Hey Shorty,

Now that the weather has gotten warmer, our dog is bringing fleas into the house.  What can we do?

Signed,
Itchy

Dear Itchy,
I’m getting itchy too just thinking about it.  We have personally used two products and can highly recommend both.  Mom talks about the dog she grew up with and how he suffered with fleas, those old flea collars are worthless.  The products that we highly recommend are Frontline Plus and Advantage. The first time Mom used it on me the fleas jumped from me like they were on a sinking ship!

Both Frontline Plus and Advantage are administered by putting a drop of the liquid product between your dog’s shoulder blades. You’ll need to reapply monthly.  Both have different versions depending on the weight of the dog.  Before you purchase you should note your pet’s weight and consult your vet regarding the safety of the product for your specific dog (you shouldn’t apply it to puppies earlier than 8 weeks old).  Your vet may sell these products, but once the vet agrees which product is best for your dog, you can save some money by purchasing it on-line.

Frontline Plus plus also kills ticks, so if you are having issues there, that might be a good route for you to take. It will kill fleas in 24 hours and ticks in 48. You’ll need to wait 24 hours before bathing your dog and he should be completely dry before you apply.

Washing your dogs bed (or your sheets if that’s where he sleeps) in hot water and vacuuming will help speed removal of the fleas from your house.  Consecutive applications should eliminate them from your house entirely.

It’s important to get rid of fleas as quickly as possible, flea bites can cause discomfort, lead to skin infections, lead to allergic skin reactions and even transmit tapeworms.

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