Difference Between Flea Spray & Flea Dip

If your pet has fleas, pet supply stores and veterinarians offer several types of flea remedies for your pet, including sprays and dips. While most flea products contain insecticides that may be harmful, some are safer than others. Ask your veterinarian which option is right for you, your pet and your family. Be sure to treat the yard and vehicle as well, or other treatments may prove to be in vain.

  1. About Fleas

    • A flea's life-cycle has 4 stages. Most flea treatments eliminate fleas during one or more stages but not all. A flea in cocoon stage is most resilient; it can live in your home more than a year without feeding and is protected by an impenetrable shell. Fleas in this stage survive most treatments. A single flea, emerged from a cocoon, causes over a trillion new fleas to appear over a 9-month period.

    Topical Spot Treatments

    • Spot treatments, applied once a month, repel fleas from your pet and help to reduce flea population within your home. A quality spot treatment renders fleas unable to reproduce once they have bitten your pet. This treatment is typically applied to the back of your pet's neck. The pesticides in the treatment enter your pet's bloodstream and secrete through the oils in skin.

    Dips

    • A flea dip is a strong solution of pesticides intended for initial treatment of a flea infestation on your pet. Dip is dangerous for a dog's health because dogs lick themselves. Due to the high rate of dip-related illnesses and death, dips are not recommended for cats. Because flea treatments can be expensive, some people prefer a dip for large dogs. Touching your pet after a flea dip puts you at risk for a reaction to the pesticides as well as possible ingestion.

    Sprays

    • Sprays made for indoor and outdoor use as well as for topical use directly on your pet are hazardous until dry. Keep kids away from pets until the spray is completely dry. Sprays make it easy to reach under furniture and in cracks and crevices. The main difference between a dip and a spray is that a dip only kills fleas that land on the pet, while sprays work on many surfaces. Flea dips also smell bad.

    Outdoor Treatments

    • A yard treatment should have a residual effect so it lasts for a while during times of high wind, sun and rain. Yard treatments mix easily with water and some apply with a hose end sprayer. Most outdoor insect sprays do not contain growth inhibitors but do have a nice perk; they kill many other insects in addition to fleas.

    Indoor Treatments

    • Carpet sprays kill adult fleas and contain egg-inhibiting ingredients. Foggers treat large open areas but do not typically reach under furniture, where flea cocoons tend to be hidden. Insect growth regulators, on the other hand, render any live flea unable to reproduce. Many carpet aerosols and liquid home treatments now contain growth regulators, the best way to win a battle with fleas by far.