Flea Control For Puppies - A Guide to Treating Fleas on Puppies.



This page provides a basic overview of flea control for puppies and the flea control products available for the different puppy age groups and is supplementary to my more detailed pages on individual flea control products (e.g. Program, Capstar, Advantage, Revolution) and my very detailed page on flea control and prevention. I recommend you read my flea control page if your puppies have a flea problem as just treating the pups themselves may not be enough (you may have to treat the home environment and other pets in the household if you are to completely eradicate your puppy flea problem).

This 'flea control for puppies' page features only the safest and most effective of the commercially-available flea control products marketed for use in canines. I am not paid by any drug company to promote any of the flea control products mentioned on this page. I just know them to be safe and, for the most part, effective when used correctly and according to label directions.

Be aware that my site is Australia-based so certain overseas product formulations may not be mentioned even if they do provide excellent flea control for puppies.

In the interest of providing you with safe, effective flea control for puppies, you will not find mention of flea collars, flea rinses, flea soaps, flea powders or flea shampoos on this puppy fleas page. Whilst certain individual brands may be quite effective at killing fleas and providing flea prevention (when used correctly), some products may provide incomplete and non-continuous flea control (i.e. they may only kill fleas during the wash, but not in the days afterwards, necessitating frequent, repeated treatment) and some may contain ingredients that are highly toxic to young puppies. These products are also easily misused resulting in, at best, poor flea control, and, at worst, toxic side effects. As a vet, I don't tend to recommend them.



Flea control for puppies



Flea Control for Puppies - Contents:

Flea Control For Puppies Product 1 - Advantage flea control (active ingredient - Imidacloprid).

Flea Treatment For Puppies Product 2 - Advocate flea control (active ingredients - Imidacloprid and Moxidectin).

Flea Control For Puppies Product 3 - Frontline flea spray and Frontline Plus spot-on (active ingredient is Fipronil +/- S-methoprene).

Controlling Fleas on Puppies Product 4 - Program flea control (active ingredient - Lufenuron).

Controlling Fleas on Puppies Product 5 - Sentinel Spectrum flea control (active ingredients - Lufenuron, Milbemycin oxime and Praziquantel).

Flea Treatment For Puppies Product 6 - Revolution flea control (active ingredient - Selamectin).

Controlling Fleas on Puppies Product 7 - Capstar flea medication (active ingredient - Nitenpyram).

Controlling Puppy Fleas Product 8 - Comfortis flea control (active ingredient - Spinosad).

Flea Control For Puppies Case examples - What can I treat this puppy with!?

When buying a puppy - don't bring puppy fleas home with you.

READ LABELS CAREFULLY. Do not accidentally poison your puppy dog with the wrong flea control product!



Flea control for puppies



Flea Control For Puppies Product 1 - Advantage flea control (active ingredient - Imidacloprid).

Advantage is a spot-on flea control product designed to kill adult fleas and their larvae for a full month after application. It also kills lice.

According to the manufacturer, Advantage flea control can be used to treat fleas on puppies from the time of weaning (6 weeks) onwards. The product is given monthly as a spot-on (topical) treatment.

Advantage flea control is apparently safe to administer to puppies (tiny doses) from only a few days old, however, because pups this age are normally still feeding on their mother, the manufacturer recommends not treating the unweaned puppies individually (since accidental overdose could potentially result in toxicity), but instead treating the mother dog only. The Advantage flea control solution will distribute from the coat of the mother to her unweaned puppies, thereby protecting them from flea infestation.

To go from this 'flea control for puppies' page to my complete page on Imidacloprid (with emphasis on Advantage flea control), click here.



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Flea Treatment For Puppies Product 2 - Advocate flea control (active ingredients - Imidacloprid and Moxidectin).

Advocate flea control contains the same active ingredient as Advantage flea control: Imidacloprid. It also contains another potent antiparasitic drug (Moxidectin), which is designed to protect dogs, both young and old, against a range of mites (including ear mites, demodex mites and sarcoptic mange mites), lice and worms (including heartworms and various gastrointestinal nematodes). Advocate can be used to treat fleas on puppies from 7 weeks of age.

Advocate is a spot-on flea control product designed to kill adult fleas and their larvae for a full month after application. It is given monthly for ongoing flea control.



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Flea Control For Puppies Product 3 - Frontline flea spray and Frontline Plus spot-on (active ingredient is Fipronil +/- S-methoprene).

Frontline is a topical flea control product (applied to the coat) designed to kill adult fleas for a full month after application.

