Fleas are one of the most annoying aspects of dog ownership. They make your puppy miserable, sometimes leading to excessive scratching. A flea population can easily infest your home if allowed to get out of control. There are many methods of flea treatment and prevention, but not all of them are safe for young puppies. It is important to check product label directions and warnings before using any type of flea treatment on your puppy.
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Medicated Treatments
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Because fleas are such a common problem for pet owners, there are many options for treatment. Topical treatments include spot-on medication, medicated collars, shampoos, powders and dips. There are also oral treatments available.
Some products contain insect growth regulators, or IGRs, which kill flea eggs and larvae. Though they do not kill adults, they affect the flea's life cycle, so when the adults die there is not second generation to infest the pet. Other products contain a different type of chemical that kills the adult flea. Your veterinarian may recommend a combination of these two types of treatments to kill all stages of fleas rapidly.
Treating the Environment
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When dealing with fleas, it is important to treat the environment as well as the pet. Fleas can live in carpet, upholstery and bedding and hop right back on your pet after his treatment.
Sprinkle a flea treatment powder on carpets and upholstered surfaces, then vacuum thoroughly. You may also want to consider a fogger or "flea bomb" to treat large areas. Wash your pet's bedding using a medicated product. If there are other pets in the house, you need to treat them at the same time. Control fleas outdoors by keeping grass mowed short.
Age and Weight Restrictions
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All flea products should list warnings as well as age and weight restrictions on the package. For example, a topical flea treatment containing imidacloprid can only be used on puppies over the age of seven weeks. Some products warn against use on puppies under 12 weeks of age. This is because most flea treatments contain chemicals that may damage a young puppy's system. Proper weight-based dosage is important as well, so make sure you know your puppy's exact weight before purchasing an over-the-counter flea treatment.
Dangers
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Most flea treatments contain neurotoxins, which kill the insects by attacking the nervous system. These chemicals cannot differentiate between the flea's nervous system and the dog's. Inappropriate doses or improper application can cause serious harm to your pet, including nerve damage, brain damage, seizures, paralysis and death. Make sure your pet cannot ingest or inhale any flea treatment product and always follow package directions.
Alternative Methods
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It is very important to discuss any type of flea treatment method with your veterinarian. If your puppy is too young or too small for medicated flea treatment products, there are some non-toxic alternatives that may not work as quickly as medication, but are far safer for use on young animals.
Bathe your puppy thoroughly in a gentle shampoo formulated for puppies, then use a flea comb to go over every inch of fur. You may have to repeat this process several times. Kill any fleas you find by dousing them in a mixture of water and dish soap. Treat carpets and upholstery by applying borax, then vacuuming thoroughly. The green-living website Care2 recommends using diatomaceous earth to treat your yard and other outdoor areas.
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