Safe Flea Treatments for Puppies

Fleas can be very annoying to a dog. Worse still, fleas can also be dangerous as they can spread diseases. On puppies, those dangers are even more severe---major infestations can cause illness and even lead to death. Unfortunately, many flea treatments are dangerous for puppies. But luckily, there are a number of treatments that are indeed safe enough for pups.

  1. Advantage

    • Advantage is a topical medication that can be applied to puppies at least seven weeks old. This liquid is applied using an applicator tube to the back of the puppy's neck and should spread over its skin within the next 12 hours---killing fleas and larvae in the process. Advantage is available from both pet stores and veterinarians.

    Frontline

    • Frontline works very much like Advantage and can be used on puppies at least 10 weeks of age. It uses an applicator tube to dispense a gelatinous liquid onto the back of the puppy's neck, where it disperses over the rest of its body. This medication kills fleas and larvae within 24 hours. In addition, it has the added benefit of being able to also kill ticks, which can spread Lyme disease. Frontline is available over-the-counter from pet shops or from a veterinarian.

    Flea Bath

    • Sometimes a simple flea bath should be enough to control fleas on your puppy. While medications for flea-bathing puppies are scarce, you can actually use common liquid dish soap. Create a lukewarm pot or tub of soapy water and bathe your puppy---being careful not to get any of the water in its eyes. When finished, stroke through the puppy's fur with a flea comb to remove any dead or dying fleas, then dry it off with a standard towel.