There are two fipronil-based products marketed for use against fleas on puppies. These are Frontline Plus Spot-on and Frontline Spray. Aside from killing adult fleas, the Frontline Plus spot-on also contains an insect growth inhibitor called S-methoprene which is designed to prevent flea eggs from hatching and flea larvae from developing. Depending on which product you choose, the age of the puppies that can be treated varies somewhat.

Frontline Plus Spot-on:
According to the manufacturer, Frontline Plus Spot-on flea control can be used to treat lice and fleas on puppies from 8 weeks of age onward. The product is given monthly as a spot-on (topical) treatment for the prevention of fleas in dogs. It is also safe to use on breeding, pregnant and lactating bitches (you can apply it to a dam even if she is nursing young pups, just don't put it directly on the individual puppies - use Frontline Spray on the puppies instead).

To go from this 'flea control for puppies' page to a Merial (Frontline Plus manufacturer) info sheet which helps you to work out which spot-on product to put on your dog, follow the links below.
http://www.frontlineplus.com.au/puppy_love/dogs_which_is_right_FP.asp

Frontline Spray:
According to the manufacturer, Frontline Spray can be used to treat fleas on puppies from 2 days of age onward. The product is given monthly to 12-weekly (the spray-on formulation is thought to exert its activity for up to 2 months in cats and 3 months in dogs) as a spray-on treatment for the prevention of fleas in dogs. It is also safe to use on breeding, pregnant and lactating bitches.

Although the spray-on product can be used on older puppies and adult dogs, most people tend to use the spot-on product once a dog is over 8 weeks old. The spray is generally reserved for puppies under the age of 8 weeks and for dogs needing tick prevention (many vets I know prefer the spray formulation over the spot-on for tick prevention, even though Frontline Plus Spot-on is marketed as a canine tick preventative when applied 2-weekly to the coat). The reason Frontline Spray is generally only used in young, small puppies is because it can be a tad messy and unpleasant and fiddly to apply. The animal has to be coated all over with the spray product (5 separate body sites) and you have to calculate the number of sprays (dose rate) carefully and apply the product over the entire coat to the level of the skin (so that the whole animal is damp with it) and so on. It is far trickier to use than a simple, one-site, spot-on application. The product also needs to be applied in a well-ventilated area (you shouldn't breathe it in) and you need to wear gloves.

Author's note: Frontline Spray can be given at 3-weekly intervals to prevent ticks in dogs (e.g. to prevent tick paralysis).

To go from this 'flea control for puppies' page to a neat Merial (Frontline manufacturer) calculator which helps you to work out how much spray to put on your puppy, follow the links below.
http://www.frontlineplus.com.au/puppy_love/dogs_calculator.asp
http://www.frontlineplus.com.au/puppy_love/dogs_which_is_right_FS.asp

Be aware that different size Frontline Spray bottles deliver a different dosage. The 100ml bottle delivers 0.5ml of flea solution per spray, whereas the 250ml and 500ml bottles deliver 1.5ml per spray. You need to work out the correct dose (number of sprays needed) based on the size of the bottle. With tiny puppies, customers often purchase the 100ml bottle which delivers smaller doses per spray and thus achieves more accuracy of dosing.

To go from this 'flea control for puppies' page to a Merial sheet on how to apply the spray (the five zones of the body that must be covered), follow the link below.
http://www.frontlineplus.com.au/puppy_love/dogs_using_frontline_apply_frontline_spray.

Other Merial guides to using Frontline Spray as flea control for puppies.
http://www.frontlineplus.com.au/media/pdf/fl_spray_app_guide.pdf
http://www.frontlineplus.com.au/puppy_love/dogs_which_is_right_FS.asp



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Controlling Fleas on Puppies Product 4 - Program flea control (active ingredient - Lufenuron).

Dogs over 6 weeks of age can be treated with Program flea treatment (i.e. weaned puppies). Please be aware that Program (Lufenuron) is only designed to inhibit flea egg hatching and larval development in the home environment (by breaking the flea life cycle, total environmental flea control is eventually ensured). The product will not actively kill adult fleas running around on your puppies and so this product is often used in conjunction with one of the other products mentioned on this page to achieve an environmental flea control effect as well as an adult-flea-killing effect.

Program inhibits flea egg development for a full month after dosing. It is given monthly as an oral tablet to help control fleas on puppies.

To go from this 'flea control for puppies' page to my complete page on Program flea control, click here.



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Controlling Fleas on Puppies Product 5 - Sentinel Spectrum flea control (active ingredients - Lufenuron, Milbemycin oxime and Praziquantel).

