When used as instructed, this spray is 100% safe. This flea and tick spray can be used once a week to treat adult fleas or once every two months to prevent flea infestations.
In This Article...
Is it safe to use Zodiac flea and tick powder?
With Zodiac Flea & Tick Powder for Dogs, Puppies, Cats, and Kittens, you can be bug-free. This compact powder, a dry alternative to topical pest management, comes with a shaker top that makes administration easier than ever. Simply dust the powder over the entire body and let it do its job of controlling fleas, ticks, and lice in one quick shot. It’s ideal for multi-pet households because it’s safe for cats and dogs over the age of 12 weeks and leaves a nice citrus aroma that makes everyone breathe easier.
Which flea treatment causes dogs to die?
ATLANTA, GA Thousands of dog owners around the world are blaming a popular flea killer for their pets’ deaths. Dog owners believe the medicine is linked to hundreds of pet deaths, according to information acquired by Channel 2 Consumer Investigator Jim Strickland. Bravecto is the name of the drug.
Which flea treatment is the safest for dogs?
To adequately protect their patients, veterinarians often recommend dog flea and tick collars, topical flea and tick treatments, or oral flea and tick drugs (sometimes in combination). Here are some of the safest flea treatments for dogs now available, along with some of their benefits and drawbacks.
Dog Flea and Tick Collars
Newer dog flea collars are safe solutions for flea and tick control in many situations (unlike older collars, which were largely ineffective). Right present, the Seresto collar is a highly popular choice.
It kills fleas and ticks at various phases of development using flumethrin and imidacloprid. The collar’s effectiveness lasts for 8 months (as long as it isn’t exposed to water), making it a practical alternative to monthly preventative treatments.
If you have little children, don’t allow them play with the Seresto collar or the reflector clips that come with it. Because all flea and tick collars tend to leave traces of the chemicals that make them effective in the dog’s environment and on your pet, this could be a problem for young toddlers who like to eat everything.
Local skin responses to the collar have occurred in some dogs, which have resolved once the collar has been removed. “Consult your veterinarian before using this medicine on debilitated, elderly, breeding, pregnant, or nursing animals,” Seresto’s product insert adds. All flea and tick preventatives fall into this category.
Topical Flea and Tick Treatments for Dogs
There are several safe flea treatments for dogs that are topical (or spot-on), and many of them protect against more than just fleas.
Advantage Multi, for example, is a prescription therapy that kills heartworms, hookworms, whipworms, roundworms, sarcoptic mange mites, and fleas with the active chemicals imidacloprid and moxidectin. Ticks aren’t killed by it, and dogs shouldn’t be permitted to lick the application site for at least 30 minutes to avoid major negative effects.
Frontline Plus is an over-the-counter flea and tick treatment that employs fipronil and (S)-methoprene to kill fleas and ticks at all stages of their life cycle. It also helps to reduce sarcoptic mange infestations and eliminates chewing lice. While it should not be consumed, a few covert licks by your dog won’t cause too many difficulties.
A topical therapy, like flea and tick collars, may not be the best option if you can’t keep your pet away from small children or animals who may come into direct touch with the drug before it has dried or absorbed into your pet’s skin.
If you have cats, you should consult a veterinarian before choosing a topical flea and tick treatment for your dog. Some contain pyrethrin or permethrin, both of which are extremely harmful to cats.
Bathing a dog should be done many days after the application. Topical treatments are usually done once a month.
Oral Flea and Tick Medications for Dogs
There are a number of prescription oral flea and tick treatments that are deemed safe for dogs. These preventatives are available as pills or chewables. Your veterinarian can assist you in determining which one is appropriate for your puppy’s age.
Trifexis uses spinosad and milbemycin oxime to protect dogs from heartworms, intestinal parasites, and fleas, however it is not effective against ticks. This therapy must be prescribed by your veterinarian.
Bravecto chews (also available as a topical) provide flea and tick protection for 8-12 weeks per dosage. Fluralaner is the active component, and it kills adult fleas and ticks. Bravecto also requires a veterinarian’s prescription.
