How to Work out the Best Flea Treatment for your Dog

Fleas are a part of life when you welcome a dog into your home! Fortunately, there are a range of options available to help you deal with this common problem.

So what's the best flea treatment for dogs? It really depends on what will best suit your dog, and your schedule. There are oral preparations, topical options and some that treat for fleas as well as other pests. They also vary in how often they need to be used.

Here's a quick guide to finding the best flea treatment for your canine companion.

Oral flea treatments

Oral flea treatments are easy to manage. Each tablet/chewable is a complete dose – whether it’s a dedicated flea treatment, or a mix to tackle ticks and worms as well.

Getting a dog to swallow a tablet or chewable may take some practice. The easiest way is the disguise the tablet. If your dog has a favourite treat, try putting the tablet in it. Dogs tend not to chew small treats, so you have an excellent chance that both the treat and the flea treatment will go down easily!

If this doesn't work, you may need to take direct action. If you hold a small dog on your lap with one arm, while holding its mouth open with the hand of the same arm, you can pop the tablet in with your other hand. Gently close the dog’s mouth and hold it until the dog swallows a couple of times. With a larger dog, try sitting on the floor with them, or enlisting the help of a second person.

It's important to note that an oral treatment can be compromised if the dog throws up soon after ingesting it.

An excellent oral flea treatment is the NexGard Spectra which has all the protection you need while disguised as a treat with flavour so its easy to treat your dog.

Topical flea treatments

Topical flea treatments work in a different way. They are a liquid containing the active ingredients, which you apply directly to the dog's skin. They are easy to apply, which is why a lot of people like to use them in preference to a tablet.

Care must be taken to make sure the whole dose is deposited correctly on the skin rather than just on the hair. You must also keep the dog dry for the next 48 hours, so the treatment doesn’t get washed off before it has a chance to be properly absorbed.

A good range of Topical flea treatment are the fast acting revolution spot-on flea treatment which offers protection for a month after being applied.

How often does a dog need to be treated for fleas?

Flea and tick treatments can vary in frequency, ranging from a fortnightly dose to every three to four months.

How frequently you treat your dog is really up to you, and how you will best keep the treatments on track. You can find out how often your dog will need to be treated using a certain product in the manufacturer's instructions. 

You may find it easy to choose a product with the maximum frequency. Or, if you're giving your dog other monthly treatments such as a heart worm tablet, it might be convenient to choose a monthly flea treatment as well.

What you choose will depend on whatever treatment is easiest to remember and administer. You might need to try a few different products to find the one that works for you and your dog. You can also get advice on the best flea treatment for dogs from your vet.