Sentinel Spectrum flea control contains the same active flea control ingredient as Program: Lufenuron. It also contains two other potent antiparasitic drugs (Praziquantel and Milbemycin oxime), which are designed to protect dogs, both young and old, against a broad range of worms including: heartworms, various gastrointestinal nematodes and tapeworms.

Puppies over 6 weeks of age can be treated with Sentinel Spectrum flea treatment (i.e. weaned puppies). Please be aware that Lufenuron (the active flea-inhibition ingredient of Sentinel) is only designed to inhibit flea egg hatching and larval development in the home environment (by breaking the flea life cycle, total environmental flea control is eventually ensured). The product will not actively kill adult fleas running around on your puppies and so this product is often used in conjunction with one of the other products mentioned on this page to achieve an environmental flea control effect as well as an adult-flea-killing effect.

Author's note - I would be very cautious about using Sentinel Spectrum in combination with either Advocate or Revolution as some of the ingredients (the milbemycin oxime) contained in the Sentinel Spectrum might amplify the effect of similar ingredients contained in the Revolution (the Selamectin) or the Advocate (the Moxidectin), creating toxic signs. Please note - this is only my personal opinion and concern based purely on the fact that Selamectin, Milbemycin and Moxidectin all come from the same drug family (macrocyclic lactone family).

Sentinel Spectrum inhibits flea egg development for a full month after dosing. It is given monthly as an oral tablet to help in the control of fleas on puppies.

To go from this 'flea control for puppies' page to my complete page on Lufenuron (with emphasis on Program flea control pills), click here.



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Flea Treatment For Puppies Product 6 - Revolution flea control (active ingredient - Selamectin).

Revolution is a spot-on flea control product designed to kill adult fleas, their eggs and their larvae for a full month after application.

Revolution should only be used to control fleas on puppies from 6 weeks of age.



The reason for this is safety. The blood-brain barrier is weaker in young animals than in juvenile and adult animals and less capable of excluding drugs like selamectin from the brain. If Revolution is given to such animals, the Selamectin active ingredient can accidentally cross into the brain of the treated baby animal, resulting in signs of toxicity. Pfizer's own literature gives an example of an underage kitten that died from the improper application of Revolution flea control: "A kitten, estimated to be 5-6 weeks old (0.3 kg), died 8.5 hours after receiving a single treatment of REVOLUTION at the recommended dosage. The kitten displayed clinical signs which included muscle spasms, salivation and neurological signs. The kitten was a stray with an unknown history and was malnourished and underweight." It should be noted that the underweight condition of the animal may have also contributed to its death, not just its age.

The manufacturer advises that the product not be used in debilitated, sick or badly underweight animals. Therefore, puppies severely debilitated by worms, malnutrition and severe flea-induced anaemia might not be best treated with this product until they are a bit stronger.

The product is considered safe to use in breeding animals that are pregnant or lactating or that are about to be bred from. You can use Revolution flea control on a dog that has unweaned (<6 weeks old) offspring nursing off her. Just don't apply the product directly to those young, unweaned animals.

Safety studies (Pfizer literature) have been done giving 6-week old puppies a topical dose of Selamectin that was 10x the dose normally given to such animals (i.e. 60mg/kg instead of 6mg/kg). No adverse effects were noted.

A 2000 study published in the August edition of Veterinary Parasitology looked at a wide range of safety aspects associated with the use of Selamectin in dogs and puppies. The study looked at topical side effects, oral side effects (mimicking an ingestion event), Selamectin use on pregnant and lactating dogs and dogs intended for breeding, Selamectin use in avermectin-sensitive collies (rough-coated collies were used in this part of the study, as opposed to beagles, which were used for the rest of the study), Selamectin safety in animals already infested with heartworms and so on. Signs of toxicity were not just evaluated looking at external, clinical signs of poisoning (e.g. tremors, drooling, ataxia), but animals were also assessed using blood tests, histopathological examination of internal tissues (looking for microscopic evidence of damage) and, in breeding animals, by looking at reproductive indices (e.g. litter size, fertility and so on). With regard to age, beagle puppies were dosed from 6 weeks of age and the study abstract comments: "Pups received large doses of selamectin at the beginning of the margin of safety study when they were 6 weeks of age and at their lowest body weight, yet displayed no clinical or pathologic evidence of toxicosis" and concludes by saying: "Selamectin is safe for topical use on dogs at the recommended minimum dosage of 6mgkg (6-12mgkg range) monthly starting at 6 weeks of age, and including dogs of reproducing age, avermectin-sensitive Collies, and heartworm-positive dogs."

