When to start flea and tick prevention for your puppy

As a responsible pet owner, you may be wondering, “When can I start treating my puppy for ticks and fleas?” or “Which flea and tick preventatives are safe for puppies?”

How you start treating your puppy for ticks and fleas will depend on the product you choose and your particular dog’s needs.

When it comes to treating your puppy for ticks and fleas, it’s important to follow the usage instructions, which can usually be found on the front of the product box.

Let’s take a look at when to start treating your puppy for fleas and ticks, why it’s important, and how to make the best choice for your dog.

When to start treating your puppy for fleas and ticks

Typically, many preventive measures Veterinary products for puppies can be started on puppies as early as 6-8 weeks of age.

However, some cannot be started until 6 months of age ( Bravecto® (oral and topical).

Working with your veterinarian to find the right flea and tick control product for your pup is an important step in preventive care for your pet.

Why flea and tick control is important for your puppy

Fleas and ticks are external parasites that cause a variety of problems and illnesses to both pets and humans.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Many state public health departments keep detailed tracking information about these pests. All 50 states report the presence of fleas and ticks.

Between walks, outdoor playtime, and potty breaks, your puppy can be exposed to parasites.

Some internal parasites (such as roundworms) can be transmitted to puppies both through the mother’s placenta and through her nursing mother’s milk before the puppy is placed in its new home.

Many of these internal parasites are zoonotic, meaning they can be transmitted to humans.

Many flea and tick treatments for puppies also contain internal parasite preventatives, which is an added benefit for new puppies and their owners.

If your new puppy comes home already infested with fleas or ticks, you may be prescribed treatments to eliminate the pests before administering the preventative medication.

Here are some considerations to discuss with your veterinarian when choosing a flea and tick prevention:

First-time puppy owners should keep in mind that this is the best strategy to lower the risk of diseases that are expensive to prevent but even more expensive to treat.

If prevention is not followed, your pet may develop drug-resistant fleas and ticks.

Ticks can carry several serious diseases, including:

Certain types of ticks are more common in certain parts of the country. Common ticks that carry infectious diseases in the United States include the following:

Fleas can spread tapeworms to pets and humans, and can also transmit plague, endemic typhus, and cat scratch disease.

If your pet has fleas, you may notice flea droppings (flea feces), which look like dried black debris, at the base of your puppy’s tail.

Fleas live on blood, and even a single flea on your pet can cause pain, itching, severe sensitivity, allergic reactions and trauma.

How to Find the Best Flea Control for Your Puppy

Treating your puppy for ticks and fleas is important for both you and your pet.

To protect your puppy from pesky skin parasites and the diseases they transmit, it’s important to start him on an age- and weight-appropriate tick and flea treatment.

Flea and tick preventatives include: It is also ideal for preventing intestinal parasites.

Preventing and treating your pet with these medications will protect you from the effects of the parasites if your puppy transmits them to you.

There are many safe and effective products available to prevent and treat flea and tick infestations.

Understanding the science behind flea and tick parasites and the differences between them may be helpful when considering giving your puppy a flea and tick preventative.

for example:

• Fleas and ticks have different life cycles: eggs, larvae, adult for fleas and nymphs, larvae, adult for ticks.

• Adult male and female mites of the same species may look different.

• A variety of medications have proven effective in preventing one or more stages of the parasite or in treating the parasite.

• Tick ​​species vary by region, so location may affect medication choice.

Because these pests live in the environment around us and can be continually carried by wildlife, it is important to treat all pets in the home (both dogs and cats) and the environment at the same time.

Processing the environment includes:

• Use of pest control products

• Pruning shrubs and shrubs

• Clean up leaves and excess debris

• Limiting standing water

• Minimize exposure to wildlife

• Remove the pile of wood near your home

If you’re overwhelmed by all the options, or want to know which tick and flea treatment method is best for your pup, consult your veterinarian.

How to get rid of fleas and ticks on your puppy

Many products contain a combination of drugs and chemicals to protect against multiple parasites.

As you discuss your puppy’s needs and individual situation with your veterinarian, keep in mind that certain breeds may be more sensitive to medications.

A common example is A gene mutation called MDR1 found in some collies and sheepdogs.

Collie/Sheepdog crossbreeds are sensitive to the drug Ivermectin. If your puppy carries this gene, here are some medications to avoid:

Dogs with this gene will certainly be more sensitive to this class of drugs, but Heartworm prevention It shouldn’t cause any problems, Safe to use on these varieties (with veterinarian permission).

Dogs with the MDR1 gene mutation have an abnormal protein that normally works to filter out drugs and stop these substances from entering the brain and other organs.

When this happens, drugs and toxins build up in the dog’s brain, causing serious neurological damage.

What flea and tick treatments are safe for puppies?

Do not use flea and tick products for cats on dogs.

Dogs and cats have different metabolisms and process medications differently, so weight ranges and dosages vary depending on the strength of medication needed by each species.

Be sure to use medications that are labelled specifically for dogs and are appropriate for your puppy’s weight. This is to avoid toxicity.

Examples of common preventative regimens for puppies include:

• rotate®

  
  

  • Type: Topical, once a month

  • For puppies 6 weeks and older

  • Label Uses:

    
    

    • Filariasis (adult)

    • Fleas (adults and eggs)

    • Tick ​​(corndog)

    • Ear mites

    • scabies

• Credelio®

  
  

  • Type: Oral, once a month

  • For puppies 8 weeks and older

  • Label Uses:

    
    

    • Fleas (adult)

    • Ticks (Lone Star, American Dog, Black Legged, Brown Dog)

• Simparica Trio™

  
  

  • Type: Oral, once a month

  • For puppies 8 weeks and older

  • Label Uses:

    
    

    • Filariasis (adult)

    • Intestinal parasites (roundworms and hookworms)

    • Fleas (adult)

    • Ticks (Lone Star, Gulf Coast, American Dog, Black Legged, Brown Dog)

• Advantage Multi™

  
  

  • Type: Topical, once a month

  • For puppies 7 weeks and older

  • Label Uses:

    
    

    • Heartworms (adult worms and microfilariae)

    • Fleas (adult)

    • Intestinal parasites (roundworms, hookworms, whipworms)

    • scabies

• Sentinel Spectrum®

  
  

  • Type: Oral, once a month

  • For puppies 6 weeks and older

  • Label Uses:

    
    

    • Filariasis (adult)

    • Fleas (eggs)

    • Intestinal parasites (roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, tapeworms)