Advantage Flea Instructions

When your pet gets fleas, the whole family can suffer along with him. A pet that is constantly scratching can also increase his chance of getting an infection, which can lead to costly veterinarian bills. Advantage Flea Control, when applied properly, can mostly rid your dog or cat of these pesky insects. Advantage must be prescribed through a veterinarian, who can determine the proper dosage for your pet.

  1. Go to the Vet

    • Take your dog or cat to the vet's office so the doctor can examine your pet. Advantage Flea Control requires a different dosage depending on the size, weight and species of your animal. It's important you do not interchange medications for dogs and cats or apply Advantage on any other household pet, such as rabbits or guinea pigs. You may need to treat your pet once a month in order to maintain flea control.

    For Dogs

    • Advantage can be used on puppies who are over 7 weeks old and dogs weighing up to and over 55 lbs. Dogs who are larger, 20 lbs. and over, will need to have more medicine applied over a larger area of their body.

      You will need to get your dog into a standing position to apply properly. Dogs and puppies 20 lbs. and under will get the prescribed amount of Advantage applied on their back, between their shoulder blades. Part as much fur as you need in order to get the medicine directly on your pet's skin. Be careful that your dog doesn't squirm while doing this; Advantage should not get into your pet's eyes, mouth or nose. Ask for help if you need to hold him while you apply the product.

      Dogs 20 lbs. and above will have Advantage applied on up to four spots on his body: between the shoulder blades, two more spots along his back and at the base of the tail.

    For Cats

    • Kittens over 8 weeks old can be treated with Advantage. Smaller cats, under 9 lbs., will have a slightly lower dosage than cats above that weight.

      Apply Advantage directly to the back of the cat's neck, right at the base of her skull and as close to the skin as possible. This should keep her from licking away the medication. Again, keep the applicator and any medicine away from your cat's mouth, nose or eyes. Unlike large dogs, large cats do not need to have this product applied in multiple locations on the body.

      It is recommended that when you have finished applying Advantage, you wrap the tube in several layers of newspaper before throwing it away.