Another 2000 article in Veterinary Parasitology examined the effectiveness and safety of Revolution flea control when used against both fleas and heartworms. Study animals were dosed with Selamectin (Revolution for pets) as per the label dosing regimen (6mg/kg topically every 30 days) for 2 months (days 0, 30 and 60). Just over 1000 animals (dogs and cats) were studied in this test, ranging from 6 weeks to 19 years of age and no serious adverse reactions were seen.

A 2000 Pfizer study published in Veterinary Parasitology examined the effectiveness of selamectin at treating and preventing Toxocara canis roundworms (and fleas) in pregnant or lactating dogs and their pups. Topical Revolution flea control was given to the dogs at 40 days and 10 days before birthing and again at 10 and 40 days after birthing (after whelping). Label doses of 6mg/kg (ranging up to 12mg/kg) were used on the mothers (the Revolution for pets was not applied to the puppies directly) and no adverse side effects of the treatment were observed in either the treated dogs or their puppies. Worm burdens were reduced by 99.7% in the mothers compared to control dogs (which didn't get the Revolution flea control) and 98.2% in the pups. Fleas were reduced by 99.8% in mothers and pups compared to controls.

To go from this 'flea control for puppies' page to my complete page on Selamectin (Revolution flea control), click here.



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Controlling Fleas on Puppies Product 7 - Capstar flea medication (active ingredient - Nitenpyram).

If you want a super fast flea knock-down product (all fleas dead within hours), Capstar is an excellent choice. The product doesn't exert its effect for long (24-48 hours maximum), making it a less common choice for ongoing flea control, but it will take care of large populations of fleas on puppies really fast (giving time for your monthly spot-on flea treatments to take effect). You will literally start to see fleas falling off your puppies within the hour.

Do pay close attention to the weight of your pups if thinking of using Capstar as a fast-knockdown for their fleas. Although the product directions state that a dog must be over 4 weeks of age before it can be treated with Capstar flea control pills, the manufacturer also states that treated animals (dogs or cats) must be over 2 pounds (900g) in body-weight before the pills should be given. Many puppies do not achieve 2 pounds in bodyweight until they are at least 8-9 weeks of age, so, even though the label says the tablets can be given from 4 weeks of age, you wouldn't be likely to dose small pups with Capstar flea control pills until they were around 8-9 weeks of age (and even then, only if they had attained over 900g in weight).

Basically, make sure you weigh any puppy to ensure that it is over 2 pounds or 900g in bodyweight before giving it Capstar.

Super important note: The Capstar flea control packet and information sheets state that Capstar flea control pills are "safe for use in dogs and cats, puppies and kittens 2 pounds of body weight or greater and 4 weeks of age and older." Over the years, reports by owners of adverse effects have shown that this may no longer be quite the case and Novartis, as a responsible company, has since issued an update on the safety of Capstar flea control pills. The information can be found at: http://www.capstarpet.com/pdf/Dear_Doctor.pdf

I would advise you to read it before giving your pet Capstar flea medication.

The adverse effects information contained in the above link states that serious side effects, including seizures, neurological signs and even death, are most commonly seen in animals below 2 pounds of weight and in those animals less than 8 weeks old and/or those in poor condition (e.g. thin, sickly animals).

Many of the adverse effects reported in dogs and cats following the administration of Capstar flea medication are excitatory effects including: hyperactivity, panting, nervousness, fever, vocalisation and an increased heart rate. In extreme cases, these excitatory effects have tipped over into marked gastrointestinal effects (vomiting, decreased appetite, diarrhea, salivation) and moderate to severe neurological signs (difficulty breathing, incoordination, seizures, trembling, pupil dilation), some of which have the potential to result in death (e.g. seizures). Allergic reactions have also been described, manifesting as: hypersalivation, fever, hives, swollen or puffy eyes, itching and redness. In seeming contrast, some animals have shown signs of depression and lethargy, rather than excitation, when given Capstar flea medication.

Birth defects and the loss of unborn puppies and kittens have been reported following the administration of Capstar flea medication to pregnant animals. Newborn puppies and kittens (neonates) have also been reported to die following the administration of Capstar flea medication to lactating animals. Although these effects are not guaranteed to have been caused by Capstar (many factors can cause pregnancy loss and the death of delicate neonatal animals), the company recommends exercising caution with the product in pregnant and lactating animals.

Novartis, like all responsible drug companies, wants to know about any observed side effects. Pet owners are encouraged to report suspected side effects (most drug side effects are never known about because most pet owners never report them).

If you suspect a Capstar related side effect or adverse drug event, you can call Novartis Animal Health on 1-800-637-0281 or the FDA on 1-800-FDA-VETS.

You can also report issues with Capstar flea medication online at http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/SafetyHealth/ReportaProblem/ucm055305.htm

To go from this 'flea control for puppies' page to my complete page on Nitenpyram (Capstar flea control), click here.



