Oral Flea Treatments for Dogs

Fleas can be a major problem for dogs, causing itching, allergic reactions and sometimes infestation. In the past, the most popular form of flea control was liquid medication applied to the dog's skin, but fleas in some areas have become resistant to these products. Now, oral flea treatments are available for dogs six weeks of age and older.

  1. How it Works

    • Oral flea treatments are available in a small tablet that is flavored so that the dog will eat it. It can be administered by itself or hidden in the dog's food. Once the dog takes the tablet, the medication circulates in the bloodstream for about thirty days. A pill given orally once a month will keep the dog protected over that time.

      Because oral treatment has to be digested, it causes some dogs to get an upset stomach. The main side effect is vomiting, which may render the medication ineffective.

    Types

    • There are two brand-name oral flea treatments for dogs: Program and Comfortis. Program causes dogs to secrete oil through their skin that contains the medication, which causes fleas to lay sterile eggs. Program, however, does not kill adult fleas or ticks. Program works to keep new fleas that get on your dog from reproducing, therefore preventing an infestation. Since fleas have a short life span, the adult fleas that get on your dog should soon be gone.

      Comfortis stays in the dog's bloodstream and kills fleas when they bite. Since fleas usually bite almost immediately after getting onto dogs, Comfortis soon kills all the fleas that are on the dog. Comfortis kills both adult and developing fleas (fleas in the larval stage), but it does not kill ticks.

    Advantages

    • If topical flea medications aren't working for your dog, chances are the fleas in your area have become resistant, so an oral flea treatment may be more effective. This is part of the reason oral treatments have been developed and approved for use.

      The main reason dog owners switch to oral flea medications, however, is that oral flea medications stay completely within the dog's body. Topical medications generally instruct owners to leave the home for at least two hours after applying the medication to the dog's skin because the toxins from the medication can harm owners during that time frame. There is no need to do this with oral flea treatments because the insecticide medication is in the dog's bloodstream where owners will not be exposed to it.