Dog Flea and Parasite Prevention and Treatment

A very big concern with owning a dog, especially a large one, is having one infested with fleas, ticks, or other parasitic hosts. They cause a large variety of health issues and problems with your canine companion. These hosts are often tough to get rid of.

Once infested, these parasitic creatures can often spawn hundreds of new eggs a day. With the correct dog flea medicine and prevention methods, these harmful little creatures can be eradicated and stunted from spreading forever.

Comprehending the Flea’s Life Cycle

Before you start your treatment of flea medicine, its best to understand how these little beasts live. There are four life cycles of a flea: egg, larva, pupa and adult flea. Fleas locate a host, like your dog or any other animal, and feed upon their blood, therefore being able to produce eggs. Once these eggs have been laid, they will fall from the pet and hatch wherever they tend to land.

These places consist of your carpet, dog bedding, couch, clothes, or wherever your dog tends to relax. They hatch as larvae and later transform into pupae and finally adult fleas where they once again find a food source such as your dog. With suitable dog flea and tick medicine, it is evident that the fleas life cycle will come to a hault, therefore ending any further spread of eggs throughout your home.

Different Categories of Dog Flea Medicine

Not all dog flea medications are created equal nor do they handle your problem in the same manner. Some flea medications destroy egg larvae or adult fleas while others will disrupt their entire life cycle. Not all dog flea medications are dispensed in the same manner. There are oral pills versus a liquid medicine that is applied topically.

Regardless of the flea medication, you need to choose which one will best apply to the situation you have at hand or you may find yourself using all of them. As you may be able to notice by now, prevention is the easiest and most effective tool you can use to avoid any flea problem. There are several types of dog flea medications you can select from, we recommend a company called Petcraze.


How to use Flea Medication Accurately

Posted below are some great tips and hints as to how to administer the proper flea medicine correctly:

• Remember that some flea medications kill the flea while others work to interrupt the life cycle. Use whichever one works best for your situation or use both when in doubt.
• Start prevention treatments early, as to stop the fleas from spreading. The earlier you start the easier it will be to eliminate or stop an infestation.

• Buy a flea collar that will prevent eggs from hatching.
• If you find that your dog is scratching herself profusely, take action now before the situation gets out of control.
• Consider a liquid medicine if your dog has trouble with oral medications. You can mix this in their water if necessary.
• Vacuum areas where your pet rests regularly and discard the bag or vacuum some flea powder into the bag immediately.
• Consult your vet if you have concerns or questions regarding details of this infestation.
• Follow instructions properly. Seems very simple, but many people seem to skip a few steps as they may consider them unimportant. Do not fall victim to this mistake.

Fleas can be a nuisance and ultimately a health risk for you and your canine companion, but with the proper dog flea medicination treatment, you can dismiss this pest from your home for good.

Just wanted to comment on something.

Flea collars don't really work all that well. The chemicals aren't absorbed into the system as opposed to something like Frontline or Advantage so it can't be evenly distributed throughout the animal.

Also flea eggs drop off. Not all of them do, that's true, but they don't all stick on the animal like tick or mite eggs.

What that means is that where your dog lies down, the eggs will fall off. They'll hatch outside the host then just get on it that way.

You'd be better off applying your flea collar money towards your next couple months supply of (insert preferred systemic flea treatment here).



The best way, in my opinion, is buy a tablet of Capstar, which will run you about 3 bucks. It will kill all fleas on the animal within the next 12-24 hours. But it's not a lasting effect. This is just to get all the fleas off. Then start the animal on a flea control. The majority of the flea controls are growth inhibitors, meaning it won't allow the flea to progress into the adult stages. No adult organs = no eggs = no more fleas.

Flea collars are great !............in a vaccuum bag ! If you have one , remove it and cut it up ....place pieces in bags . Flea collars only work in the neck area .....fleas start in tail area.

I agree too that the only good use for a flea collar is in a vacuum bag! They cause more harm then anything else on the animals neck. I have seen way too many animals die or get seriously ill or skin problems from flea collars. They are bad news. I highly recommend to NEVER EVER put one on your dog or cat or any other animal they might make them for! (Especially Hartz brand!!)