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Controlling Puppy Fleas Product 8 - Comfortis flea control (active ingredient - Spinosad).

If you want a super fast flea knock-down product (all adult fleas dead within around 4 hours), Comfortis is an excellent choice of flea control for puppies. The product is an oral flea control pill which also happens to last for an entire month after dosing, making it an excellent choice for ongoing, monthly flea control. You will literally start to see fleas falling off your puppies within hours of dosing. Comfortis flea control should only be given to puppies over 14 weeks of age and which are more than 5 pounds in body weight. For best results, the product should be given with food.

Dogs with pork allergies should not be given Comfortis as the product contains this meat protein. The product can not be given to cats.

To go from this 'flea control for puppies' page to a fact sheet on Comfortis, click the link below:
http://www.comfortis4dogs.com/about-comfortis/faqs.aspx



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'Flea Control For Puppies' Case examples - What can I treat this puppy with!?

Flea control for puppies example 1) I just found a tiny puppy all on its own! It is only a few days old and covered in fleas. What should I use?
This is a puppy you will probably have to take to a vet first to see if it is healthy and viable and to get advice on bottle-feeding, however, with regard to the fleas, this is a job for Frontline Spray (probably the 100ml bottle). It can be used from 2 days of age. Follow the label directions carefully to ensure you dose the puppy correctly and reach all the places on the body where fleas could hide.


Flea control for puppies example 2) I just got given a nice puppy straight off its mother. It's only just weaned. It has fleas though. What should I use?
Generally, puppies are weaned at around 6 weeks of age, though some people allow their pups to stay with their mother until they are 8 weeks of age. If you are at all unsure of the birth date of your newly-weaned puppy, it is safer to assume the pup is younger rather than older and choose a product that can be used in 6 week old puppies. Advantage spot-on would be fine as would Revolution or Frontline Spray (but not Frontline Spot-on). You could also start the pet on Program flea control at this point too, since it is also safe at 6 weeks (it won't kill adult fleas though so you will still need to give the Advantage, Revolution or Frontline Spray).

Alternatively, you could give Sentinel Spectrum instead of Program, however, I would be reluctant to use it in combination with the Revolution as some of the other ingredients (the milbemycin oxime) contained in the Sentinel Spectrum might amplify the effect of similar ingredients contained in the Revolution (the Selamectin), creating toxic signs. Please note - this is only my personal opinion and concern based purely on the fact that Selamectin and Milbemycin come from the same drug family (macrocyclic lactone family).

I wouldn't use Capstar in such a puppy until it is 900g or more in weight. Many weaned puppies aren't this heavy, even though they are more than 4 weeks old.


Flea control for puppies example 3) I just got given an 8 week old puppy. What should I use to prevent fleas?
Weigh the puppy. If it is over 900g and already has fleas, you can give the animal a dose of Capstar for its fast flea-kill effect and then follow up with a monthly spot-on product that kills adult fleas. Advantage spot-on would be fine as would Frontline Spray, Frontline Spot-on, Advocate and Revolution (but not Comfortis). You could also start the pet on Program flea control at this point too, since it is also safe from 6 weeks (it won't kill adult fleas though so you will still need to give a product that kills adult fleas).

Alternatively, you could give Sentinel Spectrum instead of Program, however, I would be reluctant to use it in combination with either Advocate or Revolution as some of the other ingredients (the milbemycin oxime) contained in the Sentinel Spectrum might amplify the effect of similar ingredients contained in the Revolution (the Selamectin) or the Advocate (the Moxidectin), creating toxic signs. Please note - this is only my personal opinion and concern based purely on the fact that Selamectin, Milbemycin and Moxidectin all come from the same drug family (macrocyclic lactone family).

If the puppy does not actually have fleas yet and you are just after a preventative, skip the Capstar and just give the pup a monthly spot-on product that prevents/kills adult fleas. Advantage spot-on would be fine as would Frontline Spray, Frontline Spot-on, Advocate and Revolution (but not Comfortis). You could also start the pet on Program flea control at this point too.

Alternatively, you could give Sentinel Spectrum instead of Program, however, I would be reluctant to use it in combination with either Advocate or Revolution as some of the other ingredients (the milbemycin oxime) contained in the Sentinel Spectrum might amplify the effect of similar ingredients contained in the Revolution (the Selamectin) or the Advocate (the Moxidectin), creating toxic signs. Please note - this is only my personal opinion and concern based purely on the fact that Selamectin, Milbemycin and Moxidectin all come from the same drug family (macrocyclic lactone family).


