Why Does My Dog Keep Getting Fleas Even After Treatment?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Fleas go through a life cycle of egg, larvae, pupae and adult. Most flea treatments just kill adult fleas, but fleas can continue to emerge for months after you think an infestation has ended. When a newly emerged female flea finds a host, she can lay eggs within one day.

How do you get rid of fleas they keep coming back?


Consistent vacuuming

is the most crucial step in eliminating fleas in your home. Repeated vacuuming will be needed to get rid of all the eggs, larva, and pupae. Wash any bedding or blankets your dog has come into contact with in hot, soapy water.

Is it normal to still see fleas after treatment?

As eggs hatch and develop, you might find fleas reappearing 10-14 days after treatment –

this is quite normal and provided the insecticide remains in place it will kill them

. This is why it is important not to carry out cleaning which might remove insecticide.

Why is the flea treatment not working?


Incorrectly applying topical flea prevention is the most common cause for its failure to work

. Flea prevention is expensive, and you don’t want to waste a dose. Topical medication should be applied directly to the skin, not the hair. You must part the hair so that you can apply it to the skin at the base of the neck.

Why does my dog still have fleas after using frontline?

A. The active ingredient in FRONTLINE (fipronil) kills fleas by affecting their nervous system, making them hyperactive before dying. These dying fleas often rise to the top of your pet’s haircoat, so the presence of visible fleas after treating your pet, is

a sign that the product is working

.

What is the fastest way to get rid of fleas on a dog?

  1. Give Your Pet a Bath. One of the first solutions to get rid of fleas is to bathe your pet. …
  2. Comb Your Pet’s Hair Using a Fine-Tooth Flea Comb. …
  3. Kill the Fleas. …
  4. Spray an Apple Cider Vinegar Solution on Your Pet. …
  5. Do Regular Checks. …
  6. Let Your Pet Groom Itself.

What do you do when frontline doesn’t work?

Speak to your veterinarian about this first if your flea medicine is not working. One Frontline alternative is to

switch to another topical product

. Another alternative is to supplement the topical product with another product that works internally, such as Capstar.

Does flea medicine get rid of existing fleas?

It’s also worth remembering that no flea treatment forms a force field to stop fleas from jumping onto your pets — but

an effective treatment will quickly kill fleas once they come into contact with your pet

.

How long does it take for a dog to get rid of fleas?

Killing the fleas on your dog is just one part of the problem. You also need to determine how to get rid of fleas in your home. This requires patience. It can take as long as

three-to-four months

to get rid of an infestation, as it takes this long for all of the fleas in your home to go through their life stages.

Can my dog sleep in my bed with fleas?

Unfortunately,

if your dog has fleas and sleeps in your bed, your bed will likely end up with fleas

. Fleas can lay eggs in your pet’s fur, and those eggs can fall off onto your bedding and other areas where your dog sits or sleeps.

Can you apply flea treatment twice?

A flea infestation on your pet or in your home can be difficult and frustrating to deal with. Yes,

if after two weeks the flea preventive you applied isn’t working, you can reapply flea treatment early, or switch to another brand.

Can’t get rid fleas?

  1. Step 1: Brush your pet with a flea comb. Vets recommend initially brushing your pet with a flea comb to remove any fleas. …
  2. Step 2: Give your pet a bath. Wash your pet with soap and warm water. …
  3. Step 3: Disinfect the house. …
  4. Step 4: Prevent future infestations.

How often should I bathe my dog if he has fleas?

A dog with a flea infestation should be treated immediately with medication and a flea dip bath. However, flea shampoos are notoriously harsh on a pooch’s skin. Therefore, be certain you don’t try to give your dog with fleas a bath every day.

Once a week

should be enough.

Can I give my dog a flea bath 2 days in a row?

You shouldn’t need to use flea shampoo unless your dog has an active flea infestation. But if that’s the case,

you can wash your dog 1-2 times a week, but not long term

.

How long will I see fleas after treatment?

Often owners will see fleas reappear about

3-4 weeks

after the application as this is when the largest number of flea pupae (from eggs laid by the fleas killed 3-4 weeks earlier) are ready to hatch. Allowing your pet free access to all parts of the home will help to get the fleas to hatch out of their pupae.

Can I give my dog two doses of Frontline?


The minimum time to wait between two treatments of FRONTLINE HomeGard® is 6 months

. It is not necessary to use FRONTLINE HomeGard® repeatedly, if you are regularly treating your cat or dog with an effective flea and tick treatment such as FRONTLINE® spot-on products.

Is Capstar a monthly flea prevention?

CAPSTAR® (nitenpyram) can be used daily, as needed, to help treat and control an existing flea infestation.

A monthly flea preventive is recommended for long-term flea prevention

.

Can fleas live on my bed?

Can fleas live in beds?

Yes, they can

. Fleas enjoy a warm environment and your bed is the ideal place. The adult fleas will lay their eggs within the mattress material – and produce fecal matter to feed the larvae.

How long do fleas live on furniture?

This cycle can take as little as two weeks in ideal circumstances and the eggs and immature fleas can live in carpets, beds and furniture for

many months

. So even if you treat your pets regularly, they could be getting re-infested with these pesky parasites as quickly as they are being treated.”

Can fleas live on human hair?


While rare, fleas can make their way onto human hair

. In the absence of household pets like cats and dogs, fleas may decide to approach their next victim, us humans, for their regular blood meals. In this step-to-step guide, you will learn how to quickly treat fleas found in human hair.

Emily Lee
Author
Emily Lee
Emily Lee is a freelance writer and artist based in New York City. She’s an accomplished writer with a deep passion for the arts, and brings a unique perspective to the world of entertainment. Emily has written about art, entertainment, and pop culture.