Rating of the most effective anti-flea drugs for dogs

Fleas cause severe discomfort to your dog and can cause harm to his body. To destroy them, special preparations are used that must be used correctly. Otherwise, you may harm the animal. There are a large number of flea treatments for dogs available in various forms.

There are many flea treatments for dogs.

Why do dogs get fleas?

Fleas appear in a dog living at home if the pet has had contact with an infected animal or walked in a place where there are parasites . Insects, waiting for prey, sit on plant stems, leaves of bushes, park paths, grass and instantly move to the animal’s fur. The height jump of adults is 3 m, the length jump is 2 m.

A dog will definitely become infected with fleas if it has not been treated with special preparations. Otherwise, the animal is protected from infection not only by these insects, but also by scabies and ixodid mites.

Features of drops for puppies

Drops can be used to treat puppies older than 2 months (unless additional age restrictions are specified in the instructions). At a younger age, alternative methods are used to get rid of fleas. Most medications are suitable for puppies older than 3 months.

The younger the puppy is, the less aggressive substances are selected for treatment (careless use of drops may result in dry skin and poisoning).

It is recommended to visit a veterinarian before starting treatment.

Symptoms of infection

The main symptoms indicating that a pet is infected with fleas are:

• itching, which causes the dog to constantly scratch;
• hair loss;
• the appearance of small ulcers on the skin in the place where the animal scratches;
• dark balls of feces;
• white clusters of larvae;
• the fleas themselves, which quickly hide in the undercoat.

In addition, the pet may become very anxious, become irritable, lose appetite, begin to sleep poorly, bite sharply into the skin and click its teeth. The dog's eyes often water, and in severe cases, extensive bald patches appear in the croup area, on the withers and at the base of the tail.

Special means for removing insects and rules of use

There are a large number of products that can help rid your dog of fleas. They are intended for large and small breeds, for adult pets and puppies.

Flea drops

The most effective and easy-to-use flea remedies are drops. To achieve a positive result, the drug is applied once to the dog’s withers area. For preventive purposes, the animal is treated once every 2 months. However, the drops have the disadvantage of an excessively high concentration of a toxic substance.

As a result of using the product, the pet develops various negative consequences, so some drops are prohibited for puppies 1-2 months old. But most medications are well tolerated by dogs.

Hartz flea drops for dogs.

Rating of the best products:

1. Hartz. The drops contain phenothrin, which kills flea eggs, adults and their larvae. This is the safest drug that is used for puppies of all ages, as well as small breed animals. They are practically not washed off with water, and extremely rarely lead to the development of side effects and allergic reactions.
2. Stronghold. This is a complex remedy intended for the treatment of dogs. With its help, adults and larvae are hatched. After the first application, reliable protection of the animal is provided, which lasts 2 months. The drug is approved for lactating bitches and puppies over 1.5 months of age. To get the maximum effect, it is recommended to further treat the dog after 4 weeks.
3. Leopard. These are inexpensive drops, but have a large number of side effects. Often, when taking them, excessive salivation, allergies, etc. occur.

Insect killing sprays

Aerosols and sprays are the most effective means to help fight fleas . They are easy to use, and to get results, the drug is applied to the entire body. It is recommended to treat the animal in a well-ventilated room. The death of adult parasites occurs almost immediately after application of the product. The effect of the medicine lasts for several weeks. Frontline and Bars are considered the most effective means.

List of the best drugs:

1. Frontline. This is a high-quality and affordable product, the main component of which blocks the functioning of the nervous system of parasites, resulting in paralysis and death. The spray effectively protects against fleas for 3-5 weeks. The drug is approved for the treatment of even small pets that are 2 days old. After treatment, dogs should not be bathed for 2 days.
2. Leopard. The spray is applied to the animal's fur, and the main components begin to accumulate in the sebaceous glands, hair follicles, and upper layer of the epidermis, forming a protective barrier against parasites within a month. The drug does not penetrate into the bloodstream. It is contraindicated for pets under 10 weeks of age, pregnant and lactating bitches, weakened and sick dogs.
3. Beaphar. This is an insecticidal product that is extremely safe. Despite its slight toxicity, the spray is good at getting rid of blood-sucking parasites. Approved for the treatment of puppies that have reached 2 months of age and small breed dogs.