Flea control for puppies example 4) I have a bitch with nursing babies. All of them have fleas. What do I use?
If the fleas are not too severe (just the occasional one running through the coat and very minor flea dirt), you could simply apply Advantage to the mother dog's coat. The product will diffuse to her puppies and kill the fleas on them also. You would need to keep an eye on the puppies' coats though to check the fleas are actually being killed (apply Frontline Spray to the puppies if the fleas are continuing to survive on them).



Alternatively, you could apply Advantage or Frontline spot-on or Frontline Spray to the mother dog's coat and then treat the babies individually with Frontline Spray. This is certainly what I would do if the puppies were severely flea-infested.


Flea control for puppies example 5) I have a breeding facility. Heaps of dogs of all ages and heaps of fleas. What products should I keep on hand?
Depending on how big the flea issue is, you might need to get a vet consultant out to assess the situation to determine the flea control program and flea products most applicable to your situation. I can only offer generalised information, not information specific to any one situation. You might also need to get the opinion of a pest company skilled at treating fleas, because no doubt there will be a major environmental flea burden also present which will also need to be controlled (not just the fleas on the dogs).

Having said that, you would do well to stock Frontline Spray (for all the small puppies), Program flea control tablets and one or two of the monthly adult-flea-killing products for the older puppies and adult dogs (e.g. Advantage, Revolution, Frontline Spot-on, Comfortis or Advocate).

All puppies would be treated with Frontline Spray.

All dogs over 6 weeks of age would get Program flea control pills on a monthly basis and all dogs would get a monthly spot-on adult-flea-killing product appropriate to the age of the dog (Advantage, Revolution, Frontline Spot-on, Comfortis flea control pills or Advocate). Consider Revolution or Advocate if your facility has additional problems such as mites or intestinal worms. Advantage, Advocate and Frontline Plus will also kill lice in dogs if these are a problem.

If you were selling puppies at 6 weeks of age, it would be handy to have Advantage flea control or Revolution flea control on hand to treat all puppies leaving the premises for their new homes (that way the new owners wouldn't take fleas home with them and you would have happy clients). If you were selling puppies at 8 weeks of age, then Revolution, Advantage, Frontline Plus or Advocate would be appropriate to this role, though Advantage and Frontline Plus in my experience are generally the least expensive (not always though - so do a price check).



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When buying a puppy - don't bring puppy fleas home with you.

One of the ways people bring fleas home to a clean, flea-free home is through the adoption or "finding" of a new puppy. Puppies often carry fleas, particularly those whose origin is unknown (e.g. if they were found in the street or wilderness) and those that come from an environment where flea populations are high and/or flea control minimal. Such places include: unregistered, backyard breeders; well-meaning friends who give you one of the puppies born on their property; pounds; puppy farms; shelters and even registered dog breeders (even licensed breeding facilities can have flea problems - fleas are invasive pests).


Before bringing the puppy home, you can perform a couple of simple steps to ensure the puppy doesn't introduce a flea infestation into your home:


If you don't need to take the puppy home immediately:
Two days before you bring the puppy home, get the person selling or giving it to you to treat it with a high quality flea control treatment, which will last a full month. Advantage flea control, Advocate, Revolution flea control and Frontline Spray are all good options. The two days will give all of these medications time to kill all the fleas on the animal (and hopefully attain a >95% effectiveness). Additionally, giving the animal a dose of Lufenuron (Program) will also help to ensure that any fleas which do survive will only lay infertile eggs.

Give the puppy a good, thorough brush. This will help to remove any flea eggs the animal might be carrying in its coat prior to it getting to your home.

Maintain a good flea control regime for at least three months following the puppy's admission into your home. Advantage, Advocate, Revolution flea control and Frontline Spray coupled to monthly Program flea control are all good options. This will ensure that, should any flea eggs manage to make it home on your pet's coat, the fleas which emerge will be killed off before they can establish viable populations in your home.


If you do need to take the pup home immediately:
If the person will not hold the puppy for 2 days or you find a puppy that has to be taken home immediately, give the animal some Capstar (Nitenpyram) if it is over 900g in weight or Comfortis (if it is over 14 weeks of age and 5 pounds in weight) and leave the animal in a pet carrier with food and water for a few hours. Preferably, put the carrier somewhere unattractive to the flea lifecycle so that, should any eggs bounce into the environment, they will be easy to vacuum away. Tiled bathrooms, laundries, kitchens and concrete garages are fine so long as they are not too hot or cold for your new puppy. Capstar and Comfortis work extremely fast to kill fleas on puppies (within about four hours all fleas should be killed).

