Flea Treatments for a Teacup Chihuahua Puppy

Teacup Chihuahua puppies are some of the tiniest pups you can find, weighing in at only three or four pounds after reaching maturity. It is important to think about the safety of your animal prior to using new or unusual pet products. Dogs are commonly susceptible to fleas and ticks, and Teacup Chihuahua puppies are no different. Use an appropriate flea treatment that is safe and effective for tiny dogs and puppies.

  1. At-Home Remedies

    • The greatest concern in caring for a Teacup Chihuahua puppy with fleas is the safety of the dog. Remember that larger dogs can often handle higher doses of medicine and grooming treatments than little dogs. Some of the most common flea treatments for all dogs include monthly topical products, flea sprays, flea dips (or flea baths), flea shampoos, flea collars, and flea powders. If bathing your puppy at home be sure to avoid getting any of the flea dip or shampoo in the puppy's ears or eyes. You should gently wash the puppy's body and watch for the tiny black fleas to fall off in the water as you rinse the pup. If you choose to use a flea spray be sure to gently spray the Teacup Chihuahua's entire body without soaking it, again avoiding the eyes and ears. Once you get the flea problem under control consider a strong flea and tick preventative so you can avoid fleas in the first place instead of treating them.

    Veterinary Care

    • A veterinarian can help with all kinds of canine parasites including fleas, ticks, worms, and others. If you are at all concerned about treating your Teacup Chihuahua puppy for fleas at home make a visit to the vet. The veterinarian can help your tiny puppy with a flea dip or a flea bath as well as manual removal of the parasites. Medicines taken by mouth or injected into the body are also common flea control products offered by vets. Capstar is a 24-hour pill that kills fleas but other treatments may be necessary for full effectiveness.

    Flea Treatments for the Home and Surroundings

    • It is important to remember that your puppy can easily become infested with fleas again if you don't ensure your home and your puppy's bedding are also free from fleas. Vacuum and clean the parts of your home where your pet frequently goes. Wash all of your puppy's bedding, blankets, and cloth toys. You may want to use a fogger, flea powder, or other home treatment option to kill adult fleas as well as larvae. Speak with your veterinarian and consider a professional flea bomb service or exterminator if your home is badly infested with fleas.

    Natural Flea Remedies

    • Since Teacup Chihuahuas are very small and sensitive to chemicals you may want to consider natural flea remedies for your pup. First and foremost you can hand-pick the fleas off of your puppy. It is time consuming and you may not get every single flea on the first try, but you can guarantee your dog's safety since there are no chemicals involved. You can also wash your pet using an herbal shampoo with any of the following ingredients: bergamot, citronella, eucalyptus, geranium, juniper, lavender, pine cedar, or rosemary as these are all unattractive or repelling to fleas.