Using shampoos

Flea shampoos are most often used simultaneously with other antiparasitic agents. Before treatment, the animal is combed and washed. The drug is applied to the entire surface of the body, rubbed until foam appears, after 5 minutes, rinse and dry the hair. When using the product, do not allow it to get into the dog’s ears and eyes. The advantages of shampoos include complete safety, low cost and no side effects.

Shampoo for dogs Phytoelite.

The most popular products:

1. Phytoelite. This is a medicinal insecticidal drug that is used externally. It contains the synthetic pyrethroid permethrin, which has a pronounced enteric-contact effect against flea larvae and adults. Thanks to the main component, the neuromuscular transmission of impulses from peripheral nerves is blocked, resulting in impaired coordination of movement, paralysis and death of parasites. It is forbidden to treat puppies under 2 months of age, lactating bitches, sick and weakened animals with the drug.
2. Doctor ZOO. The shampoo is made based on natural essential oils. The product has a repellent and insecticidal effect, removes fleas and prevents their appearance in the future. The disadvantages include a short period of validity and not a very convenient method of application.
3. Beaphar. The main component has a nerve-paralytic effect, causing rapid paralysis or shock, and subsequently the death of fleas. The particles of the product that remain in the dog’s fur after washing are active for 2 weeks. The drug is prohibited for severe skin lesions, as well as for the treatment of puppies under 6 months and pregnant bitches.

Special collars

Anti-flea collars for dogs are made of plastic. They are presented in the form of a narrow flexible tape with a fastening buckle.

This product has a specific smell because it is saturated with toxic chemicals that repel insects.

The collar works as follows: it is put on the dog, and it heats up under the influence of the animal’s body temperature. After this, the poison begins to be distributed over the pet’s skin and fur, while it penetrates the epidermis and accumulates in the sebaceous glands.

The dog will be completely protected from fleas in 2 days. The required amount of the toxic substance is retained throughout the entire time the collar is worn - about 4 months. The product should not be removed even at night. However, this remedy can lead to the appearance of such negative reactions of the body as lacrimation and drooling, swelling, allergic dermatitis, and severe agitation.

The most popular types of collars:

1. Chemical. The tape is impregnated with deltamethrin, a strong insecticidal substance that has an immediate effect on fleas. They are used only for adult animals.
2. Biological. Such collars are based on the healing properties of essential oils and medicinal herbs. To enhance the effect, they are used with tablets, aerosols, and drops. They are allowed to be worn by weakened and sick pets, pregnant bitches and puppies.
3. Ultrasonic. These products do not have a strong odor and do not contain harmful chemicals, but they are ineffective.

The most common brands: Kiltix, Scalibor, Beaphar Ungezieferband, Foresto.

Flea tablets

Bravecto flea tablets for dogs.

Flea tablets have the following benefits:

• allowed for elderly dogs, pregnant and lactating bitches, puppies from 2 months;
• do not cause side effects;
• have a pleasant smell and taste;
• can be used to treat animals that develop allergic reactions to medications.

The most effective drugs:

1. Bravecto. They are produced in chewable form. When it enters the body, the active substance is absorbed into the blood and forms a chemical bond with proteins contained in the blood plasma. When the drug enters the blood of a flea, it has a paralyzing effect on it, as a result of which it dies. All parasites die within 8-11 hours. The effect lasts 3 months.
2. Frontline Nexgard. The drug begins to act half an hour after administration. It is effective against 2 types of fleas. The drug is approved from 2 months.
3. Comfortis. When using the product, the main component penetrates into the blood. When a flea bites a dog, the poison enters the parasite's body, negatively affecting the nervous system and destroying the intestines. The effect occurs 2-3 hours after taking the tablet. Contraindicated for puppies under 1 month of age.

Combs and brushes

The classic way to rid your pet of fleas is combing. Combs are used as an additional remedy to the main anti-flea drugs. With the help of brushes and combs, the owner rids the pet of parasites by combing them against or along the fur. This method is considered not very effective, but accessible. They resort to it if the dog is not too heavily infected.

