the withers. Another option: use it to rinse your pet’s fur after a bath.

Another way to use herbs: pour tansy (1/4), eucalyptus (1/4) and wormwood (2/4) with boiling water overnight. And in the morning, walk around the house with a spray bottle.

Garlic

It is crushed and strained in boiling water, rubbed into the withers, and sometimes distributed over the back. It is added to food, but in small portions, as it is poisonous to pets.

Onion

It helps well when washing if rubbed and mixed with baby soap. Together with garlic, it can be applied to the withers in the form of a paste.

Laundry soap

When there are no necessary shampoos, they resort to soap, preferably tar. You need to make sure that it does not lead to dry skin. This soap is used to wash floors and everything on which the dog sleeps.

Essential oils

They are added to shampoos, combined with tar soap and applied to animal bedding. These are mainly citrus fruits, geranium, mint, lavender, cloves, anise, fir, tea tree and eucalyptus. Should be used with caution: dogs do not like strong odors.

Needles

The animal's sleeping place is filled with sawdust. They can also serve as a replacement for bedding: just fill the mattress with them.

Vinegar

Suitable for small pets. The dog's entire body is sprayed with vinegar, then placed in a bag, except for the head, and kept there for about five minutes, then washed. It is necessary to ensure that the vinegar does not get into the eyes, nose and mouth of the animal and is rubbed into the roots of the fur.

For small breeds, salt is also suitable: a kilogram of salt is dissolved in a bucket of warm water, and the pet is dipped into this water for a few minutes. If desired, replace the salt with wormwood or another effective plant against fleas.

Other folk remedies include:

• Kerosene. They cannot treat the animal's body, but they can treat those places where fleas have been noticed. After rubbing kerosene into floors and other surfaces, leave it for a day, then ventilate thoroughly.
• Ammonia. They also treat the room. Ammonia is also supposed to be used to rinse the dog after bathing.
• Hellebore water. This tincture is used to treat the hair only if the dog does not have open wounds or scratches. Application to mucous membranes is not allowed.
• Hydrogen peroxide. Not suitable for show dogs, as the coat changes structure and becomes lighter. Peroxide diluted with water is applied to the wool and left for 25 minutes, then rinsed off.
• Camphor alcohol. Mix with table vinegar and a small dose of cologne. Apply before bathing, sometimes spray around the house.
• Boric acid. Relatively safe remedy destroy chitin, which is vital for the flea. A solution is made with this acid.
• Juniper fruits. Pour boiling water over two hundred grams and leave overnight. Used as drops against fleas.

Prevention

To ensure that fleas visit your dog much less often, you must follow these rules:

• Periodically disinfect the room, change and wash sleeping places;
• Vacuum carpets, cracks in the floor, burn disposable dust containers, and put an anti-flea collar in a reusable one;
• Keep contact with other animals to a minimum;
• Monitor your pet's behavior;
• Brush his coat regularly, preferably with a flea comb or a metal comb with firm, fine-toothed teeth;
• Walk in specially designated areas;
• Keep calamus leaves or branches of wormwood and tansy in the corners of the house, but only if the pet does not have allergies;
• Ventilate the house in winter - fleas cannot stand the cold;
• During the summer months, wear a flea collar before going for a walk;
• Be sure to examine the dog after mating or upon returning from a show.

If fleas are found on one of your pets, you will have to treat every single one of them, even if they show no signs. This is a necessary part of prevention.

Taking flea prevention is the responsibility of every dog ​​owner.

Fleas do not have wings, which gives them the maneuverability to move through dog fur, which is also facilitated by strong limbs.

Where do fleas come from on dogs?

Many owners small dogs Those who don’t even go outside mistakenly believe that the flea problem will not affect them. But that's not true. Fleas can appear in animals after:

• walks in the forest, visiting places where dogs gather;
• contact with other animals - even simple sniffing is enough for the pet to become infected;
• contact with humans - fleas often move on people’s clothes or shoes;
• a visit to an infected house or institution, for example, after visiting a veterinary clinic, where high-quality cleaning was not carried out.

How to determine if a dog has fleas

How does a pet become infected?

Symptoms of infection

Symptoms of infection:

• the animal is constantly itching;
• appetite and weight decrease sharply;
• the appearance of aggression uncharacteristic for a pet.

Do dog fleas bite people?

Fleas that live on dogs can bite people when severe hunger. Moreover, even if the pet is not at home, they can live both in the “house” and on the litter.

Red spots appear at the bite sites, and the skin begins to itch.

Are cats and dogs the same?

Often pets suffer from the same type of fleas, but Ctenocephalides canis most often lives on dogs, and Ctenocephalides felis on cats.

Folk remedies for fleas on dogs

Folk remedies are best suited if the dog is pregnant, nursing puppies, or needs to cure a small pet. But in some cases - on early stage infection, they can also help an adult dog.

