Fleas can hop onto dogs at any time in their lives, including when they are pregnant. They can also hitch a ride on people as they travel from host to host. Although there are many flea killing insecticides that are safe for adult dogs or weaned puppies, most will harm the developing puppy fetus. Mar Vista Animal Medical Center recommends only two insecticides for pregnant dogs̵1;Revolution (selamectin) and Capstar (nitenpryam).
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Immediate Treatment
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Give the pregnant dog a bath as soon as fleas or flea droppings ("flea dirt") are discovered. Flea droppings look like pepper. If you place a sample on a wet paper towel and it turns reddish, it is from a flea. "The Doctors Book of Home Remedies for Dogs and Cats" recommends that pregnant dogs be given a bath with regular dog or puppy shampoo. Do not use medicated shampoos because they contain ingredients that may harm a developing puppy fetus. A bath with a regular shampoo will soothe any itches from flea bites and encourage the fleas to jump off of the dog. Any live fleas can be killed by squashing them between your fingernails or dropping them into rubbing alcohol. They may also be drown in the bathwater.
Treat Other Areas
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Restrict the pregnant dog to only some parts of the home while she is being treated. This will help limit the spread of fleas. If there are any other pets in the home, they will also need to be treated for fleas. Any fleas scurrying from the pregnant dog's bath will target the other pets. Fleas only live on hosts to feed and breed. Most of their time is spent on furniture, carpeting, soil or bedding. Be sure to vacuum the house to get rid of flea eggs and larvae. Launder all pet and human bedding once a week. Do not place any outdoor or lawn insecticides down until the dog has had her puppies.
Prescription Medication
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Go to the vet as soon as possible for prescription medication to kill fleas on a pregnant dog. Both Revolution and Capstar are pills. These medications will kill adult fleas, but not flea larvae. Continue giving the medication throughout the dog's pregnancy in order to kill newly hatched adult fleas. Talk to your vet about giving the medication after the dog has her puppies. Since puppies are so small, it takes fewer fleas drinking their blood in order to make them anemic.
Worming
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Give deworming medication about two weeks before the mother's due date. Puppies and pregnant dogs must be treated for tapeworms if the mother has fleas. Many fleas contain tapeworms. When a dog grooms herself, she may swallow the flea and also the tapeworm. Revolution and Capstar will not prevent tapeworms. According to "The Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook," the medication used for pregnant dogs is usually Panacur (fenbendazole). This will also kill hookworms, whipworms and roundworms.
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