A flea infestation can be very devastating. While prevention is better than cure, fleas can be extremely difficult to get rid of as fleas have a long lifecycle. Grooming your pet is the first step to avoiding fleas.
However, you may need advanced treatments to get rid of them completely. You may be able to spot fleas with the naked eye, but flea eggs are so tiny and almost impossible to spot. There are so many flea treatments on the market, but most treatments will only kill the fleas and not the eggs.
There are various flea treatment options that one can explore. Some are prescription-only, but it is essential to be consistent regardless of your treatment. Below is a list of flea treatments available:
Spot on flea treatments: These are usually administered as tiny drops using a pipette onto the dog's skin. When using spot-on flea treatments, applying the drops in strategic spots where the treatment can flow over to the rest of the body is necessary. The spot-on flea treatments kill the fleas on contact and are meant to be absorbed into the bloodstream. Spot-on treatments are a good option if you have a calm dog that will allow you to part the fur and squeeze the treatment onto its skin. You might need some help with this option.
Oral Flea Treatments:
Oral flea treatments include tablets and chews. They are a good option as you can easily convince your dog to ingest them as you feed them. They work by killing fleas when they suck on the dog's blood hence ingesting the active ingredients. This can be administered once every three to four months.
Flea Sprays: Flea sprays work by killing fleas and eggs on contact. After applying this treatment, you may have to restrict your dog's movement as fleas and eggs will fall off the skin or flea away onto your furniture and linen.
Medicated Flea Shampoo:
This is applied to pets when they are actively experiencing a flea breakout. They work by killing the adult fleas within 48hours. This won't kill the eggs but will be a short-term relief for your dog.
Please read on to find out or review of the best and most affordable flea treatments for your dog.
Hartz Topical Flea & Tick Prevention for Dogs
Hartz Topical Flea & Tick prevention for dogs is one of the most pocket-friendly flea drops. This treatment is designed to be used for three months in three applications. You can apply the drops all over your dog's body. These drops kill the fleas and prevent re-infestation; hence you are assured your dog will be free from fleas for good.
The odor after an application is also really strong. The smell fades off after a few days but brace yourself for its unpleasantness.
TevraPet Activate Dog Flea & Tick Prevention
The TevraPet Activate Dog Flea & Tick Prevention drops will last you four months. It is effective but can be a hit and miss in some instances. There have been reports of allergies to the drops, and some pets may dislike it after the first application. Other than the allergies, this treatment is effective and great for the price.
Bravecto Chews for Dogs
Most vets recommend Bravecto chews. Bravecto is very effective and will kill ticks latched onto your dog's skin in less than 12 hours. It gives dogs relief from fleas for at least three months. This is great as most treatments are designed to provide relief for a month at a time. The tablets are meat flavored; hence you won't have trouble convincing your pup to take them. You won't have to hide them in their food either.
K9 Advantix II Flea, Tick, and Mosquito Treatment for Dogs
K9 Advantix can kill fleas and insects on contact. This treatment covers everything from fleas, mosquitos, ticks, and even biting flies. It is a good option for dogs with allergies as the active ingredient is mild but effective. It also is used for dogs as small as four pounds and is very effective from the first month
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