Do dogs really need flea and tick medicine? The short answer is yes. Flea and tick preventatives need to be applied year-round to keep your pet safe and healthy. But with so much advice and so many products on offer, it can be hard to know what to do for the best.
Fortunately, if you’re wondering, “How do I protect my dog from fleas and ticks?”, our pals at Beaphar, and canine expert Dr Emma Scales-Theobald, have some great advice on flea and tick prevention for dogs. Beaphar specialises in pharmaceuticals to keep our furry friends in top-dog condition (including cleaning their ears) and they have kindly answered questions posed by our Canine Club.
With your canine companion’s flea and tick treatment up to date, why not head off on a dog-friendly holiday? Browse our pet-friendly cottages and start planning your paw-some break today.
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Focus on fleas
When does the flea season begin and end?
The flea season in the UK typically lasts between April and November and peaks between June and September. They thrive in the warmer weather. That said, they are something of a year-round problem, so be sure to keep your pet’s treatment up to date.
Typically, fleas have four life stages: egg, larva, pupa (cocoon), and adult, said Dr Emma. She added: “Understanding the flea life cycle helps you to implement effective flea control measures for each stage, preventing infestations and breaking the cycle of reproduction.
"Consistent and proactive flea control measures are essential for maintaining a healthy and comfortable environment for your dog and your family.”
How to spot fleas on your pets
Check your dog’s fur all over, paying particular attention to the head, neck and hindquarters, as these are particularly appealing to fleas.
Be on the lookout for tiny, black bits, which could be flea dirt and a sign that fleas are present. The easiest way to confirm this is to take a white bit of kitchen or toilet roll and wipe the bits. If they leave red streaks on the white paper, it is flea dirt.
Also be alert for any patches of reddened skin with fur loss as this indicates irritation caused by flea bites.
Doctor Emma said: “Fleas like areas of warmth within long fur, including between their shoulder blades, neck, rear legs and base of the tail.”
How to avoid fleas on your pets
Avoid getting fleas on your dog by bathing and combing their fur regularly, especially during the warmer months. Don’t forget to clean your pet’s bedding and soft furnishings such as cushions too. Keeping their flea treatment up to date is important; we’ll explore this aspect further in the flea medication section.
What health issues can flea infestations cause for dogs?
Flea infestations can contribute to a variety of different health issues in dogs, including flea allergy dermatitis (FAD), contracting flea-borne diseases from parasites and bacteria, hair loss, skin lesions and anaemia.
Dr Emma said: “If left untreated, flea infestations can cause anaemia, secondary skin infections and behavioural issues in dogs. These can negatively impact their quality of life over time.”
Can humans catch fleas from dogs?
While cat and dog fleas may well bite you, you are not their preferred host, and they will jump from your skin to go in search of a more receptive host.
Can my dog get worms from fleas?
Yes, fleas can carry Dipylidium caninum, a type of tapeworm, which is ingested when your dog grooms off the flea. Therefore, it is important to have a regular flea and worm control regime.
How can an elderly dog catch fleas when he never goes near other pets?
Unfortunately, fleas are always lurking. Even if your dog is indoors all of the time, there are a number of ways that fleas can still invade your home.
If your dog goes outside to go to the toilet or even potters around, there may have been infected wildlife in the garden. Creatures such as hedgehogs or foxes can leave behind fleas or flea eggs, that will then patiently await their next host to come past.
In addition, we humans can carry fleas or flea eggs on our clothes or the bottom of our shoes, after we have walked in an affected area or visited another home/pet. It is highly recommended that you wash all bedding at 60°C regularly in addition to providing flea treatment, for the best results.
Can a dog that is being treated monthly still get fleas and ticks?
This can happen and, in some instances, it is from sharing a home with an untreated pet or from poking their nose around infected wildlife, such as hedgehogs, in the garden.
However, if they do get fleas, and you are actively treating your pet continuously, the fleas will die pretty soon after contact on a treated pet, so it is even more important to keep those treatments up.
Always check the ingredients on your flea and tick treatment, normally found on the back or inside the packaging, to ensure that you are fighting both ticks and fleas as some are flea-only treatments.