After this, give the pup a good, thorough brushing. Do it outside or on an easy-to-vacuum surface (e.g. kitchen floor, laundry).

Following this, you should then treat the puppy with a monthly, adult-flea-killing product (please note - an additional adult-flea-killing product is not needed if you used Comfortis as your initial fast-knock-down flea killer since Comfortis maintains its effect for a full month after dosing) and also the monthly Program flea egg inhibitor.

To be extra safe, you could treat the puppy with the Capstar or Comfortis (follow the Capstar up with Advantage, Advocate, Revolution or Frontline Plus) and then leave the puppy in the laundry or bathroom for 24 hours with food and water and a toileting area. In that time, all the adult fleas should have died and you will find it very easy to vacuum up any of the flea eggs or larvae that might have fallen to the floor.

Continue the monthly adult-flea-killing product (Comfortis, Advocate, Advantage, Revolution or Frontline Plus) and the Program flea egg inhibitor for a few months to ensure that any fleas which do invade your home are killed before they can set up significant infestations.

Be sure to treat any other cats or dogs in your home at the same time to avoid fleas fleeing from your new puppy onto their coats.

The pet carrier the puppy came in should be taken outside and emptied and disinfected.

The floor where the pet carrier was resting should be thoroughly vacuumed to clean up any flea eggs or flea dirt that might have spilled onto the floor.



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READ LABELS CAREFULLY. Do not accidentally poison your pup with the wrong flea control product!

When treating fleas on puppies, be sure to read all the product labels very carefully before putting them on your puppy. Some chemicals are highly toxic to young animals.

When buying flea control for puppies, check the label to see if there is an age limit. Products generally tell you what age the puppy must be before they can start having the product.

When administering flea control for puppies, dose the puppies properly. Do not significantly overdose or underdose them.

Be especially careful with "cheap" supermarket brand flea control for puppies. Flea collars, flea washes, flea rinses, flea sprays, flea shampoos and flea powders often contain chemicals that might be toxic to young animals. If using such products, read these labels extra carefully to check they are dog and puppy safe.



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Flea Control For Puppies Links:

To go from this flea control for puppies page to my detailed Flea Control Page, click here.

To go from this flea control for puppies page to my Flea Pictures page, click here.

To go from this flea control for puppies page to my Revolution flea control page, click here.

To go from this flea control for puppies page to my Capstar flea control page, click here.

To go from this flea control for puppies page to my Program flea control page, click here.

To go from this flea control for puppies page to my Advantage flea control page, click here.



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Flea Control For Puppies References and Suggested Reading:

Flea control for puppies - Pfizer web publications:
1a) https://animalhealth.pfizer.com/sites/pahweb/US/EN/Documents/Species%20Landing%20Page%20pdf/Dog/REVOLUTION_PI.pdf
1b) http://www.pfizeranimalhealth.com.au/documents/e/969/4173,Revolution.pdf
1c) http://www.pfizeranimalhealth.co.nz/sites/pfizeranimalhealth/PAH%20Document%20Library/Pfizer%20MSDS%20-%20REVOLUTION%20for%20Cats.pdf

Flea control for puppies - Merial web publications:
2a) http://www.frontlineplus.com.au/puppy_love/dogs_calculator.asp
2b) http://www.frontlineplus.com.au/kitten_smitten/cats_apply_frontline_spray.asp
2c) http://www.frontlineplus.com.au/media/pdf/fl_spray_app_guide.pdf
2d) http://www.frontlineplus.com.au/puppy_love/dogs_which_is_right_FP.asp
2e) http://www.frontlineplus.com.au/puppy_love/dogs_which_is_right_FS.asp
2f) http://www.frontlineplus.com.au/puppy_love/dogs_using_frontline_apply_frontline_spray.asp

Flea control for puppies - Bayer web publications:
3a) http://www.bayeranimal.com.au/default.aspx?Page=50&ItemId=75
3b) http://www.bayeranimal.com.au/PDFViewer/DocumentDisplayPage.aspx?CurrentDocumentID=%2bA2aUfpXGNP%2bUgcCTOKeLQ%3d%3d
3c) http://www.bayeranimal.com.au/PDFViewer/DocumentDisplayPage.aspx?CurrentDocumentID=OCqHyRh37u9Om4AajzlYMQ%3d%3d
3d) http://www.bayeranimal.com.au/PDFViewer/DocumentDisplayPage.aspx?CurrentDocumentID=XpWm37T%2bVbaj7DMSVMm8UQ%3d%3d
3e) http://www.bayeranimal.com.au/default.aspx?Page=50&ItemId=73
3f) http://www.bayeranimal.com.au/default.aspx?Page=50&ItemId=38

