Things to consider when purchasing flea medicine for your dog.
It’s heartbreaking for any owner to watch helplessly as fleas terrorize their dog. Dogs do an excellent job at hiding their pain and discomfort, but the endless scratching is a clear indication that it’s suffering from an unpleasant flea infestation. They may start by only scratching periodically throughout the day, but as the fleas’ numbers begin to grow, the scratching will persist well into the late-night hours.
Thankfully, there are dozens of medications available which are designed to exterminate and prevent fleas in canines, some of which are topical while others are consumable pill form. If you’re thinking about using a flea medicine on your do, however, there are a few things you should first consider.
FDA-Approved
When shopping for flea medicine for your dog, check to make sure the product is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA has a strict set of guidelines that a product must meet in order for it to be approved.
Yes, there are plenty of non-FDA approved flea medicines available, but using them is like playing a game of Russian Roulette: it may work just fine without causing any ill effects in your dog, or it may trigger a range of adverse health reactions.
Dosage
Most flea medicines for dogs are sold in a variety of dosages. The correct dosage depends on the size of your dog. If you want to use FrontLine Plus on your small Chihuahua, for instance, you should choose the “Small Dogs” variety, which is suitable for dogs up to 22 pounds. If you own a larger dog, such as a Labrador Retriever, you’ll want to use the “Medium Dogs’ variety, which is suitable for dogs between 23-44 pounds.
Choose a flea medicine that offers a minimum of 1- month protection.
Duration
Consider how long the flea medicine lasts when shopping for a solution to your dog’s flea infestation. Some medicines may only last for a couple of weeks, whereas others offer a full 1-2 months of protection.
A good rule of thumb is to choose a flea medicine with a minimum of 1-month protection, as this should keep your dog protected without forcing you to reapply the medicine every 7 days or so.
Price
Of course, price is yet another consideration consumers should make when shopping for a flea medicine. Prices can range anywhere from $3 to $50+. Opting to buy your flea medicine online rather than the local veterinarian, however, can save you tons of money.