What is the Best Flea Treatment for Dogs

Treating your pet for fleas is an essential part of their routine care. Fleas are determined little insects that need a host in order to survive, and as pet owners, it's down to us to protectNot only does it keep fleas from biting your pet, but it can also prevent them from getting tapeworm infestations and infestations within your home. 

And when it comes to our pets, we all want the very best. That’s where we come in. Below, you can find details on the best flea treatments for dogs without a vet prescription. 

If you're looking for the best dog flea treatment for your pet, you need to consider your dog's lifestyle and behaviour. Dogs that spend a lot of time outdoors and exploring grass or woodlands are at higher risk of picking up parasites like fleas and ticks because they tend to live there after falling off wildlife, like foxes, hedgehogs, and squirrels. You should also think about how easy it is to administer the treatment to your dog, as you should be treating them once a month (depending on the treatment) as a minimum.

Here are some of the most popular flea treatments for dogs: 

Perhaps one of the most popular flea and tick treatments for dogs is spot-on flea treatments. These easy-to-use and straightforward treatments come as pre-measured pipettes filled with liquid flea treatment, depending on your dog’s body weight, and typically offer up to four weeks of protection.

These treatments are quick and easy to apply, but you must hold your dog still while using them. This can be tricky with big or particularly energetic dogs since you may have to spread the dosage along multiple spots on your dog's back for optimal efficacy. 

Some of these treatments, like the Advantage Spot-On Flea Treatment, only kill fleas on your pet, meaning ticks can still bite your pet. If you want to offer them added parasite protection, you can find more broad-spectrum flea treatments, like the Beaphar FIPROtec COMBO for Dogs. 

If you want a lasting flea and tick treatment, why not try a dog flea collar, like the Seresto Collar? These odourless and non-greasy collars provide your pet with up to 8 months of parasite protection in just one collar. The flea treatment is contained in a matrix within the collar that is slowly released while worn, offering extended protection against fleas and ticks. These collars are also water resistant and kill fleas on contact, meaning no more biting your dog, making it a good pick for dogs with allergies (unless they're allergies include the active ingredients in the collar) or skin conditions that may be irritated by flea bites. 

Another good dog flea treatment is flea tablets, typically available in film-coated and chewable varieties for ease of administration. Tablets like the Advantage™ Flea Tablets for dogs are formulated to get to work fast, killing all fleas on your dog within four hours, and ticks within eight. Chewable flea tablets tend to be flavoured and should be given to your dog just after or with a meal. Many dogs will accept the tablet without much drama, making it easier to administer than film-coated flea tablets like the Capstar™ Flea Treatment Tablets.

Dog flea tablets are also good for dogs that love water or those who suffer skin reactions to spot-on flea treatments. Since they work internally to kill and prevent fleas, you won't need to worry about your dog rinsing the solution off if they go puddle diving too soon after treatment. Since the active ingredients never touch the skin, there shouldn't be any allergic flare-ups or itching after treatment.

If your dog is already suffering from a flea infestation, the priority should be getting those fleas off and offering your dog relief from the bites. One of the best ways to do this is by giving your dog a thorough bath with a medicated flea shampoo, like the Animology® Flea & Tick Shampoo for Dogs. This dog flea shampoo is formulated to wash fleas and ticks out of your dog's fur while soothing sore or bitten skin and nourishing the coat with the built-in conditioner. 

This product will kill fleas on your dog and wash all the remnants of the infestation from their skin, such as flea eggs and flea dirt (faeces), leaving your dog feeling much better and with a lovely shiny coat to boot. You may need to repeat the treatment if any fleas survive the initial treatment, or you can switch to another routine flea treatment once the infestation is gone.