You carefully applied a topical treatment to your dog’s body after discerning that he had fleas, and now he has just gone outside, found the only patch of mud in more than 1/4 acre of otherwise perfect yard, and is rolling around in it. What should you do now? Bathing your dog runs the risk of diluting or washing away the flea treatment. What do you do?.
So, here’s what not to do: avoid bathing your dog and then applying the medication again because doing so could cause him to take in too much anti-parasitic medication and become very ill. It depends on whether you have all white upholstery, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and a weak heart, but you could wait it out if it’s just dirt after all, and a little dirt never killed anyone yet did it! But what if it’s more than just dirt? What if it’s… err… filth, then you may need to take action.
If you have a mud monster mutt, you may want to choose a product that allows for bathing shortly afterward or contain your dog to keep him clean for the specified period of time required for the product to take effect. Your dog does not know that just because you have given him flea treatment, he now can’t get dirty, and no amount of explaining it to him is going to change that. Keep in mind that there is no use getting upset with your dog for getting dirty because he didn’t read the flea treatment leaflet!
Knowing the manufacturer’s recommendations for how soon to bathe your dog after applying a flea treatment will help you avoid needing to bathe your dog more frequently. If the unthinkable happens, spot cleaning may be an option. Also, some products allow for bathing shortly after application. If you must bathe your dirty dog, carefully follow the product instructions and speak with a veterinarian about the proper timing for reapplying flea treatments and when it is safe to do so.
Can I use Revolution all year-round?
Since fleas and heartworms are a year-round issue, Revolution should be used on a regular basis.
What is the active ingredient in Revolution and how does it work?
Revolution contains selamectin. Selemectin, a parasite neurotoxin, works by obstructing the passage of impulses along the nervous system of the parasite. This causes paralysis of the parasite and its ultimate death.
Revolution is applied directly to the skin every four weeks to break the flea life cycle. Revolution makes sure that by doing this, fleas that jump onto your pet stop feeding, become paralyzed, and eventually die. Revolution also eliminates flea larvae in the environment, preventing the spread of fleas. To prevent heartworm infection Revolution should also be applied monthly.
Last time I used Revolution it only last 2 weeks, while the packet said it would last for a month. Why did it not work for the full month?
There are several causes for this, but the main one is that Revolution does not work as well at the end of the month as it does at the beginning, so even though it is still somewhat effective, it is insufficient to stop the large number of fleas. If so, you should apply Revolution again every two weeks while fleas are a problem. Another factor is that stopping the flea cycle around your house can take up to a year. This means that when flea season arrives, treating your dog throughout the entire year as opposed to just the warmer months when fleas are worse will increase its effectiveness. Most people won’t have to worry about their flea infestation lasting less than a month because they don’t have a severe case.
FAQ
How long after applying Revolution Can I touch my dog?
Revolution dries quickly, is non-greasy, waterproof after two hours, and has no offensive odor, so you can cuddle and play with your pet right away.
How soon can you give your dog a bath after flea treatment?
As a general rule, it is best to wait at least 48 hours before bathing your pet after administering any spot-on, topical, or occasionally even oral medication. This makes it possible for the product to start functioning effectively in the case of flea and tick prevention.
How long does it take revolution to work on Dogs?
Within 24 hours of treating your dog with flea and tick medication, you can anticipate seeing at least a few dead fleas. The itching, however, probably won’t stop for a few days.
How quickly does Revolution topical work?
Within 12 hours of application, topical flea and tick treatments like Revolution Plus kill fleas and ticks, and at least 98% of fleas are killed within 24 hours. Oral flea control products like Capstar start killing fleas in 30 minutes and keep doing so for 24 hours.