If you enjoy taking your dog on mountain hikes or jogs, you may notice when you get home that they are constantly scratching their skin. The first sign that your pet has unintentionally picked up some unwanted hitchhikers is excessive scratching!
There are a few options for treatment if you notice your pet scratching more frequently than usual, which indicates they may have fleas.
Here’s what you need to know about how to identify fleas, how to treat them, and how quickly they can be eliminated.
How to apply spot-on flea treatment
The option to use a prepackaged pipette is available with the majority of spot-on flea treatments. This makes it possible to administer the right dosage, which is very convenient for pet owners. To apply the topical spot-on flea treatment:
Wearing rubber gloves is advised because some topical flea treatments can be dangerous. Always wash your hands after applying the spot-on treatment.
Although we might link the spread of fleas and ticks to warmer weather, the truth is that it can occur at any time of year. Because of this, the treatment must be administered every one to two months. You also need to be careful with your geographical location. Each place will have its own specific parasite treatment requirements. Additionally, if you walk your dog in an area where there are a lot of ticks, you should keep them on a leash in tall grass and check them after each walk.
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?.
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!
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.
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.
You don’t need to take off flea collars when bathing your dog because they are usually waterproof. This implies that you can quickly and easily wash Fido in the bathtub while he is wearing the flea collar. You might choose to take the collar off for bath time and put it back on once Fido is dry because it might be simpler to bathe Fido when he’s not wearing it. Either choice is perfectly fine.
Before making any dietary, medication, or exercise changes for your pet, always consult your veterinarian. This information is not a substitute for a vet’s opinion.
In order to get your home under control, treating a flea infestation as soon as possible is essential. One female flea can lay up to 50 eggs per day. Bathing will remove fleas, but if done too soon, it may reduce the efficacy of the medication. Be patient; you wont wait too long.
Always wash your dog with a shampoo made especially for dogs. Human shampoos are more abrasive and may remove oils from a person’s skin. Just give Fido a bath first if you know your dog has fleas and want to give him a bath right away. Once his coat dries, apply your flea treatment.
When your dog has fleas, it may be simple to believe that if one flea control product works well, two will expedite the removal process. False! Using several flea control products at once gives Fido a massive chemical dose. Use one flea-control product at a time and treat your dog gently. There is no need to use flea powder, for example, if you use a flea collar or topical treatments.
FAQ
Will bathing a dog remove flea treatment?
For a few days prior to and following the application of spot-on flea treatment, avoid bathing your dog. There won’t be enough natural oils present if you bathe your dog before applying the medication for it to penetrate deeply into their skin. After applying the medication, bathing them will wash the medication away.
How soon can you bathe a dog after applying Frontline?
Before using products like FRONTLINE PLUS or FRONTLINE SPRAY, make sure your pet is completely dry. For at least 48 hours following application of FRONTLINE PLUS or FRONTLINE SPRAY, avoid giving your dog a bath or a shampoo. 24 hours after the application of FRONTLINE PLUS or 48 hours after the application of FRONTLINE SPRAY, cats may be bathed.
What should you not do after flea treatment?
Because the insecticide spray can be harmful to people and pets, you must wait at least two hours after your treatment before entering your home. To give the spray time to work, clean or vacuum the treated areas for at least 14 days.
Can I bathe my dog everyday if he has fleas?
A flea dip bath and medication should be administered right away to a dog with a flea infestation. However, flea shampoos are notoriously harsh on a pooch’s skin. Therefore, be careful not to attempt to bathe your dog every day if they have fleas. Once a week should be enough.