May 4, 2012
Posted in Flea & Tick Preventatives

Fleas are an unfortunate part of every pet owner's life as these parasites are found almost everywhere in nature. Spring is here and that means it's important for pet parents to stick to their dogs' flea and tick preventative medication regimens in order to keep infestations at bay. However, if you're a new pet owner to a puppy, you may be wondering, "What can I do to protect my young dog against fleas?" 

You may assume that tick and flea preventative pet drugs like Revolution, Frontline, Pet Armor or Comfortis are only made for adult dogs, but in fact, some of these pet products can be used on puppies as young as four weeks old. Some of these medications also protect pets against deadly heartworm disease. It's important to protect your puppy from these parasites from a young age, especially since a large
flea infestation has the power to make your pup anemic.

Products that are suitable to use on dogs aged four weeks and older include Capstar, Sentinel and Frontline Top Spot. All three of these medications work to kill adult fleas and ticks, but they vary in their applications. Frontline is a topical treatment, while Capstar and Sentinel are given to a dog orally. These products are helpful in keeping your pooch protected, but since they don't kill flea larvae or eggs, you may also want to invest in pet products like a Resco Pro-Series Flea Comb to easily check your puppy's skin and coat for any infestations.

Other, more effective products that kill all stages of flea life as well as ticks can be administered to pups aged 8 weeks and older. You can also keep your yard flea and tick free with certain pet products. This can keep potential risks to your pup even further away.

Items like the Virbac Yard Spray is perfect for keeping fleas and ticks out of your backyard. The spray bottle can easily be attached to the end of a garden hose and works to cover up to 6,000 square feet of yard. The ingredients inside work to prevent re-infestations of fleas and ticks without harming your grass or foliage. For extra precaution, you should keep your puppy and members of your family off the yard for 24 hours after spraying.

Remember, once you start your pooch on flea and tick preventatives, it's important to keep up with the monthly applications all year long to avoid infestations. 

Related posts:

1. When your puppy gets fleas
2. Welcoming your new puppy home
3. Pet Armor: Part of Your Total Flea Control Program
4. How to remove fleas on kittens
5. How do flea medications work?