How to safely use spot-on flea treatment on my super active dog?

Could you tell us what kind of ointment you are using, as there are several different types. If you are talking about a spot-on, the way to apply it is as follows: Open the tube with the spot on. Part the hair directly between the shoulder blades so you can see the skin. Keep the fur parted, take the tube with the spot-on and set the tip of it onto the skin and squeeze the content out. You can gently spread the liquid around on the skin. Do not touch it and make sure your dog does not reach the spot ....some dogs are contortion artists. If Mick seems to manage reaching the spot, put a t-shirt on him for a few hours so the medication can dry.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If you have access to the oral flea and tick preventatives (Nexgard, Simparica or Bravecto) they work the best. Or the Seresto Collar (lasts for 8 months). Otherwise I would use the spot on (advantixx, etc). I hope this helps!

Hello! My name is Dr. Elizabeth and I am happy to help. Ugh! Fleas are the worst but the good news is that you can effectively get rid of them if you use a good product and are diligent in the treatment. Here is a link about the flea life cycle: https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/flea-control-in-dogs The flea life cycle can last as long as 6 months. The key to getting rid of fleas is to make sure EVERY dog and cat in the house is treated with a good flea prevention AND that this treatment lasts an entire 6 months. Your vet can give you access to the best flea products on the market. Oral flea products like Simparica, Nexgard and Bravecto are the best products out there because they kill fleas so quickly. This decreased to potential for the female fleas to lay eggs which breaks the life cycle. Since the product is in the bloodstream, it also can't be washed off. Lastly, because they are new, there is not a resistance issue in the flea population. They are also cost competitive with a name brand product like Frontline. I recommend to get Smallie on one of these oral flea products and use it for 6 months. If you use a topical flea prevention, only wash Smallie just before the next application of flea prevention is due. Topical flea products like the one you applied can be washed off which means they won't work as well. Also know you will likely continue to see fleas for at least 6 weeks (assuming your product is working correctly) because of the newly emerging adult fleas. Lastly, know there is great variation in the effectiveness of topical flea products. As far as they go, for over the counter options, Seresto, name brand Frontline and Advantage/Advantix are your best options. Use them as directed. I hope this helps and please feel free to reach out with any additional questions.

The short answer is...it is not recommended in most situations. Combining different medications may increase the risk of negative side effects, adverse reactions or can lead to an overdose situation which could put your pet's life at risk. Due to the variety of [different products](https://www.petcoach.co/article/should-you-use-a-prescription-flea-and-tick-preventive) available on the veterinary market today, pet owners are encouraged to discuss the [best preventative option](https://www.petcoach.co/article/whats-the-difference-between-oral-and-topical-flea-and-tick-preve) for their individual pet with their veterinarian. If a pet has[ fleas](https://www.petcoach.co/article/fleas-life-cycle-anatomy-disease-transmission), most pet owners want to find the fastest treatment option available. In these cases, Capstar ([nitenpyram](https://www.petcoach.co/pet-medication/nitenpyram)) is an oral flea medication available over the counter for dogs and cats that starts treating fleas in 30 minutes and kills 90 percent of adult fleas on a pet within four hours. While Capstar dosing can continue as frequently as every day, topical flea and tick preventatives can be used in conjunction with this oral medication to provide longer lasting treatment and prevention. Oral [flea and tick preventives](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/category/dog/dog-and-puppy-flea-and-tick) available for dogs with a prescription from your veterinarian are Credelio, Nexgard, Simparica, and Bravecto. Products that are available with a prescription from your veterinarian for flea treatment include Comfortis or Trifexis. These products also begin to kill fleas quickly and provide ongoing prevention, and do not usually require the concurrent use of a topical medication. If a topical [flea preventative fails](https://www.petcoach.co/article/6-reasons-your-flea-prevention-isnt-working), most oral products can be safely used concurrently. ### Capstar is a trademark of Elanco or its affiliates.

I would refrain from reapplying this topical product, because you cannot be sure how much of it was rinsed off and it is best to not overdose him. Also the biting and scratching can be normal for any pet that has just received flea preventative if there was a large infestation of fleas. The "itch cascade" as we call it can last even after the parasites are gone, and often pets require a short course of steroids or a steroid shot to stop the itch completely. Your best option at this point, if you still see evidence of fleas or ticks, is to follow up with a medication called Capstar. This is the only flea ridding product that can be used in conjunction with topical flea preventatives, because it does not last in the pets system very long. You can safely redose the Pet armour in 2 weeks time. However I will say I am not a fan of this product and find there are better, more effective ones on the market. For instance, Bravecto, Nexgard, Advantage Multi, just to name a few.

Some dogs are sensitive to the active ingredient or the vehicle of a topical medication. I would ensure that you apply to the skin, not the hair, in an area he cannot reach such as the area between his shoulder blades. I am unsure of the type you have used, however most over the counter products are safe if ingested in small amounts, infrequently. To be safe you can certainly call the number on the packaging for more detail. However there are so many types of preventative out there, if Puku seems sensitive to one type there are plenty to choose from!

No. Unfortunately the topical product will get on their hair. It’s almost impossible to prevent this. It is best to prevent them from licking it but it shouldn’t hurt them. I would just watch them for any abnormal behaviors. If that product doesn’t seem to be helping much I would consider an oral flea preventative next time. These sometimes work better due to a faster kill time. I hope this helps!