There are thousands of species of flea but only one, Ctenocephalides felis, affects dogs and cats. Fleas have long been a thorn in the side of dogs and their owners.

Conditions Caused by Flea Infestation in Dogs

Fleas are more than just a nuisance; they can cause serious health problems in dogs, such as the following:

Flea Life Cycle

In order to control flea infestations, it’s important to understand the flea life cycle:

Flea Control Products for Dogs

There are a wide variety of flea control products for dogs. Some are over-the-counter and some are prescription products. Following are the most common prescription products and their actions:

When choosing over-the-counter flea products, it is critical that you read the label carefully. Choose the appropriate product for your dog’s weight and age. There are many products that are highly toxic to cats. These can be dangerous even to cats living in a home with a dog treated with them.

Here are some Popular brands of flea preventative products:

Advantage®II: This spot-on product.
K9 Advantix®II is a spot-on product.
Seresto is a flea and tick collar.
Frontline® Plus is a spot-on product.
Revolution® is a spot-on product.
Comfortis® is a oral tablet.

This is not an exhaustive list of products.

Flea Infestation

Prevention is the best medicine, but if you already have a flea infestation in your home, these products can help you control and eliminate it. You may also need to use a product that treats your home and/or your yard. Your veterinarian can help you determine the product or product combination that will help you get rid of the fleas the fastest. It’s important to stick with the treatment. It may take several months to break the flea life cycle, and you may continue to see some fleas during that time.

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