The following brushes and combs are available for combing:

• Zoonic;
• Hello Pet;
• TRIOL.

Mechanism of action

After applying drops to the dog’s skin, the active components are quickly distributed over the surface of the body, retained in the lipid layer on the animal’s skin and fur. The active substance is distributed throughout the dog’s body, protecting the entire surface of the animal’s body, including the most vulnerable places (the inner surface of the ears, armpits, between the paw pads, abdomen, groin area). After application, the active substances are distributed over the surface of the body within 24 hours, are not absorbed into the bloodstream, accumulate in the epidermis, hair follicles, sebaceous glands and have a long-term contact effect.

Tick ​​drops for dogs also have a repellent effect on parasites and prevent the bite itself. The parasite gets on the dog's fur, but cannot gain a foothold. After such an interaction, the parasite falls from the animal and dies in the environment before it has time to bite the pet.

How to Apply Flea and Tick Drops for Dogs

Folk methods of struggle

If it is not possible to treat your dog with flea medications, you can resort to folk remedies. They are not highly effective, so they are used to prevent infection of the animal. For example, 2-3 drops of any essential oil are applied to the fingers and rubbed into the coat. The strong smell repels fleas. Essential oils of coniferous trees and eucalyptus are most effective.

If the pet lives not in the house, but in a booth, the area around it is treated. To do this, leaves and stems of wormwood, sawdust, and branches of coniferous trees are laid out on the floor and next to the house. To get rid of parasites, you can wash your dog not with shampoo, but with soap based on dust or tar. This method is completely safe, but it has the only drawback - the animal must be treated several times to completely destroy fleas.

For mild damage, use vinegar. It is diluted with warm water in a ratio of 1:3, the wool is washed and left for 15 minutes. Avoid contact of the solution with the eyes and mucous membranes.

Using folk remedies at home

At home, you often need something simple, cheap, but quite effective. But! There is one caveat. Many breeders sincerely believe that such products are completely safe for animals, and therefore do not think about the correct dosage and use. This usually doesn't end well.

Traditional medicine products often provoke the development of allergic reactions, and therefore should be handled with care.

Garlic for flea control

Garlic is good not only when taken internally: it has also proven itself in the fight against external parasites. Grind two cloves on a fine grater, then add boiled water and leave for eight hours. The resulting composition (pre-filtered) is rubbed onto the withers area and the base of the skull.

Important! The composition should be applied only in places where the animal cannot lick it off. This plant is quite toxic for dogs, and therefore its excessive and improper use can lead to serious poisoning.

How to use essential oils?

Many essential oils have been used by humans as antiparasitic agents and repellents since ancient times. The following Oils have proven themselves to be the best in the fight against fleas:

• One of the best remedies is wormwood oil.
• Eucalyptus oil and eucalyptus tincture.
• Lemon and orange oils. One of the best options, which, among other things, has an excellent repellent effect.
• Anise.
• Peppermint.
• Thyme.
• Pine essential oil.
• Lavender.
• Tea tree. It is also actively used in folk medicine and veterinary medicine, not only as an antiparasitic agent. This product is good in the treatment and prevention of many skin diseases.
• Cedar. As in the previous case, this oil has proven itself well in ridding animals of ectoparasites and the consequences caused by their activities.

How to apply essential oils correctly?

Many owners are confident that essential oils can be used without restrictions, since they are “completely natural and therefore absolutely safe.” Alas, this is somewhat wrong. The fact is that they are concentrated products, and therefore, when applied directly to the skin, they may well contribute to the development of quite serious chemical burns.

Therefore, essential oils are applied in very small quantities, directly to the coat. As in the case of garlic, they are smeared on the withers and base of the skull so that the animal cannot lick off the antiparasitic composition.

Celandine (herb)

Do not confuse “real” celandine (i.e. grass) with a medicinal product that has a similar name. Use it as follows:

• First, an infusion is prepared. To do this, pour one teaspoon of dry herb into one glass of boiling water and infuse the resulting mixture for half an hour. Then the composition must be filtered through a sieve. It should have a rich yellow-brown hue and a pleasant aroma.

• The infusion is added to the bathing water for cats. In addition, it can be used for cleaning indoor floors.

