The first sign of fleas can be a serious cause for alarm to pet owners. And it should: An adult female flea can lay around 40 eggs per day, and with Australia's warm climate, our homes can soon become the perfect breeding ground leading to a significant infestation.
No one likes to see their furry friends in distress, including us vets. Fleas can cause dogs to harm themselves by scratching — and worse still, if left untreated, fleas can cause your dog severe illness or disease.
Here, we take a deep dive into the importance of flea treatments, how to identify which is best for your pet, and the best dog flea treatments to keep your dog flea-free.
How do dogs get fleas?
Dogs can get fleas when they have had physical contact with them. For example, contact can occur when they play with another dog or visit a home with an infestation. They can even catch fleas from the natural environment, such as grass and gardens.
How can fleas affect your dog?
Fleas can affect your dog in several ways.
Fleas are parasites, which means they bite the animal's skin and live on the blood from the wound. As the number of fleas multiplies on your dog, so does the amount of blood loss. In extreme cases, this can lead to anaemia.
More commonly, fleas cause skin discomfort and irritation to our poor pups and can result in inflammatory dermatitis. This condition can be very distressing to our dogs and must be treated.
Fleas also play a part in the life cycle of the dog tapeworm — which is passed on from the flea to the dog.
How to know which flea treatment to use for your dog
While there are many flea treatments and methods available, your choice of flea treatment depends on several factors, including:
Dog Breed
Your dog's breed determines its size and coat thickness. These factors may determine dosage requirements, cost and ease of application.
Dog Age
Some flea treatments are toxic to puppies. Always check the product information provided to ensure it is suitable for your dog's age.
Pet Lifestyle
Dogs that love being in water or are outside most of the day may require an oral treatment instead of topical products to ensure they are as effective as possible.
Pet Health History
When choosing a flea treatment, allergies to specific ingredients, stomach sensitivity or other physical reactions to any medications should be considered.
Geographical Location
Different locations have types of fleas and parasites that are more prevalent than others. Research into the most common infestations for your location will ensure you select the best treatment for your pet.
What treatment options are available?
Below are the most popular flea treatment methods and the pros and cons of each:
Topical
Topical flea treatments (often called spot-on treatments) come in individually packaged doses of liquid applied to the dog's back, preventing your pet from licking it off.
Topical flea treatment pros:
- Easy application.
- Can control several other parasite infestations.
- Work on all stages of the flea life cycle.
- Great for dogs with sensitive stomachs.
- Lasts for at least a month, with newer formulations lasting up to six months.
Topical flea treatment cons:
- Potential resistance for older formulations.
- Effectiveness may be compromised if a dog gets wet too soon after application.
- May contaminate hands if touched when still wet.
- Risk of human error during the application.
Oral
Oral flea treatments can come in pill form or as a chewable treat. Your pet ingests them, and the active ingredients are transmitted to pests when they bite your dog.
Oral flea treatment pros:
- Provides highly targeted and effective flea prevention.
- Can control several other parasite infestations.
- No risk of cross-contamination.
- No water restriction required.
- Lasts for at least a month, with newer formulations lasting up to three months.
Oral flea treatment cons:
- May trigger stomach upsets.
- May be harder to administer to some dogs, especially in pill form.
Flea collars
Flea collars are one of the oldest forms of flea treatment and prevention. They are put around a dog's neck like a regular collar and are coated in chemicals designed to repel or kill fleas.
Flea collar pros:
- Can last for up to eight months.
- Often the cheapest option.
- Requires little effort.
- Creates little mess.
Flea collar cons:
- Can cause skin irritation.
- Can be dangerous if caught on objects.
- Can be harmful if ingested.
- May not be effective enough to treat a current infestation.
Flea Shampoos
Flea shampoos are an effective way to kill adult fleas and can work well for dogs that enjoy bath time. The shampoos have an active insecticide added to eliminate a current flea infestation.
Flea shampoo pros:
- Kills adult fleas quickly, and quality products also kill eggs.
Flea shampoo cons:
- Can cause skin irritation.
- Will not prevent re-infestation.
- Application can be difficult.
- Can be messy.
Flea Powders & Sprays
Flea powders and sprays contain insecticides and are applied directly to the roots of a dog's coat to kill fleas on contact.
Flea powder and spray pros:
- Kills adult fleas quickly, and quality products also kill eggs.
Flea powder and spray cons:
- Can cause skin or eye irritation.
- Does not prevent re-infestation.
- They are only effective when on the dog's coat.
- Application can be difficult, especially for a dog that won't sit still.
Our top 5 flea treatments
According to the best dog flea treatment reviews received by customers and vets, the following flea treatments are highly recommended:
Bravecto
Bravecto Spot-On is an advanced and highly effective, long-lasting flea and tick treatment for dogs. It also controls future infestations.
- Topical spot-on treatment.
- Protects against fleas, brown dog ticks and paralysis ticks.
- Controls Sarcoptes, Demodex and ear mites.
- Lasts for six months.
- For dogs over eight weeks old.
- Ideal for locations where ticks are in abundance.
View our range of Bravecto products here.
Advantix
Advantix for dogs is applied monthly and kills fleas and ticks effectively on contact, as well as other parasites and insects.
- Topical spot-on treatment.
- Protects against fleas, brown dog ticks, paralysis ticks and bush ticks.
- Controls lice, mosquitoes, sandflies and stable flies.
- Prevents infestations for six weeks.
- For dogs over seven weeks old.
- Ideal for tropical locations where ticks are in abundance.
View our range of Advantix products here
NexGard Spectra
NexGard Spectra is a comprehensive monthly oral treatment that covers fleas and other parasite protection, including parasitic worms.
- Oral treatment.
- Protects against fleas and ticks.
- Treats and controls mange and mites.
- Prevents heartworm disease.
- Treats roundworm, hookworm and whipworm.
- Prevents tapeworm.
- Prevents infestations for one month.
- For dogs over eight weeks old.
- Ideal overall protection in one tasty chew.
View all our NexGard products here
Frontline Plus
Frontline Plus is a proven effective topical treatment with monthly protection against fleas and biting lice and fortnightly protection against ticks. The new formula of Frontline Plus also helps to break the flea breeding cycle by preventing the development of flea eggs, larvae and pupae.
- Topical spot-on treatment.
- Protects against fleas and ticks.
- Protects against biting lice.
- Controls and treats flea allergy dermatitis.
- Prevents infestations for one month.
- For dogs over eight weeks old.
- Water fast.
View our collection of Frontline Plus products here
Advocate
Advocate for dogs is a topical treatment that provides fast relief from fleas, kills fleas through the whole life cycle, and protects against various parasitic worms.
- Topical spot-on treatment.
- Protects fleas, mites, lice, heartworm and intestinal worms.
- Does not protect against hydatid tapeworms or ticks.
- Prevents infestations for one month.
- For dogs over seven weeks old.
- Water-resistant.
- Recommended for dogs that live in areas with a low risk of ticks.
View our range of Advocate products here
Fleas are no fun. If you have an infestation at home or are concerned that your dog may have fleas — as well as treating them, it is essential that you treat your home and vacuum it thoroughly. Eggs often hide under blankets, carpets and rugs and can lay dormant until the right conditions, such as humidity and warmth, occur.
Flea treatments and medications are always evolving and improving and are now extremely effective against flea infestations. As always, the best way to protect your dog and your home from a flea infestation is to use regular flea treatments as a preventative.
Explore the huge range of flea treatments we have available.
*This article has been written in collaboration with a qualified Veterinarian.
