Oral Flea Medication for Puppies

Fleas

• Small, wingless insects that feed on animal blood, fleas can infest house pets, including dogs and puppies. Fleas can consume up to 15 times their own blood. Signs of flea infection include increased itching and scratching by a puppy, pale gums and listlessness. A puppy owner will likely see the fleas crawling in the puppy's fur, along with flea droppings or "flea dirt," which resembles dark specks of dirt, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Oral Medication

• Oral flea medication is available to treat and prevent flea infestation in puppies. Some, like Program, work by interrupting the life cycle of fleas. It does not kill adult fleas, but it prevents their eggs from hatching and larvae from developing. Others, like Advantage, kill adult fleas and developing larvae but do not kill flea eggs.

Benefits

• Oral flea medication for puppies is easier to give to puppies and is not as messy as other treatments such as insecticidal dips and shampoos. Some topical treatments can be health hazards for children that come in contact with them. Topical treatments can be deadly to cats. If there are cats in the household, oral flea medications for the puppy helps to protect them, according to the "Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook."

Risks

• There are some risks associated with oral flea medications for puppies. The medications are insecticides, so they do contain poisonous substances. Some puppies experience adverse reactions, including intestinal issues such as vomiting, diarrhea and lack of appetite. Some puppies experience red skin and itching from the medication rather than from the fleas. Whenever giving a puppy new medication, it is important to monitor his condition carefully.

Considerations

• It is important to treat a flea infestation quickly and completely. Fleas can cause significant blood loss and anemia in puppies, which can be life threatening. A dog owner should not combine oral flea medications with topical flea treatments until talking to his veterinarian. Some combinations of insecticides can be dangers for a puppy and other animals in his environment.