Important! This plant contains more than 20 alkaloids (i.e., very poisonous compounds). All of them are toxic to dogs, and therefore the product is used with extreme caution. The broth should not be allowed to enter the animal’s digestive system. If there is an alternative, it is better to use it.

Preventive actions

It is difficult to prevent fleas from appearing on your pet, but you can reduce the risk of parasite infection several times.

Option for flea treatment for dogs.

To achieve this, the following preventive measures are carried out:

• put on a flea collar before going for a walk;
• Regularly treat the dog's bedding with disinfectants;
• monitor the cleanliness of the animal’s fur and comb it;
• do not allow contact with unfamiliar dogs;
• do not walk the dog in places where there are a lot of fleas (abandoned areas, basements);
• examine the pet after each walk;
• fill the animal's bedding with sawdust, which fleas do not like;
• wash paws and shoes after a walk.

Rules for antiparasitic treatment of dogs and puppies

Before using antiparasitic drops against ectoparasites, you must consult a veterinarian and carefully read the instructions for the veterinary drug. In this case, allergic reactions and other side effects can be avoided. Preventive treatments of animal fur are recommended to be carried out in the spring, summer and autumn, since blood-sucking parasites are most active in the warm season.

How to apply anti-flea drops correctly

As a rule, flea drops for dogs and puppies are sold in special pipettes, which makes their use much easier. Depending on the size of the dog and its breed, 1/3 of the contents of the pipette is applied to the body or the entire pipette is used. For representatives of large breeds, two or three pieces may be required.

When treating dogs for fleas, insecticidal agents are applied in drops between the shoulder blades, in the withers area, after spreading the fur. You can distribute the contents of the pipettes along the spine by applying a few drops along the spine of your pet, preferably against the direction of hair growth. The main thing is to make sure that the dog does not lick the drug from the skin. Preventive measures to destroy ectoparasites are much easier and more convenient to carry out with an assistant.

After carrying out preventive, therapeutic treatment, you should not pet or play with the dog for two hours. Follow the rules established when working with veterinary medications. Do not allow insecticidal drops to come into contact with mucous membranes, eyes, mouth, or skin wounds. After the procedure, wash your hands well with soap.

You can bathe your dog after treatment in five to seven days.

Flea drops should not be used:

• pregnant, lactating bitches;
• weakened, emaciated animals;
• for dogs with exacerbation of chronic ailments;
• puppies up to three months of age.

For antiparasitic treatment of small puppies, purchase special insecticidal products marked “For puppies.” Similar drugs can be found in the Hartz and Bayer lines. In this case, the baby’s body weight should not be less than two kilograms. Read the instructions carefully before application and calculate the dosage correctly. Also on sale are gentle antiparasitic veterinary medications for sick and old animals.

When planning to treat your dog with insecticidal drops against fleas, you should buy the dog with shampoo a week before the procedure. After treatment, your pet can be bathed no earlier than ten days later. To enhance the effect, you can put an anti-flea collar on your beloved pet.

In addition to treating the dog’s coat, be sure to do a thorough cleaning of the apartment, thoroughly wash the floors and furniture with bleach and detergents. Favorite habitats for fleas are carpet pile, cracks in floorboards, and upholstered furniture. Disinfect your pet's bedding and equipment.

Room treatment products

To treat a room for fleas, various means are used. Insecticidal preparations in the form of an aerosol are characterized by good penetrating ability. There is no need to pre-dilute them in water, and they allow you to treat a fairly large area. Effective means: Raptor, Dichlorvos, Raid, Combat. With their help, you can rid the room of fleas and their larvae in 1-2 hours.

Concentrates for preparing the solution are used for professional treatment of the premises. A large amount of solution is obtained from one bottle. Such products do not leave stains on fabrics or furniture surfaces and are odorless. These include Biorin, Get, Chlorpyrimac.

You can treat the room with insecticidal preparations in powder form. Scatter them in places that are inaccessible to children and animals. Such products include Fas-Double, Clean House, Phenaxin, Brownie. Thanks to them, you can get rid of fleas in one application.