Flea medication
What is the best flea and tick treatment for dogs?
No two pups are the same, so this varies from pet to pet, based on factors including their age, breed, and weight. Beaphar has a range of on-animal flea and/or tick control products, including sprays, spot-on treatments, and collars.
What’s the best way to protect my dog from fleas?
While you can’t stop fleas from jumping onto your pet, the best way to keep them protected is to routinely treat them with a suitable flea control product, such as Beaphar FIPROtec® COMBO.
Its dual-action formula is tough on fleas, both on your dog and in the home. It kills adult fleas on your dog and protects your home against developing flea eggs and larvae.
As fleas can also carry tapeworm eggs, it’s important to incorporate a regular worming regime, such as Beaphar WORMclear®, into your dog’s care.
My vet says shop-bought flea products don't work – is this true?
No, by law, all veterinary medicines have to pass stringent testing to prove effectiveness, quality and safety before they make it to market.
To be allowed to be sold over the counter, products have to have a long and robust safety record.
What’s the best way to efficiently flea my dog? She hates the ointment I put on her skin!
Not all dogs like spot-ons. Thankfully, Beaphar has a wide variety of flea treatments to suit your dog’s needs. They also provide sprays, soft flea collars, as well as Beaphar Canishield® collar, which kills fleas, ticks and sandflies for up to six months. You can read more about the best options for your dog here.
Are your flea and tick treatments suitable and safe for herding breeds that carry the MDR1 gene?
Yes. Beaphar has plenty of flea and tick treatments available which are suitable and safe for those breeds of dogs.
If my dog goes swimming or gets wet, will the flea spot-on still work?
Once applied, it’s important to make sure your dog doesn’t get wet until the application site has dried. Fipronil, the active ingredient in Beaphar FIPROtec®, concentrates in the dog’s sebaceous glands acting as a store, allowing the treatment to stay active for longer, even after swimming.
However, bathing your dog within two days of application or more than once a week may reduce how well the product works.
How do I get rid of fleas in my home?
Although treating your dog is important, a staggering 95% of a flea infestation is in the environment, consisting of flea eggs, flea larvae and flea pupae. This means, that when tackling an active infestation, you must also treat your home with a suitable household flea product, such as Beaphar FLEAtec Household Flea Spray.
All Beaphar's household flea sprays are designed to be used on floors, carpets, soft furnishings and pet beds, though we recommended that fabrics are tested for colour fastness by testing on a small, inconspicuous area first. Beaphar's blog explains how to protect your home from fleas.
Expanding on the advice from Beaphar, Dr Emma said: “There are different environmental control methods which play a crucial role in preventing and managing flea infestations. These methods target, and aim to disrupt, the different life stages of fleas (eggs, larvae, pupae) outside of the host animal (in this case, a dog).
“Methods of preventing and eliminating fleas from your home include washing at high temperatures dog beds, blankets, dog coats and your own bedding if your dog goes on your bed, regularly vacuuming carpets and soft furniture, regularly bathing your dog, and using a flea comb and preventative products on your dog consistently.”
Common misconceptions about fleas
In this section, Dr Emma explores some misconceptions about fleas that dog owners should be aware of:
“Fleas are only a problem in summer”
Flea infestations can occur at any time of the year. Fleas thrive in warm and humid environments, therefore, they do well outdoors over warmer months, but they can also survive indoors during colder months due to central heating. It's essential to maintain flea prevention measures regardless of the season.
“Fleas are removed immediately after one treatment”
While flea treatments for pets can kill adult fleas quickly, they may not eliminate flea eggs, larvae, or pupae present in the environment. It can take time for flea infestations to be fully eradicated from a home due to new fleas continuing to emerge from eggs and pupae in the environment. They can ‘lie dormant’ until they receive a heat source, such as central heating or coming into close contact with you or your dog.
“Fleas only bite pets”
Fleas will bite any warm-blooded creature and can therefore bite both pets and humans. Although pets are common hosts for fleas, humans can also be bitten by fleas, especially during a flea infestation.
“Indoor pets can't get fleas”
Indoor pets are still at risk of flea infestations because fleas can be carried indoors on clothing, shoes, or other pets. Fleas can also infest indoor environments through cracks in floors, open windows, or visits from infected animals.
