best-otc-flea-treatment-for-dogs[/caption]We love our pets. But if you’ve ever had to deal with a flea infestation in your home, there may have been a brief moment when you second guessed that relationship.
In the best case scenario, these pests (no, not “pets”) are annoying. You can feel them jumping on you and it seems like you’re just a host to transport them from one area of your life to another (it’s the worst when you get them in your car).
But that’s not where the real danger lies. Fleas can cause itching and fatigue and can carry a host of diseases, including lyme disease and, of course, the bubonic plague (though it is highly unlikely today).
But what is the best flea treatment method to keep your dog safe?
So what can you do to protect your pet?
The best flea treatment for dogs starts with getting rid of any critters they already have. First of all, you should bathe your furry friend regularly with some sort of flea shampoo. There are a number of options available from name brand shampoos to natural ones with no added chemicals. Oatmeal baths are also effective.
Keep your pet inside. Fleas live outside so keeping your animal in the house limits their exposure to these insects. Of course you should exercise your pup often but when you do, try to stay away from wooded areas or areas with a lot of underbrush.
Use some sort of flea prevention. The best way to get rid of fleas is to never have them in the first place. We’ve listed the most popular ones below. See which treatment works best for you and your canine and stick with it.
Be consistent. The life cycle of a flea can last up to 6 months so just because you don’t see them now doesn’t mean you should stop regular treatments.
Choosing a dog bed with cedar filling can also make a good impact but be sure that the buggers aren’t just jumping around to other parts of your home.
Types of Flea Treatment and Prevention
There are a number of ways to prevent your dog from getting fleas or killing any infestations he might already have. These are the most popular and effective methods but we’ve also listed some natural flea treatment options at the bottom. Remember, the best flea treatment is the one that works for your dog and your lifestyle.
Drops
Flea drops, such as Advantix and Frontline, are the most common form of flea prevention for your pet. The drops are applied to the nape of the neck (just above the shoulders) and last for 30 days. Monthly reapplication is required but is generally quick and easy. Drops are arguably the best flea treatment because you only have to think about it once a month and it doesn’t take much time.
These drops can prevent flea larvae from developing and also kill any adult fleas that are already on your pooch. Many brands can kill ticks and lice as well.
Be sure to pick the right flea drops for your dog (based on size) for best results and to avoid any side effects. Also make sure to wear gloves when applying as these drops can be harmful to humans. wait at least a couple of hours before petting your dog to allow the medication to dry.
Pills
Oral flea medication (pill) is the most effective type of treatment and prevention available.
The advantages of flea pills is they can work as quickly as four hours and can come in chewable tablets for dogs who have trouble taking pills.
The disadvantages are that these oral flea meds for dogs may require a vet’s prescription, they don’t guard against ticks or other parasites, and they can kill adult fleas or eggs but not both.
Pills are often used in conjunction with drops as the pills kill the current pests and the drops prevent new ones from breeding. This one-two punch is probably the best flea treatment option available.
Collars
Dog flea collars can be used for treatment or prevention and can last up to 8 months. This means you don’t have to worry about reapplying the drops every month or remembering to give your dog his pill.
The flea collars work best when combined with another treatment method such as shampoos or topical medications.The cons of flea collars is that one, they aren’t the most stylish accessory and two, they are less effective than drops or pills.
If your dog spends a lot of time outdoors and in heavily wooded areas, a collar plus another method may be a good idea.
Shampoos
Flea shampoos should be used in conjunction with one of the prevention methods.
There are many options available including “natural” shampoos made without any harmful chemicals.
Shampoos can kill fleas up to one day but they only affect adult fleas, not larvae or eggs.
Sprays
Flea sprays also should complemented by a prevention method to keep infestations from coming back.
Sprays can kill adult fleas, larvae, and eggs. Many repel mosquitoes as well.
Sprays are a great option for quickly killing current infestations in your home. Some can also be used as more of a “bug spray” for when you plan on taking your dog out into the woods
The flea and tick sprays’ effectiveness can last up to 2 months, killing and preventing future infestations.
Which Type is Right for You?
Picking a treatment or prevention method is up to you and your pup. By far, drops are the most common but if your dog has a skin reaction to it or you know that you’ll probably forget to reapply it every month, that might not be the best fit for you.
If you don’t mind the look and are in an area with a low risk for fleas, a collar is a good option that you will only have to replace every 8 months or so.
If your flea problem is pretty serious, oral medication, possibly along with another method, might be necessary.
Best Flea Drops for Dogs
Topical medications such as drops are the most popular and possibly best flea prevention method. Generally applied once a month, these drops work quickly and are highly effective.
Some dogs have mild to serious reactions to this treatment though so monitor your pet closely for a few days after applying.
Here are the best flea drops for dogs we have found:
| Product | Kills | Effectiveness | Reviews | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Frontline Plus | Fleas, ticks, lice | 3/5 | 3.7 | $$ Check Price |
 K9 Advantix II | Fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, lice | 4/5 | 4.2 | $$ Check Price |
 Vectra 3D | Fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, lice, sand flies, mites | 5/5 | 4.3 | $$$ Check Price |
 PetArmor | Fleas, ticks, lice | 4/5 | 3.9 | $ Check Price |
 Bayer Advantage II | Fleas | 5/5 | 4.1 | $$ Check Price |
Merial Frontline Plus
Flea and Tick Control
Frontline is probably the most popular brand for flea drops but there are mixed reviews on its effectiveness. Some people swear by it and others say it doesn’t work at all.
Apparently this discrepancy is most likely due to two reasons. One, Frontline does not work on a certain strain of Florida fleas, and possibly other varieties. And two, there are a lot of knockoffs being sold under the Frontline name. If you decide to go with Frontline, make sure the manufacturer is Merial.
There have been a lot of stories of adverse effects from the Frontline drops so make sure to read them before making a decision.
Based on the risks and reports of the medication not working well or at all, this is not a product we would recommend. If you are already using Frontline and it is working for you, then you should be fine but if you are thinking of switching, there are better choices available.
To kill and prevent both fleas and ticks for up to a month, you’ll want to use a spot-on medicine. Frontline Plus uses fipronil to kill fleas, ticks, and lice, plus (s)-methoprene to keep fleas from growing and reproducing. Like all spot-on treatments, the medicine is applied to a small area on the back of your dog’s neck, so they can’t lick it off. Since it’s easy to accidentally come into contact with the medication, it’s best to monitor your pet and limit their contact with people and other animals for 24 hours.
PetArmor Plus and Sentry Fiproguard Plus use the same active ingredients to kill all stages of fleas and ticks but costs about half as much. However, their applicators aren’t as well-designed as Frontline Plus. When we opened the applicator, some of the medication leaked out — not ideal when handling insecticides. Frontline’s snap-off applicator kept more of the product intact until we were ready to apply.
If you just need to treat your dog fast, consider an oral medication. We liked Bayer Advantus Soft Chews, a chewable treatment that looks and smells like a dog treat. It starts killing fleas in under an hour, and you don’t have to worry about contact with other pets or children after application. The downside is that it only kills adult fleas — it won’t prevent against future generations, so you’ll need use it daily until your home is flea-free or switch to a spot-on after the first day.
Sentry Capguard, PetArmor FastCaps, and Capstar Tablets work just as quickly, but come in a pea-sized tablet you mix into your dog’s food. They all look identical, but Sentry Capguard tends to be the cheapest.
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