Herbs

The most effective plants are tansy, wormwood, eucalyptus. You can make decoctions and infusions from them - you bathe your dog in them. Counts safe option for puppies and pregnant bitches.

Garlic

The liquid can only be used on that part of the body that the dog cannot reach with its tongue.

Onion

It works similarly to garlic: finely chop the onion, add a glass of water, add a little soap, stir - after a day you can use it.

Laundry soap

A soap-based solution is also popular: mix 1 tsp. fir and tea tree oil with grated soap. It is enough to add the composition to the water when washing dogs.

Essential oils

Needles

The smell of pine needles will repel the pest. It is best to place it in your pet's house or on its bedding.

Vinegar

A solution of water and apple cider vinegar in a ratio of 1:3. You need to lubricate the animal with the resulting composition and wash it off after half an hour.

If traditional methods do not help or the dog has developed an allergy, you can purchase special industrial preparations aimed at fighting fleas.

Shampoos

Shampoos have a short-term effect, so they are recommended to be used as a preventive method. Shampoos are divided based on natural ingredients and insecticides. The latter should be used carefully - they can cause allergies. Most famous brands: Beaphar, Phytoelite, Celandine.

Drops

It is considered the most popular and easiest to use product. The number of drops depends on the weight of the dog. On average, the drug lasts 3–5 weeks, then you need to apply the drops again to the withers. The most popular drops: Frontline spot, Celandine.

Sprays and aerosols

Such formulations are very effective, but there may be problems with their use. When using them, you need to try not to point the stream at the face, then make sure that the dog does not lick itself for at least 6 hours. Popular means: Stronghold, Frontline, Bars.

Anti-flea collars

The main advantage is that the effect of the collar can last up to 9 months. It is recommended to put it on your pet at the very beginning of spring. However, if fleas appear, it will not be possible to cure the animal with just a collar. It should not be used on puppies or pregnant dogs. Popular options: HartZ, Beaphar.

Powder

Considered the cheapest option. Powders are manufactured in veterinary pharmacies to order, taking into account the weight of the dog. The main disadvantage is the inconvenience and duration of use.

Pills

Tablets are a fairly common method for controlling fleas. However, it should be noted that this method is not effective enough - it is necessary to combine it with other drugs. In addition, the disadvantages of tablets include the fact that in some cases they can cause allergies. The most popular tablets are Comforts, Capstar.

Features of treatment for puppies

Treatment of puppies has its own characteristics that the dog owner needs to know in order to choose the right remedy.

How dangerous are flea bites for a puppy?

The main sign of fleas in a puppy is constant itching, falling out fur, and red spots on the skin.

To one month old doesn't exist chemicals to protect against fleas, but you can use folk ones. You can bathe your baby in a bath with tansy, mint - water procedures must be at least 15 minutes long.

Fleas on a 1 month old puppy

To get rid of fleas, you must first wet the fur, apply a soap solution for 15 minutes, and then rinse.

Fleas on a 2 month old puppy

At this age, the puppy’s immunity becomes stronger, so more powerful remedies can be used. Best to use:

• special shampoos based on natural ingredients;
• collars based on essential oils.

You can also use sprays and drops, but only if there is only one pet in the house - when there are several puppies in the litter, these products can be dangerous.

Fleas on a 3 month old puppy

At this age, various insecticidal drugs can already be used. Without fear, you can use shampoos, drops, sprays, choosing a product according to your age.

How to remove fleas from older puppies

For dogs older than six months, you can use all the drugs presented at the veterinary market: shampoos, sprays, drops, tablets.

Important conditions to resolve the problem

• Once fleas are discovered, action must be taken to eliminate them as soon as possible. If you hesitate, then after 1.5 weeks their number can increase up to 10 times.
• When choosing a product, it is recommended to consult a veterinarian who will select best option for an animal depending on its condition and age.
• It is very important to follow the instructions for the drug exactly - this will avoid poisoning and other health problems.

Important to use integrated approach to remove fleas: you need to not only treat the pet itself, but also the room. It is recommended to combine industrial insecticides and traditional methods.

Removing fleas from a pregnant and lactating dog

Features of flea removal, depending on the breed of dog

The breed does not affect the choice of product in any way. The only thing that matters is the dog's weight - the dosage of most medicines depends precisely on this indicator.

Is there a flea vaccination?

Advantages of the method:

• simplicity of the method - just 1 injection is enough;
• the product will not enter the stomach, which eliminates the possibility of poisoning.

However, not everyone can receive such an injection: it is not suitable for puppies under 3 months, dogs prone to allergies, and weakened animals.

