How to Get Rid of Fleas on Newborn Pups

Serious health risks exist from fleas on newborn puppies, including anemia and infections carried by fleas. Puppies losing too much blood due to infestation may die without blood transfusions and intravenous fluids, according to Vetinfo. Steps for ridding fleas from puppies include removing fleas from the puppies' surroundings to stop reinfestation. Most fleas, in the forms of eggs, larvae and pupae, exist off your pets in the home.

Things You'll Need

  • 2 large boxes
  • Bowl
  • Dish detergent
  • Flea comb
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Instructions

    • 1

      Remove all bedding from the puppies and wash in hot water and bleach. Put puppies in a large box or other segregating container. Prepare a second box for putting each puppy after removing fleas. Fill a large glass or bowl with water and pour dish-washing detergent into it. Remove fleas from a newborn puppy with a flea comb and drop fleas into the soapy water to drown. Place puppy in clean separate container and repeat action with next puppy until you have removed fleas from all the puppies. Return puppies to whelping area with clean bedding. Flea comb the dam and other pets to help prevent reinfestation. Repeat process daily until puppies remain clear of fleas for at least three days. Check for fleas daily on puppies and on other dogs each time they return from outside.

    • 2

      Treat the mother and all pets in the home with flea treatment. Approved flea treatments for nursing dams include selamectin, nitenpyram, lufenuron or lufenuron with milbemycin oxime, and fipronil or fipronil with S-methoprene in spot application form, not spray, according to VeterinaryPartner.com. But these treatments are not for newborns. The puppy being treated must be at least 4 to 8 weeks old, according toVeterinaryPartner.

    • 3

      Use vacuum cleaner on carpeting, floors and furniture cushions each day. Place vacuum bag into outside trash or add diatomaceous earth to the bag. Treat your home, especially the area containing the puppies, with safe products to prevent or kill fleas to help stop reinfestation. Products with low or no toxicity include neem tree oil and food-grade diatomaceous earth, according to University of Florida assistant professor Eileen A. Buss and Gulf Coast REC extension associate professor Sydney G. Park-Brown on the University of Florida IFAS Extensionss website. Spray methoprene, a hormone that stops fleas from maturing, around baseboards and under furniture. Treat your yard with the same safe products used in your house or other safe methods such as pyrethrins. Avoid permethrins around cats.