Pharmacy products: preparations for killing fleas, features of their use

Today on the shelves of pet stores and veterinary pharmacies you can easily find ten (if not hundreds) names of antiparasitic agents designed to kill blood-sucking insects. The most common pharmaceutical products are drugs in drop form. They are easy to apply and dose, they have a long-lasting and well-defined effect.

Possible side effects

Fortunately, today's dog owners don't have much to worry about: side effects usually do not develop. Moreover, in most cases they speak either of a gross overdose, or of individual intolerance by the dog’s body to the components of the medicine.

In these cases, the following warning signs may develop:

• Flaky, white and thick foam begins to come out of the pet's mouth.
• In severe cases, it comes to seizures, very similar in appearance to epilepsy.
• Some insecticides in overdose do not hit the nervous system so hard, but their effect is still expressed in a shaky and uneven gait, as well as strange and unnatural behavior of the treated animal.

What to do if your dog is poisoned

But what if the dog is poisoned? If at least one of the above symptoms appears, or in cases where the owner is worried about something else, you should immediately take the dog to the veterinarian. If for some reason it is impossible to do this quickly, the dog is given activated carbon at the rate of one tablet for each kilogram of live weight.

And one more nuance. The more your pet drinks, the faster its body will be able to eliminate excess toxins through urine and feces.

Flea shampoo for dogs

Any anti-flea shampoo is only suitable for one-time extermination of fleas already present on the animal’s body. Such products are not suitable for long-term protection.

The following varieties have proven themselves best:

• Dana.
• Phytoelite.
• Leopard.

In general, these shampoos are produced by the same companies that produce drip medications for fleas.

The danger of dog fleas to humans

Dog fleas can bite a person when they are very hungry. Most often this happens at night.

Parasite bites can pose the following dangers to humans:

1. Causes an allergic reaction. Often an allergy develops to the parasite's saliva. This causes swelling, itching, redness, and papules. In some cases, bites provoke psoriasis or eczema.
2. They introduce an infection. A bite can transmit dangerous infectious diseases such as helminthiasis, tularemia, brucellosis, typhus, and salmonellosis.

Reviews from pet owners

Elena, 35 years old. Moscow: “When my dog ​​got fleas, the veterinary pharmacy recommended Bars drops. I applied the product once to dry skin in the neck area at the base of the skull and between the shoulder blades so that the animal could not lick it off. For 3 days after this, the pet was not washed. As a result, all the parasites died, and the dog no longer suffered from itching.”

Mikhail, 43 years old, Saratov: “It’s convenient to use a spray to kill fleas on dogs. This drug, unlike drops and tablets, acts quickly, and there is no need to treat the animal again. I find Frontline effective. It quickly helped rid my pet of such parasites. But you need to use it correctly so that the spray does not get into the dog’s respiratory system.”

Source

Which brand of flea drops for dogs is best to choose?

There are many manufacturers of medications for animals, but not all can offer high-quality products. The rating experts, the VyborExpert team, selected only reliable, proven brands that have certificates and have passed state certification. To familiarize readers with each brand, brief characteristics are presented:

• Bars is a brand of the Russian corporation Agrovetzaschita, registered in 1993, which produces medicines for pets, fish, birds, and reptiles. The company has many awards and a GMP certificate, which allows it to successfully export goods to other countries.
• Novartis is a popular pharmaceutical brand from Switzerland founded in 1996 as a result of an alliance of two brands. The manufacturer is known in 140 countries around the world, is a member of EFPIA and even occupies a place in Forbes, which speaks of its scale.
• Astrapharm is a company from Russia with a large production complex and a research laboratory. The corporation develops medications for animals in the form of tablets, sprays, and aerosols that meet all quality standards.
• Inspector is a trademark owned by the Ecoprom company, registered in 2005. The manufacturer cooperates with the German laboratory Veterinary Bio, creating unique and highly effective drugs for animals of European quality.
• RolfClub is another Russian brand that is part of the Ecoprom company and represents a series of various products for animals. The brand offers collars, shampoos, tablets for pets, as well as insectoacaricidal medications.
• Bruno is a large corporation from Russia that produces a variety of animal care products. The company cooperates with the Swiss laboratory Swiss Laboratory Defense, where special unique products are developed for almost every breed.

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