Oral flea and tick meds are ideal for families with small children or other small pets that could be exposed to chemical residue from flea collars or topical flea and tick remedies.
Vomiting is the most prevalent side effect of prescribed oral flea medicines.
There are side effects to any drug, but keeping parasites untreated is considerably more harmful. Based on your dog’s age, lifestyle, health status, and other specific factors, your veterinarian can help you choose the safest and most effective flea and tick treatment.
Which flea treatment is the safest?
If chemical flea or tick treatment is required, NRDC suggests s-methoprene or pyriproxyfen, which are less toxic ingredientsbut read the labels carefully because some products combine them with more damaging pesticides.
When it comes to fleas, how effective is diatomaceous earth?
Adult fleas might start dying as soon as four hours after coming into contact with diatomaceous earth. Although the particles may kill some flea larvae, they are ineffective against flea eggs and pupae.
Which oral flea and tick treatment is the safest for dogs?
Advantage Multi for Dogs, $115.99 at Chewy, is the best topical flea preventative overall.
Advantage Multi for Dogs treats, manages, and prevents more parasites than any other topical treatment with just one simple monthly application.
Frontline Plus for Dogs, $67.99 at Chewy, is the best OTC topical flea preventive for dogs.
Frontline Plus for Dogs, which is available without a prescription, kills adult fleas, flea eggs, flea larvae, ticks, and chewing lice on contact.
Simparica TRIO cures, manages, and prevents more parasites than any other oral medicine, with one easy-to-give tasty pill providing a full month of protection.
Capstar for Dogs is suitable for puppies as young as four weeks old and kills fleas in 30 minutes.
Seresto Flea and Tick Collar for Dogs, $62.98 at Chewy, is the best flea collar for dogs.
The Seresto Flea and Tick Collar for Dogs provides eight months of flea and tick protection for dogs of all life stages.
What kind of flea and tick medicine causes seizures?
Health officials are warning pet owners and veterinarians that certain flea and tick medications may increase the risk of neurologic problems in dogs and cats, including seizures. The medications are in the isoxazoline class, according to the FDA, and include Bravecto, Credelio, Nexgard, and Simparica.
What’s up with my dog’s strange behavior following flea treatment?
Most dogs will not exhibit any unusual behavior after receiving flea medication. With very few exceptions, it is normally quite safe and vets suggest it. When administering the pipette, however, it is possible to make a mistake or encounter a problem:
- Allergies: Dogs can be allergic to a wide range of things. Allergens can be found in food, cleaning goods, and other household products. Dogs might be harmed by even the wrong allergy treatment. We won’t know if a dog is allergic to something unless they come into contact with it. Certain dogs may be allergic to the components in flea treatment, and their strange behavior could be due to an allergic reaction.
- Wounds: It’s likely that the toxicity will trigger a reaction if the dog has a wound on their skin near where the pipette was administered. The medication will travel throughout the dog’s skin, but it can enter the bloodstream if it comes into contact with an exposed wound.
- Wrong flea treatment: Another reason a dog may act strange after receiving flea medicine is if they received the incorrect sort. Different flea treatments are appropriate for various dogs. Giving a flea medication meant for a large dog to a small dog can result in major consequences. Each medication should be prescribed by a veterinarian and calculated according to the patient’s health, size, weight, and age. Poisoning can occur if you give your dog the wrong flea medicine. Always pay attention to your veterinarian’s advise.
- Ingestion: If the flea treatment is applied incorrectly, it is conceivable that the dog will lick the area and ingest it. Even if the dog doesn’t want to eat it, it’s possible that they’re grooming themselves and believe they need to get rid of it. Many dogs prefer non-organic objects, therefore if they are able to remove and chew their own flea collar, they may absorb part of the medication.
However, we must be clear about what constitutes abnormal dog behavior. Our essay on bizarre things dogs do will help you distinguish between what is caused by flea treatment and what is simply strange canine behavior.
Is it necessary to treat dogs for fleas?
“Both people and dogs are at risk from ticks and mosquitoes,” says Dr. Jill Lopez, a veterinarian with Merck Animal Health. “As a result, flea and tick protection is required for all dogs and cats in your household.”

