Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!
Become a member today!
Members-only pricing and offers, personalized care notifications, Vital Care points back on every purchase and more!
Already a member? Sign in
Become a credit card member today!
Earn 2X Pals Rewards points at Petco
when you use Petco Pay!
APPLY NOW
Learn More About Petco Pay Benefits

Should I use flea shampoo on an 8-week-old puppy if label says 12+?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Can I use a flea shampoo on my 8 week old puppy even though the shampoo says to use on puppies 12 weeks and older?

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT

Licensed Veterinary Technician

Published on November 13th, 2015

No, it is not recommended. Bathe him in warm water and some Dawn dish liquid. Use a fine toothed comb to remove dead or dying fleas. Dry him thoroughly afterwards and make sure he doesn't get chilled.

89Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Linda G, MS, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on March 11th, 2019
Hello. Most flea & tick shampoos will have recommendations as to what age it can safely be used on puppies. There are still some that are OK at 8 weeks, but most will say 12 weeks. Rinsing your puppy was the correct thing to do. I am sure he will be fine. If you cannot find a medicated shampoo to use on such a young puppy, just use plain shampoo. The soap will kill most fleas until Loki is old enough to start using other flea & tick products. FYI, Nexguard & Frontline are 2 products labeled for puppies 8 weeks & older. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Dr Stafford, BVetMed, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Published on July 29th, 2017
Under no circumstances would I bathe such a young pup, it can make them ill and effect their smell causing maternal rejection. If the puppy has fleas shampoo wont treat them anyway, I would recommend getting frontline spray to treat the puppy. Personally i would not bathe a dog until 6 months unless absoloutely necessary.
2Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Related Questions

Is it safe to bathe my 5-week-old puppy? What about flea shampoo?

Hello, yes it is ok to bathe your puppy however, please use warm water and make sure she is thoroughly dry after her bath. Some flea shampoos may be ok for puppies this young, you should find the recommended age for the shampoo you are trying to use on the bottle itself. Most often, if you puppy has fleas, it is most safe to bathe with plain water and shampoo. Most of the time, you won't need flea shampoo. Hope this helps and best of luck.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

What to do for fleas on an 8-week-old puppy who can't bathe?

You can treat him with a monthly flea prevention, like NexGard or Frontline which are both labeled for use on puppies over 8 weeks of age. Ask your vet for the best flea prevention for your puppy. Continue to give him the flea medication on a monthly basis.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

How to safely remove fleas from very young puppies and their mom?

The best way to treat puppies this young is with a warm bath and some dawn dish soap. You can't really use any flea treatments on them. However you should, and can treat the mother. You should also wash any bedding and make sure that you keep the puppies free of fleas at all times. After bathing make sure to dry them thoroughly. They are still too young to control their body temp.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

How do I safely remove fleas and ticks from 10-day-old puppies?

Oh no, how frustrating! I would not recommend using Adams flea and tick products for dogs of any age, as they tend not to be terribly effective and can lead to some serious reactions. Your puppies are currently too young to be treated with any oral or topical flea and tick preventatives. However, one method of managing fleas at this young age is to bathe the puppies in original Dawn dish soap weekly. The original (blue) Dawn will kill adult fleas, but it will not kill eggs or treat the recently hatched larvae. Be sure to dry them well and keep them warm after their baths since young puppies are not able to regulate their body temperatures as well as adult dogs. By 6 weeks of age, your vet can prescribe Revolution to be used topically, or you can purchase K9 Advantix II OTC when the puppies are 7 weeks old. Also be sure to wash their bedding and any soft materials they contact in hot soapy water. Assure that the puppies' mom and any other dogs in the house are also receiving flea and tick preventatives regularly. K9 Advantix II is labeled as being safe for pregnant and lactating bitches. I hope that all goes well!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

What's safe for fleas on a tiny 2-month-old puppy under 1 pound?

Treating fleas in such tiny pups is definitely a challenge! You can try bathing Dallas in original blue Dawn dish soap to initially kill off any adult fleas. Just be sure to rinse and dry him well so that he doesn't get too cold. While it's not my favorite flea preventive in terms of how well it works, Frontline spray is the only over the counter product available for such tiny pups. Given his young age, I assume that Dallas will be going to his vet in the coming days or weeks for booster vaccinations. During this appointment, your vet will be able to weigh him and discuss the flea treatment and preventive options based on his body weight. I hope this helps and that all goes well!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Is Sergeant's flea shampoo safe for my 7-week puppy? It's for 12 weeks.

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It is not a good idea to use flea products off label, as they can be very dangerous. However, if you are going to see problems with it, then the puppy should already be tremoring or shaking. If you haven't seen any issues in the first 48 hours then it is very unlikely to see any concerns. There aren't any long-term effects. I would just monitor for now. Best of luck with your new puppy!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

How do I safely get rid of flea eggs on my dog, especially a puppy?

Your dog is so cute! He looks like a young puppy, and it's best for me to know his age so I can know if it's safe to recommend specific medication to treat him. There are certain ages at which puppies can receive flea medications, and it's not safe to give them to puppies below a certain age. You can post again with more details about his age, but I can recommend bathing him in Dawn dish soap. That's safe to do for even young puppies.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Share