May 24, 2012
Posted in Flea & Tick Preventatives, Pet Meds

Even if your dog is on a flea and tick preventative medication, you might still notice that they are not working as effectively as they used to. Before you chalk it up to the medication's effectiveness, double check a couple of factors.

Is human error involved?

Because your dog's pet drugs depend on how well you administer them, you need to make sure you are doing the best possible job you can. This is especially true for topical flea and tick medications like Frontline Plus and PetArmor. When you apply these medications, make sure you are touching the applicator tip to the dog's skin, not in the hair. The point is for the skin to absorb the medication, and if it is dispersed into the fur, the dog won't get all the benefits. Always apply to a place where your pet cannot lick it off, and do not bathe the dog or allow it to get wet until you can no longer see the medication. If you don't trust your skills, consider an oral preventative like Comfortis or Revolution instead.

Improving the dog's skin health

If you are applying topical medication correctly and it is still not working, your dog's skin might be to blame. Medication is best absorbed into skin that is soft, flexible and healthy. Dry, thick skin will prevent the medication from being absorbed into the skin the way it needs to. If your dog's skin is unhealthy, there are several ways to improve it. Consider changing the type of pet food you feed it to a kibble that has omega-3 fatty acids to support healthy skin. You can also give it a bath with soothing pet shampoo or add an omega-3 supplement like Super Pure Omega-3 into its diet.

Treat the places the dog goes

It can be hard for your dog to avoid fleas and ticks when the bugs have infiltrated its living spaces. Only about 1 to 5 percent of a flea population lives on your pet, while the rest live in your yard, garden and home. Fleas, flea eggs and larvae live in your carpets, furniture and curtains, plus in your grass and other foliage. You can get rid of these pests with a spray like Virbac Yard Spray for outdoor areas and Virbac Knockout Fogger for indoors. 

Related posts:

1. What do when your flea pet drugs are not working
2. Dog Flea Meds Not Working?
3. Bountiful benefits of flea and tick preventative pet drugs
4. Pet Armor: Part of Your Total Flea Control Program
5. Keep your puppy flea free