The known safe answer is to wait the period of time the product is supposed to work, typically 30 days, before reapplying.
You can reapply flea treatment after 2 weeks, but it's not necessary. Fleas are a common problem for dogs and cats, and there are many treatments available to help you protect your pet from these pesky parasites. However, if you have applied a flea treatment in the past 2 weeks, there is no need to reapply it again.
Never use multiple flea medications on your pet, unless directed to do so by your veterinarian. Fleas can be a very frustrating problem, and some medications may not produce immediate effects.
FRONTLINE PLUS FOR DOGS should be applied every 2 weeks for control of paralysis ticks on dogs, or every month for control of brown dog ticks. FRONTLINE SPRAY should be applied every 3 weeks for control of paralysis ticks on cats and dogs, or every month for the control of brown dog ticks.
It's fairly typical after you've applied Itch Flea for there to be a period of hyperactivity amongst the fleas as the product takes effect, and this can cause an increase in itching.
Seeing fleas after treatment isn't really about how long it takes for flea treatment to work or for fleas to die. It's about the number of life stages in the pet's environment that develop into new fleas and jump on a pet.
How does my dog keep getting fleas? If your dog is constantly being reinfested with fleas after treatment, it is most likely there is an environmental infestation in or around your house. The adult fleas we see on pets represent only 5% of the total population. The other 95% are immature stages in the environment.
Is It Safe to Reapply a Flea Treatment Early? If you're finding fleas on your pet even after their topical flea treatment, you might be tempted to reapply it early. But this solution is not always recommended—and it can even lead to an overdose in some rare cases.
The known safe answer is to wait the period of time the product is supposed to work, typically 30 days, before reapplying.
Common signs of toxicity from flea products containing organophosphates are diarrhea, vomiting, difficulty breathing, small pupils, muscle tremor, weakness or falling over, and drooling. Organophosphate toxicity can be rapidly fatal, depending on the ingredients and dose the pet is exposed to.
As eggs hatch and develop, you might find fleas reappearing 10-14 days after treatment - this is quite normal and provided the insecticide remains in place it will kill them. This is why it is important not to carry out cleaning which might remove insecticide.
The standard time frame for applying topical medications is usually every 30 days, but this can depend on the brand used. Climate and lifestyle play a large role in determining how often you should use a flea prevention or flea treatment. Warm and humid climates tend to have a higher risk of fleas.
Often even after treating with a suitable flea treatment you will still see flea's on your animal. However, this does not mean that the treatment has not worked or that the fleas are immune – the reasons are fairly simple: Fleas are hatching in your home and re-infecting your pet.
The medication is reapplied every 30 days, so there is a chance that by the end of the month, it has lost some of its potency. You should schedule a trip to the veterinarian to check. Your cat might have some other skin condition that is causing irritation, such as a heat rash or an allergic reaction.
If a pet still has fleas, many veterinarians will use the product more frequently than once monthly, sometimes as often as once every 2-3 weeks.
In these cases, a missed dose can quickly lead to treatment failure. The most popular flea and tick medications for dogs and cats last for at least a month; some are even effective for eight to twelve weeks!
The best protection from parasites comes with regular application of their topical flea and tick treatment. This means that you should be reapplying every 30 days. There's no right or wrong time of day to treat your pet. But, you shouldn't wash or bathe your dog for at least 48 hours before or after applying.
Flea sprays can be used directly on your dog but only if they're designed for animals. Never use a household flea spray on your pet. Pet flea sprays can kill fleas, but may need to be re-applied from as often as every few days, up to every few weeks.
What to do if your flea treatment still isn't working. It's time to go and see your vet. Don't be embarrassed – your local veterinarian deals with fleas all the time and it is no reflection on your home or ability to care for your pet.
If you do see fleas and they are moving slow enough to catch – success – they are busy dying!
Even if you've already treated the flea infestation, chances are that your poor pup will continue to itch until the inflammation disappears and the skin heals, says Dr. Jennifer Kitchen, DVM, from VCA Animal Hospitals.
These factors include fleas, staph (bacteria) or yeast (fungal) infections, and food allergies. If you're noticing an increase in your dog's scratching, they may have developed one or more of these flare factors that are pushing them over their “itch threshold” despite being on anti-itch medication.
Signs and Symptoms of Flea Medication Overdose
This can result in repetitive nerve discharges, or twitches and tremors, in affected dogs. So if a dog has a mild overdose of flea medication, symptoms, you may notice include twitching, excessive salivation, paw flicking, vomiting and diarrhea, and depression.
The active ingredient in FRONTLINE (fipronil) kills fleas by affecting their nervous system, making them hyperactive before dying. These dying fleas often rise to the top of your pet's haircoat, so the presence of visible fleas after treating your pet, is a sign that the product is working.
Why are there still fleas on my pet, even though I already gave the medication? If pets come in contact with new fleas, they will continue to be infested. FRONTLINE Plus and NexGard also make fleas become more hyperactive before they die, which may make them more noticeable to you.