Flea control for puppies - Novartis web publications:
4a) http://www.ah.novartis.com/products/en/program_injectable_cat.shtml
4b) http://ah.novartis.com.au/pethealth_products/program_cat.html/section/473
4c) http://www.ah.novartis.com/products/en/program_suspension_cat.shtml
4d) http://ah.novartis.com.au/verve/_resources/Program_80_Injectable_Suspension_for_Cats_MSDS.pdf
4e) http://ah.novartis.com.au/verve/_resources/Program_Cats_2_Syringe_Packs_LEAFLET.pdf
4f) http://ah.novartis.com.au/verve/_resources/Program_Small_Cats_MSDS.pdf
4g) http://ah.novartis.com.au/verve/_resources/Program_Large_Cats_MSDS.pdf
4h) http://ah.novartis.com.au/verve/_resources/Program_Oral_Suspension_Large_Cats_LEAFLET.pdf
4i) http://www.capstarpet.com/pdf/Product_Info.pdf
4j) http://ah.novartis.com.au/verve/_resources/Capstar_for_Cats_and_Small_Dogs_MSDS.pdf
4k) http://www.capstarpet.com/pdf/Dear_Doctor.pdf
4l) http://ah.novartis.com.au/pethealth_products/sentinel_spectrum_tasty_chews.html/section/474

Flea control for puppies - Elanco web publications:
5a) http://www.comfortis4dogs.com/about-comfortis/faqs.aspx

6) Novotny MJ, et al. Safety of selamectin in dogs. In: Veterinary Parasitology. 2000 Aug 23;91(3-4):377-91.

7) Boy MG, et al. Efficacy and safety of selamectin against fleas and heartworms in dogs and cats presented as veterinary patients in North America. In: Veterinary Parasitology. 2000 Aug 23;91(3-4):233-50.

8) Payne-Johnson M, et al. Efficacy of selamectin administered topically to pregnant and lactating female dogs in the treatment and prevention of adult roundworm (Toxocara canis) infections and flea (Ctenocephalides felis felis) infestations in the dams and their pups. In: Veterinary Parasitology. 2000 Aug 23;91(3-4):347-58.



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Pet Informed is not in any way affiliated with any of the companies whose products appear in images or information contained within this flea control for puppies article. Any images, taken by Pet Informed, are only used in order to illustrate certain points being made in the 'flea control for puppies' article. Pet Informed receives no commercial or reputational benefit from any of these companies for mentioning their products and can not make any guarantees or claims, either positive or negative, about these companies' products, customer service or business practices. Pet Informed can not and will not take any responsibility for any death, damage, illness, injury or loss of reputation and business or for any environmental damage that occurs should you choose to use one of the mentioned products on your pets, poultry or livestock (commercial or otherwise) or indoors or outdoors environment. Do your homework and research all flea control products carefully before using any flea products on your animals or their environments.

Flea control for puppies - Copyright June 10, 2012, Dr. O'Meara, www.pet-informed-veterinary-advice-online.com.

Trademarks pertaining to my 'flea control for puppies' page:
Capstar and Program and Sentinel and Sentinel Spectrum are registered trademarks of Novartis Animal Health Australasia Pty Ltd.
Revolution is a registered trademark of Pfizer Animal Health.
Advantage for Dogs and Cats, Advocate and Advantix are registered trademarks of Bayer Australia Ltd.
Frontline Spot-on and Frontline Spray are registered trademarks of Merial.
Comfortis is a registered trademark of Elanco Companion Animal Health.

Please note: the aforementioned flea prevention, flea control and flea treatment guidelines and information on flea control for puppies are general information and recommendations only. The 'flea control for puppies' information provided is based on published information and on recommendations made available from the drug companies themselves; relevant veterinary literature and publications and my own experience as a practicing veterinarian. The 'flea control for puppies' advice given is appropriate to the vast majority of pet owners, however, given the large range of flea medication types and flea prevention and control protocols now available, owners should take it upon themselves to ask their own veterinarian what treatment and flea prevention schedules s/he is using so as to be certain what to do if they fleas on puppies. Owners with specific circumstances (high flea infestation burdens in their pet's environment, pregnant bitches and queens, very young puppies and kittens, flea infested ferrets, flea infested rabbits, dog, cat and rabbit breeders, livestock and poultry producers, multiple-dog and cat environments, animals with severe flea allergy dermatitis, animals on immune-suppressant medicines, animals with immunosuppressant diseases or conditions, owners of sick and debilitated animals etc. etc.) should ask their vet what the safest and most effective flea control protocol is for their situation.

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