Get Ahead of the Scratching With the Best Flea Medication for Dogs

Fleas aren’t just gross to look at – they are also dangerous. They can cause diseases that put your canine and even you at risk. Their best friend- Mr. Tick is even more disgusting to see on your fur baby’s skin. If you’ve ever seen an engorged tick on your dog’s skin feeding off its blood you’ll understand our derision. A question that is always on the mind of dog owners is, how do they get fleas on them? I bath and brush them regularly, where in the world is he picking up these parasitic critters?

Dogs can pick fleas from anywhere; your yard, local parks, the dog groomer, from the vet clinic, and even from other dogs. Dogs can also pick up fleas and ticks from hiking, camping, and exploring the wilderness with you. If your dog has fleas, the only thing that should be on your mind is how to get rid of them as quickly as possible. So how do you choose the best flea meds for dogs in 2023? That’s the essence of this buying guide.

Going online to search for the best flea meds to buy without having adequate information isn’t something you would want to do. Why? You may end with a product that is not only ineffective but is harmful to your dog. We have prepared this detailed buying guide to help you navigate through all you need to know about buying the best flea meds.

What Are The Types Of Flea Medication?

Oral flea treatment

This type of flea medication comes in form of chewable or pills and can be ingested by your pet. When an adult tick bites your dog, the medicine is transmitted to the tick, killing it. There are some important active chemicals used in producing flea and tick medications.

Some of these active chemicals may last a month while others may only last for a few days. Some of the active chemicals you should look out for when buying oral flea meds are:

Nitenpyram

This chemical is a fast-acting insecticide that kills adult fleas in thirty minutes. This active ingredient is mostly used by vets to kill fleas quickly. It does not have a long-term effect, so it should not be used for continuous flea control. Any pill or chewable that contains nitenpyram kills fleas and ticks swiftly are approved to be used on cats and dogs by the FDA.

Lufenuron

This chemical unlike nitenpyram does not kill adult fleas. It is more effective at killing any larvae produced by adult fleas. It does not kill ticks as well. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved this compound as safe to be used for both dogs and cats. You may want to buy medications that contain both lufenuron and nitenpyram.

Spinosad

This compound only kills adult fleas, it does not kill ticks. When fleas bite the skin of your dog, the chemical overstimulates the flea’s nervous system, killing it in the process. Any medicine that contains the spinosad compound is not recommended for dogs with epilepsy. Spinosad is approved by the FDA to be safe for flea treatment.

Topical flea treatment

Topical flea medication is also known as “spot-on” medications. This type of treatment is generally applied between the pet’s shoulder blades, and back so the pet cannot lick it off. Some topical medications may last for months, while others may last only for a few weeks or even days. Some topical medications not only kill fleas and ticks but also repel them and prevent re-infestation.

The best topical flea treatment is one that is waterproof. Topical treatment is more effective than oral pills; fleas don’t have to bite your dog before they die. Upon contact with the treatment, it kills them in minutes. There are some important active ingredients to look out for when buying the best topical flea treatment.

Permethrin

Permethrin is a compound that is very effective at killing and repelling fleas in all life stages; from larvae to adults. This chemical is extremely toxic for cats, even a small quantity may be fatal. This compound is approved safe to be used on dogs by the FDA.

Fipronil:

This compound works by overstimulating the nervous system of fleas and ticks, killing them in the process. This chemical spreads over your dog through body oils in about a day, killing everything in its path. It usually lasts for about and month is approved to be used on cats and dogs by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Imidacloprid

This chemical kills fleas by attacking the nervous system. Upon contact with your pet, it kills fleas at all life stages; both adult and larvae. It is approved safe to be used on both cats and dogs by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Pyrethroids:

These compounds are also called pyrethrin. It is an organic compound derived from a flower. This makes it really popular among dog owners who are more environmentally conscious. Pyrethroids can also be manufactured. These synthetic types are more effective and last longer.

This compound should not be used on cats and should be used carefully on small dog breeds. It is extremely toxic for felines, so be extra careful if you have a house full of cats and dogs. Pyrethroids are effective in killing fleas, ticks, mites, and other parasitic critters.

How Do I Choose The Best Flea Medication For My Dog?

Safety

Before buying any flea medication for your canine, you need to make sure that the med is approved and certified safe to be used on your dogs. It is important to note that some of these chemicals are extremely toxic to felines. So if you have a house full of cats, you need to ensure that they don’t come in contact with these flea repelling chemicals.

Ease of use

Whatever flea medication that you want to buy should be very easy to use. If you’re buying a topical flea treatment, it should have an applicator that is easy to open and use. If you’re going for oral pills, it should be one that is easy to pop open and be stored easily. The best flea med for dogs is one that is easy and safe to use.

Effectiveness

What’s the point of buying flea meds when they don’t actually kill fleas? It is a waste of money if you ask us. Listed above are some incredibly active chemicals that are effective at killing fleas. Ensure to consider these chemicals when buying the best flea medication for dogs.

History

By history, we mean that you need to do a little research in order to ascertain the effectiveness of flea meds. Look at customer reviews to know just how good a flea med is for your dog’s breed and size.

Prescription vs. Over-the-counter?

Over-the-counter medications are meds that are not prescribed by the doctor since they are not meant to be ingested. These flea treatments are usually topically applied to the body of your dog, as long as they are approved by the FDA, they can be used.

Prescription medications on the other hand require an approved prescription from a licensed medical professional before they can be issued out. They could be oral, topical, injections, or powders all of which should be approved by the FDA safe to use.