“All flea products are safe for dogs”
Not all flea products are safe or effective for use on dogs. Some may cause adverse reactions or be toxic to them if used incorrectly. It's essential to only use flea treatments and preventative products designed for dogs and follow the directions on the label.
“Only dirty homes have fleas”
Fleas can appear in clean homes as well as dirty ones. However, keeping a clean home by regular cleaning and vacuuming will help to reduce the risk of a flea infestation developing.
Tackling ticks
What are the typical areas on a dog's body where ticks are likely to attach?
Ticks can attach to various areas on a dog's body, but they tend to favour the warmest, moist, soft skin and hair-less areas where they can feed easily and remain undisturbed.
Dr Emma said: “Common areas on a dog's body where ticks are likely to attach include ears, eyes, between paw pads, groin, armpits, belly and under a collar.”
Are there any areas where you are more likely to find particular types of fleas and ticks? Does this vary around the UK?
Ticks lurk in high grasses and heathlands and can be found in high-risk areas such as Norfolk, Suffolk, the South West of England (including the Isle of Wight), and the North of Scotland.
Dr Emma said: “Fleas and ticks are typically found in areas where wild animals, like deer and rodents, reside. They are commonly found in wooded areas, like forests, shrubland, and fields with tall, thick grass.”
I live in an area where there are a lot of ticks. Which product should I use to keep my dog safe?
Regular use of Beaphar FIPROtec® Spot On or Beaphar FIPROtec® COMBO will give protection against free-loading ticks.
Alternatively, a Beaphar Canishield® collar will protect your dog from ticks, plus it also fights fleas. Simply fit the collar to your dog and have long-lasting protection for up to six months.
What does a tick actually do to our doggies? Once removed, can there be further problems?
A tick will 'quest' by reaching out and latching onto a dog if it brushes past the grass. Once a tick has attached itself to a dog, it will find a warm place, such as the armpits, neck and ears, pierce the skin with its mouth and start feeding.
A tick will feed up to seven days, growing from the size of a pinhead to about 10mm, when it will be fully engorged with the dog's blood. If a tick is removed improperly, its mouth can remain attached, further risking the transmission of Lyme disease.
Ticks can be prevented by applying a flea and tick spot-on, such as Beaphar FIPROtec® Spot-on, or Beaphar Canishield® collar, which kills fleas, ticks and sandflies for up to six months.
My dog has a really fluffy coat. What is the best way to prevent ticks from getting into his fur? Also, what is the best way to check for them as it’s so much harder with his thick fur?
We would recommend you try a Beaphar Canishield® collar, which kills fleas, ticks and sandflies for up to six months.
Though ticks tend to prefer dogs with less fur, they will still try and use your dog to feed. Use a comb to brush through your dog’s hair, and check their undersides, as well as armpits, neck and ears.
Can Lyme disease affect dogs, as it can humans, or are they unaffected?
Yes, pets can get Lyme disease too and, in some instances, it can be a pretty nasty disease.
Disease transmission occurs during the feeding process. As a tick feeds on a host, it releases saliva into the host via the bite. In ticks with Lyme disease, the saliva contains harmful micro-organisms. When the saliva mixes with the host’s blood, any diseases the tick is carrying may transfer to the host.
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that can affect both animals and people. It can be treated with few to no lasting effects, provided we catch it early. However, if left untreated it can cause serious health problems, including joint and muscle problems, and even kidney damage.
Treat your furry friend to a holiday
Once your dog is protected against fleas and ticks, they’re safe to enjoy the big wide world, so why not take them on an adventure?
We have holiday cottages in every corner of the country that welcome dogs, so you can enjoy an unforgettable break together. Click the button below to browse our full collection.
Emma Scales-Theobald PhD MSc
A canine behaviour and nutrition consultant who provides regular expert advice to Canine Cottages on the subjects of canine health and behaviour. She holds a PhD in Veterinary Medicine and Science from the University of Surrey, as well as an MSc in Animal Behaviour from the University of Exeter.
Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of writing,
please ensure you check carefully before making any decisions based on the contents within this article.