Getting Rid of Fleas on Your Dog
How do you get rid of fleas on your dog? Prevention is the key.
Start your dog on a flea control product like
NexGard® PLUS (afoxolaner, moxidectin, and pyrantel chewable tablets) or NexGard® (afoxolaner). Use with caution in dogs with a history of seizures or neurologic disorders. Stay consistent each month for year-round protection.
If you happen to have an existing flea infestation before starting your dog on a flea control product, additional steps may be needed to help remove developing flea stages (eggs, larvae, and pupae) from your home.
Here are some simple tips to reduce the number of developing flea stages in your dog’s environment.
Tips to Help Eliminate Flea Infestations
Here are some simple tips to help remove developing flea eggs, larvae, and pupae from your home.
the areas where your dog spends most of their time. Empty the contents of the vacuum into a sealed bag, and quickly dispose of it outside of your house.
your pet’s bedding using hot water and then dry at the highest setting.
with a professional pest control specialist.
consistent, monthly flea control medication.
How Do I Know if My Dog Has Fleas?
If your dog has fleas, they might bite or chew their skin until it becomes red and inflamed. Adult fleas are small, brown bugs that jump away as you search your dog’s fur. When you brush your dog, you may also notice black flecks of flea dirt (literally, flea feces) on their fur.1 Check by smearing those flecks on a wet paper towel: when you wet flea dirt, it becomes red or rust-colored.1
Do Indoor Dogs Need Flea Protection?
In short, yes—fleas are opportunists. Even if your dog only goes outside to relieve themselves, they’re at risk of infestations. Fleas can even “hitchhike” into a home on people, and then jump to infest dogs. An infested pet will spread flea eggs throughout the house, which can survive in your carpet or the crannies of your wood floors and then develop into adult fleas that can infest other animals in your home.
How Does Flea Protection for Dogs Work?
When you give your dog monthly flea protection, such as NexGard PLUS chews or NexGard chews, the active ingredient protects them by spreading throughout their body, killing fleas no matter where they bite. Administer your dog’s flea protection on a consistent monthly schedule to keep them protected all year long.
Sick of fleas? Protect your dog from tip to tail with monthly flea protection.
Why Do Flea Bites Itch?
When fleas feed from a host, some of their saliva gets injected into the skin. This can lead to discomfort, irritation, and itchiness in your dog.2
How Do Fleas Reproduce?
The flea life cycle is broken down into 4 stages. Adult female fleas lay eggs that hatch into wormy larvae. The larvae spin cocoons and become pupae. When they’re ready, the pupae emerge from their cocoons as adult fleas to find a host and start the cycle over.3 The entire life cycle can be completed in as few as 2-3 weeks, but can take up to 4 months or longer depending on environmental conditions. Because an adult flea can lay up to 50 eggs per day, even just a few fleas untreated on a host can lead to an infestation.
Do Fleas Lay Eggs on Dogs?
Adult female fleas can only lay eggs after feeding, which means they always lay eggs on their host.3 The eggs are smooth and oval, so they quickly fall off your dog and settle into the environment. Flea eggs can end up in your carpet, between floorboards, and in your furniture or bedding. However, most flea eggs will land in the areas where your dog spends most of their time.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION:
NexGard® PLUS (afoxolaner, moxidectin, and pyrantel chewable tablets) is safe for puppies at 8 weeks, weighing 4 pounds or more. The most frequently reported adverse reactions include diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy, and itching. Use with caution in dogs with a history of seizures or neurologic disorders. Dogs should be tested for existing heartworm infection prior to starting a preventive. For more information, click here for full prescribing information.
NexGard® COMBO (esafoxolaner, eprinomectin, and praziquantel topical solution) is for topical use only in cats. Safe for use in cats and kittens 8 weeks of age or older, weighing 1.8 pounds or more. Use with caution in cats with a history of seizures or neurologic disorders. The most frequently reported adverse reactions include vomiting, application site reactions, lethargy, and anorexia. If ingested, hypersalivation may occur. Avoid direct contact with application site until visibly dry. For more information, click here for full prescribing information.
NexGard® (afoxolaner) is for use in dogs only. Safe for use in puppies 8 weeks of age or older, weighing 4 pounds or more. The most frequently reported adverse reactions include vomiting, itching, lethargy, diarrhea, and lack of appetite. The safe use of NexGard in pregnant, breeding, or lactating dogs has not been evaluated. Use with caution in dogs with a history of seizures or neurologic disorders. For more information, click here for full prescribing information.