Treating the area where the dog lives

Treating your apartment for dog fleas

There are several methods for processing an apartment:

Processing the dog house

Safety rules for processing

Regardless of the type of product used, it is important to follow a number of recommendations when treating the dog and the premises:

• Do not use drugs that have expired - not only will they not work, but they can also be dangerous for your pet;
• Before using any product, you must carefully study the instructions;
• if it is not possible to get advice from a veterinarian, then when using the drug you must follow all the dosage instructions prescribed in the annotation and the rules of use;
• if after treatment the pet becomes ill, you must immediately go to the clinic or call a specialist at home;
• It is advisable to carry out treatment in the apartment with gloves and a mask, so as not to inhale fumes of insecticides; upon completion, wash your hands thoroughly with soap.

Prevention of re-infection

To avoid the recurrence of fleas, it is recommended:

There are many flea treatments on the market today, but the tips above will help you avoid infecting your dog. If this does happen, it is important to start treatment as soon as possible.

Not really

Can dogs get white fleas is a question that can often be heard. No, they can’t, they simply don’t exist. It looks like your pet has lice eaters, which are white or yellow in color.

Interesting!

If you look at the appearance of the flea in the photo, you will notice that it has a blunt, slightly rounded head. There are 8 bristles on the hind legs, in contrast to 6 bristles.

Since fleas love clean things and objects, it makes no sense to wash the apartment and the animal before the course of treatment is carried out. If possible, it is advisable to isolate the dog by giving it a separate room.

Animals that live on local area, it is recommended to limit their movements within the enclosure. Let's look at which flea treatments for dogs are the most effective and popular.

Powders

Natalya, St. Petersburg

Drops

They are often recommended for use by a veterinarian, as they are considered effective and efficient. Apply to the head and withers of the animal. This should be done carefully so that the pet cannot lick them off. It is not recommended to use drops on small dogs, such as Chihuahuas, as the drugs are toxic and can harm the health of your beloved pets. To remove fleas from dogs, it is recommended to buy the following drops:

• . This product is produced in France. Active components– fipronil and S-methoprene. It effectively rids the animal not only of fleas, but also of their larvae and eggs. Apply it pointwise to the skin in the withers area, strictly following the instructions.
• . This is an American drug. The active ingredient is selamectin. Its concentration is 6 or 12%, as indicated by pink or blue bottle cap. Apply drops to the skin in the area between the base of the neck and shoulder blades. A day is enough for the larvae and fleas on the dog to completely disappear. It is recommended to repeat the procedure after a month. The drops are safe, which allows them to be used for pregnant animals; they are also suitable for nursing dogs. After using the product, you need to wash your hands thoroughly and keep children away from your pet for two hours.
• . Drops are produced in Russia. The active substance in them is the pyrethroid permethrin. They are an oily liquid. The drug is applied similarly to Stronghold. After the drops are absorbed into the dog's skin, they penetrate into the bloodstream. Being the main food for fleas, it poisons them. Leopard is good at killing ticks. Therefore, it is often recommended not to fight fleas, but as a reliable means of protection against them.

I bought this product for my dog. Indeed, its effect is very good and the cost is quite justified. True, my Rottweiler did not have very many fleas; my husband and I regularly monitor this.

Olga, Moscow

Owners who have dog breeds such as Sheltie, Collie and Bobtail should know that their bodies are very sensitive to flea products, so they should be chosen carefully.

Pills

Curing a dog for fleas with tablets is a reality. The dream of those who wanted to remove fleas from a dog at home with the help of a magic pill has come true. Their main active ingredients are afoxolaner and fluralaner. They belong to a new group of pesticides. Tablets can protect the animal from fleas, bites and infectious diseases. Therefore, now this is the most effective remedy that does not give side effects, it is suitable for lactating and pregnant bitches. Can be taken even by animals that have allergic reaction for medications. Children can have contact with their pet, as there is no danger of poisoning.

Shampoos

An easy way to get rid of fleas is to use. How often can you wash your dog with flea shampoo is a logical question. This can be done 1 or 2 times a month. It is recommended to use drops between washes. There are shampoos on sale based on natural ingredients and insecticides that quickly cope with the task. But they are toxic and can cause redness of the skin, so they should be handled carefully.

• Phytoelite;
• Celandine;
• Doctor ZOO;
• Bio Groom et al.

One bottle can cost from 70 to 7000 rubles, the price depends on the manufacturer, active substance, packaging.

Collars

By appearance Flea collars are similar to regular accessories. But unlike them, they are impregnated with a special substance that can repel fleas. Before purchasing, you should consult a veterinarian, as it is not suitable for all dogs. This device is good prophylactic. One collar is enough for the season.

Folk remedies

There are many folk remedies and it is unrealistic to determine which of them is the most effective. You need to try and then draw conclusions. You can also read comments and reviews that people write on websites, prepare or buy the product you like.