Can I reapply flea treatment early – Safety advisory for dog owners

Fleas are pesky, painful, and very irritating. They can cause endless frustration & pain and require immediate action. If treatment is delayed, it can lead to very serious consequences.

Thankfully, topical flea treatment helps a lot. It can get rid of the infestation quite quickly and ensure that your dog becomes his happy, healthy self once more. However, during the course of treatment, you have to be careful about the application. We advise you to visit the vet and follow everything that he/she advises. That is the safest way to keep problems at bay.

But, in certain cases, you may have worries and questions about the treatment. One of the most common questions we get is about reapplying flea treatment. We are here to address it.

Can I reapply flea treatment early?

Topical flea treatment comes with instructions about dosage and duration. The vet will give you a timeline for application, and it is best to stick to it. After consistent use, if you still see fleas, we understand that you will be worried. That will tempt you to reapply the flea treatment early. We do not recommend this, though, because it can lead to overdose. A few of the consequences are as follows:

• Vomiting
• Weakness
• Seizures
• Breathing difficulties
• Tremors
• Excessive drooling

Some dogs see more adverse reactions. So, before deciding to reapply flea treatment early, we sincerely advise you to speak to the vet.

How soon can I give my dog another flea treatment?

There is no template answer for this because treatments vary based on the condition and its severity. The brand of topical flea medicine also matters. So, please follow the guidelines on the medicine to be on the safe side. 

Can I give my dog a flea bath two days in a row?

No.

If you are using a flea shampoo, you will want to bathe him every day to get rid of the infestation quickly. But that’s not how it works at all. Just like topical applicants, there’s a recommended dosage and duration, which is usually once a week. The exact duration varies with the shampoo. 

Unless specified otherwise by the vet, please follow what the manufacturers of the shampoo recommend. 

Why isn’t the flea treatment working?

One of the biggest reasons is that the infestation is severe and needs more time than usual. You must be patient because it will not work overnight or even within a week. To get rid of all fleas and their eggs, you must reapply as per instructions and wait. 

There are a few other reasons as well. They are:

• Incorrect application – Brands have their own ways of application. There’s no template application method. So, please follow the recommendations given.
• Ineffective flea medication – Maybe the medication you are using is not as effective. Please speak to the vet and get a replacement before reapplying it early.
• Applying treatment only on one our pets (in case you have multiple pets)
• Not treating the home for the infestation – Along with your pet, you must ensure that there are no fleas in the surroundings. Pest control at home is mandatory for the effective removal of fleas.

The bottom line is that you should refrain from reapplying flea treatment early unless the vet gives his/her nod. Please be careful while using medication. It can cause trouble otherwise. 

All the best! We hope your furry best friend is flea-free very soon.