Best Flea Pills for Dogs
How do you, as a dog owner, ensure your dog has good health?
For the majority of people, it's walking their dog every day, feeding them, sticking to routine and annual vet visits. But, if you think that's enough just to keep your dog healthy, then you're wrong. You have to protect them from harmful bacteria and wingless parasites, one of which is fleas. The best way to keep your dog healthy from fleas is by giving them flea pills. These are best given to your dog when your vet thinks it may have a flea infestation. They can also make your dog have tapeworms and become anemic. They're small animals that can survive easily and cause a lot of trouble for your dog. They survive by biting your dog and surviving off its blood. A flea attaches onto your dog due to its spikes around their head and then use their mouth to bite into your dog. It's even worse if the fleas lay eggs; it can be even hard for you to remove. One easy and effective way of removing fleas from your dog is by giving them flea pills.
Flea pills are an oral solution that allows your dog to have them removed from their body through a course of treatment. Not all flea pills work the same; many different formulas exist on the market, some of which are targeted to different parts of the flea cycle. To more, check out our picks of the best flea pills for dogs.
What are flea pills?
Dog flea pills are oral tablets that control the number of fleas in your dog and treat flea infestations. There are many different types of flea pills that exist on the market which veterinarians regularly prescribe. Most flea pills differ from the chemical ingredients in them, which target fleas in different ways.
Some flea pills are formulated to kill eggs, others are to kill adult fleas, and others prevent remaining fleas from laying eggs. It's always essential to know which stage the fleas are in when attached to your pet. Therefore, you should speak to a veterinarian and read the label of flea pill packaging carefully.
Different types
Before you buy any flea pills for your dog, it's best to know why your dog needs them, and you should speak to a veterinarian. While you can buy some flea pills without a prescription, there are many which do. It's always best to speak to a veterinarian for advice first and have complete confidence of what to give your dog, instead of self-medicating them putting them at risk. If you see the veterinarian, they may advise your dog to have flea pills with the following chemical compounds:
- Chewable tablet: This type of flea pill is commonly prescribed by veterinarians and referred to as off-label use. It is taken with food or water. If your dog consumes a chewable flea pill, the chemical compound in it often kills fleas within hours upon consumption. The average time takes between 4-12 hours to kill fleas. However, these pills often have to be taken multiple times for effective treatment. There are also chewable tablets that the veterinarian can prescribe for up to 12 weeks’ worth of treatment.
- Standard flea pill: This type of flea pill usually has a half-life of 3-8 hours and can kill fleas as quickly as 30 minutes after consumption. Some of these pills can come in chewable tablets that are taken daily or monthly.
- Topical ointments: In addition to these pills, there are also topical ointments that can be applied to your dog to help get rid of fleas. You can even get flea collars to apply to your dog to stop fleas from coming near their neck. In fact, there's a variety of treatments, but it's always best to consult your vet first.
How to choose flea pills for dogs?
When looking to get flea pills for your dog, you should choose them based on the following:
- Advice from your veterinarian: You don't want to buy any flea pills without seeking help from a veterinarian first. A vet will carry out specific blood tests and inspect their fur to see which lifecycle the fleas are in. Based on their observations and test results, they will be able to recommend you the most effective anti-flea treatment for your dog.
- Reviews: If you don't have the opportunity to visit a vet, make sure you thoroughly read the label and reviews before buying. The label will give you a good insight as to what's inside the tablets and if they're safe to take or not.
What to consider when buying pills?
When buying flea pills for your dog, there are a few things that you should consider which are:
- Age: The age your dog is may influence the type of flea treatment they can get. If your dog is a puppy younger than eight weeks, it could be likely they're not given pills and another form of medication. Whereas certain dogs which are elderly may not be able to have a tablet so easily. It's always best to prepare the packaging, so you know which ones to give them.
- Type of coat: The unique thing about dogs is that there are various breeds, all of which have different coats. Depending on the texture of your dog's coat may influence the type of anti-flea treatment they receive. Generally, if your dog tends to have a thicker coat, it will have a topical treatment instead of an oral one.
- Medical history: Before buying dog flea pills, you must review their medical history. If they have any specific medical conditions, allergies, or supplements, you should speak to a vet before giving them any in case interactions occur.
- Your dog's lifestyle: It's important to consider other animals like cats or children in your household when choosing flea pills. If you have a few others in your house, you might want a flea pill that is more quick-acting for your dog.
- Your location: Some areas in the world are more common to parasites like fleas. You will want to consider where you live and seek the advice of a vet. If you live in an area with fleas, you will want your dog to have blood tests to see if they've built up a resistance.
Side effects of flea pills
If your dog is taking flea pills and experiences any of the following side effects, consult your veterinarian immediately.
- Muscle tremors;
- Seizures;
- Vomiting;
- Diarrhea;
- Difficulty breathing;
- Drooling;
- Nausea.
Conclusion
Overall, flea pills are highly beneficial to give to your dog to stop fleas from biting, sucking blood, and laying more eggs in their fur. To know which flea pill to give your dog, you should always consult a veterinarian first. This is because there are factors like their breed, age, medical history, and other animals living in the house which may affect their body. After your dog has seen the vet, they will be prescribed the right flea pill or ointment for them which may be for daily or monthly treatment.
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