Do I really need to flea my dog every month?

The best way to prevent and ward off fleas is to keep your dog on flea and tick medication year-round. Most preventative medications, both topical and oral versions, need to be taken monthly to remain effective. However, select treatments may protect your dog for longer, and so do not need to be taken as frequently.

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Do dogs need flea treatment every month?

Pets, especially dogs and cats, require regular attention to keep them in perfect health. One tip is to administer flea and worm treatment; a monthly top-up that can help to protect your pet against serious health complications in the long-term.

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What happens if I don't flea my dog?

When your pet is outdoors, fleas from the eggs left behind by other animals can jump on your dog. Once on your dog, they feed on his or her blood and start laying eggs. Severe flea infestations can cause anaemia due to blood loss caused by the parasites, and it can be fatal to puppies or immunocompromised dogs.

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Do dogs really need flea treatment?

Fleas cause itchy skin, spread disease and can bite humans. Some dogs have an allergy to flea bites and suffer severe irritation every time they are bitten. Fleas feed on blood and can cause anaemia in young, old or ill pets. Preventing fleas is easy – use a licensed veterinary flea product regularly.

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What happens if you miss a month of flea treatment?

If you miss that monthly dose, your pet is at a potential risk of getting flea or tick bites, which can transmit some serious diseases. Heartworm preventive medicine is especially important to keep on schedule for your pet.

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Do I really need to use the flea & Tick stuff every month?

25 related questions found

Is monthly flea treatment necessary?

The best way to prevent and ward off fleas is to keep your dog on flea and tick medication year-round. Most preventative medications, both topical and oral versions, need to be taken monthly to remain effective. However, select treatments may protect your dog for longer, and so do not need to be taken as frequently.

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Can a dog still get fleas after monthly treatment?

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.

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Is NexGard necessary?

NexGard protects dogs against brown dog ticks, bush ticks and the potentially deadly paralysis tick. NexGard should be given monthly, all year round in areas where paralysis ticks are found.

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Do dogs always need flea and tick medicine?

Yes. Though many species of ticks and fleas are slowed down or dormant during the winter, certain areas of the United States are not cold enough to truly kill these parasites and stop their activity. Because ticks and fleas can carry diseases that could harm your dog, it's best to keep them protected all year long.

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How many times does a dog need flea treatment?

This depends on which product you use. We have flea spot-on treatments for dogs and cats that can be applied monthly or tablets that last for one month for cats and 1-3 months for dogs. Worming tablets can be given every three months for adult dogs and cats.

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Do all dogs eventually get fleas?

It's important to remember that fleas will latch onto any dog, though. Sometimes the features of a dog provide just enough dark spaces, such as under the legs, neck, ears, and tail, where light doesn't reach. Consider a dog with long floppy ears or one with a long tail that curls up onto its back.

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How common is it for dogs to get fleas?

Most dogs have had or will pick up fleas at some point in their lives to the frustration of conscientious owners. But how do dogs get fleas? Fleas are a common problem and it is very easy for your dog to pick up fleas, usually from the environment accessed by other infested pets, or wildlife.

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Are fleas a big deal?

In young puppies and kittens, or severely infested animals, fleas can cause anemia due to blood loss. The most common form of tapeworms, Diplydium caninum, is also transmitted by fleas. While not a serious health concern, tapeworms are nevertheless just gross, for lack of a better word!

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When can I stop giving my dog flea medicine?

Yes! Keep your pets on flea and tick protection all year round! It is common today to hear people say “I don't give my pet flea and tick prevention in the winter there is no need, since it is so cold". This is a myth that is still believed today.

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What time of year do dogs need flea treatment?

The cooler, drier winter weather will offer your pets some relief, but it is crucial to treat against fleas throughout all seasons. Summer is one of the most active times for fleas and ticks, with some of the worst season being fall, in September, October, and November.

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Do indoor dogs need flea prevention?

For dogs that spend lots of time outside, flea prevention is a no-brainer. But what if your dog spends most of its day inside the home? As it turns out, flea prevention is absolutely vital for all dogs, regardless of where they spend the bulk of their day.

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What happens if I don't give my dog flea and tick medicine?

In severe infestations, fleas feasting on your pet's blood can lead to anemia and, in rare cases, death. Ticks can also harm your pet, transmitting tick-borne infections such as Lyme disease, Ehrlichiosis, Anaplasmosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Babesiosis, and Bartonellosis.

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What happens if I forget to give my dog flea and tick?

Flea and tick prevention medicine may come as a pill, but more likely comes in a small vial you apply to your pet's neck. If you miss these medications, your pet is probably fine so long as they have not been exposed to ticks or fleas.

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What's a natural flea repellent for dogs?

Rosemary– Rosemary oil acts as a flea repellant and can help heal flea bites. Add 5-8 drops to your dog's shampoo to keep fleas off of them. Cedar– Fleas and ticks are deterred by cedar, so adding a few drops to a carrier oil or your dog's shampoo can help to keep them off your pup.

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Can you skip a month of NexGard?

Dosing Schedule:

If a dose is missed, administer NexGard and resume a monthly dosing schedule. Flea Treatment and Prevention: Treatment with NexGard may begin at any time of the year. In areas where fleas are common year-round, monthly treatment with NexGard should continue the entire year without interruption.

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Is NexGard worth the money?

Vets highly recommend the medicine due to its effectiveness and ease. Nexgard can kill almost all fleas and ticks within a single dose, so you won't have to expose your dog to excessive medication.

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Why do vets recommend NexGard?

Effective Protection. NexGard chews prevent flea infestations by killing fleas before they can lay eggs. They're also FDA-approved to prevent Lyme disease infections as a direct result of killing Ixodes scapularis vector ticks.

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Why does it take 3 months to get rid of fleas?

After tending to the fleas on your pet, it's time to get rid of the infestation in your home. In most cases, it takes three to four months to completely get rid of a flea infestation since it takes fleas this long to go through their life stages, according to the American Kennel Club.

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Can dogs get fleas from grass?

Let's look at some of the common ways dogs can get fleas: Grass in the backyard: Dogs can catch fleas from the grass in your backyard, most often by other animals such as a raccoon, fox, or mouse, who walk through the area and transmit fleas to the ground.

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Should I vacuum after flea treatment?

There are certain rules you must follow after your treatment to make sure it's as effective as possible. You must not: enter your home for at least two hours afterwards because the insecticide spray can be harmful to people and pets. clean or vacuum the treated areas for at least 14 days to allow the spray time to work.

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