No, fleas don’t jump off after treatment. Instead, they rise to the top of your pet, die, and fall off the skin. However, you may feel that the treatment is not working because new fleas will keep appearing on your dog’s fur. This is the reason why you need to complete the course for a flea infestation to see the results. These treatments can take up to 3 months and the exact duration is dependent on the severity of the condition.
Flea infestation is one of the major concerns of dog owners because this is a difficult problem to solve. Fleas reproduce very quickly and you won’t even notice their presence unless it’s too late. Hence, it’s highly recommended to ensure regular flea treatment and keep checking your pup for infestation. Keep reading to know about the time fleas take to die (after treatment) and learn the signs that indicate a successful treatment.
Do fleas jump from dog to dog? Click here to learn more.
Does Flea Medication Kill Fleas or Make Them Jump Off?
Flea medication kills the fleas that are present in your dog’s fur. However, new fleas from the environment can jump onto your canine friend. This is because 95% of the total flea population is spread in the infested environment. Therefore, it is quite normal to find fleas on a dog that is being treated.
How Long Do Fleas Take to Die After Treatment?
Most of the products used for flea treatment will kill a flea within 24 hours. However, the fast life cycle of these parasites means that new fleas will replace the killed ones. Hence, you may have to wait for the completion of the treatment (up to 3 months) to see apparent results.
The main ingredient that is responsible for killing fleas is called Imidacloprid. It terminates fleas by coming in contact with them. Therefore, the parasite won’t have to bite your pooch to die (less pain and irritation for the dog). Imidacloprid is also effective against flea larvae and can be used to keep the home flea-free. It can be spread on carpets and other surfaces inside the house to kill the fleas and keep them away.
How Do I Know if the Fleas are Gone?
Fleas can be very annoying and painful for dogs as well as the owners. You will need to give your pup flea medication and treat your house with insecticides. In some cases, a stubborn flea might still be there and will cause a re-infestation if you are not vigilant. The following are some guidelines to check your dog to ensure that you have got rid of all the fleas.
Place Your Dog on a White Towel – Position your pooch on a clean, white towel. The color of the towel should be bright so that the fleas can be seen easily.
Brush Your Dog with a Flea Comb – Start brushing your pet’s back and move from the top to the bottom. Give special attention to the head, ears, armpits, tail, and paws of your pup. Fleas tend to hide in these places and may escape casual combing.
Brush Your Dog for the Second Time – If the towel is clean until now, apply some petroleum jelly to the comb. Comb the fur of your pooch again and see if you find any fleas. If there are any parasites in his/her hair, they will get stuck to the sticky comb.
Don’t Forget the Flea Dirt – Flea dirt is the black (or brown) powder left behind by fleas. It is actually the remains of the blood that dries on the skin of your dog. You are quite likely to find these specks on the white towel by the end of this procedure. Brush your canine friend thoroughly and try to remove as much flea dirt as possible.
We all know that fleas love dogs, but what about your clothes? Check out our post “Do Fleas Jump on Clothes?” to learn more.
Do Fleas Get Worse After Treatment?
Some of the products that are used for treating flea infestation make fleas hyperactive before killing them. That’s the reason why your dog becomes more uncomfortable and itchy after the application of the medication. Most treatments will take up to 24 hours to kill fleas and can’t stop new fleas from jumping on the canine. Hence, you may still notice fleas on your pooch after the treatment.
The life cycle of fleas means that they will keep coming back as the new eggs in the environment hatch. The newly-hatched fleas will jump on the dog and keep disturbing your canine friend. Therefore, it’s important to clean an infested home with an insecticide/pesticide.
Once the cleaning is complete, you shouldn’t wash or vacuum the surfaces for at least 2 weeks. This is because fleas can reappear after 10-14 days. If the insecticide is there, it will kill the newly-hatched fleas within 24 hours. Washing the surfaces will remove the layer of insecticide and the chances of a re-infestation are increased.
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