Is it okay to not give a dog flea medicine?
Asha Walker
2025-09-01 19:42:03
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All dogs and cats will need some parasite treatments throughout their lives regardless of whether they are indoors or not. But all pets, regardless of whether they go outdoors, are likely to need flea and worm treatments at some point. Pests can enter your house through other pets and even humans via our clothes or shoes. If your pet is at risk of catching fleas, ticks or worms, they will need regular treatment to keep them at bay – just treating them once is unlikely to be enough. However, how frequently you need to treat them depends on your individual pet’s risks and the product you’re using. Your vet will be able to recommend a tailored plan, and always make sure to consult the label and instructions on the packet for how to give, and how often to use the product. Cold weather slows down parasites, but it doesn't eliminate them entirely. Fleas, ticks and worms can affect your furry friend all year round, with fleas in particular loving our centrally heated homes which is why it’s important to protect them all year. It may be tempting to skip treatment during these months, but you’re potentially putting your pet at risk.
Talia Stiedemann
2025-08-25 17:56:18
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Fleas stand out as a primary cause of skin issues in dogs and cats. Some pets can develop an allergic reaction to flea saliva, requiring only a few bites to trigger a severe skin reaction. Fleas are also carriers of the common flea tapeworm and, in severe cases, can lead to anaemia. To determine the appropriate level of flea treatment for your dog, we will collaborate with you to conduct a risk assessment based on your pet's lifestyle and behaviour. Depending on your pet's lifestyle, talk to your vet about the best course of action. The flea treatments we advise kill existing fleas quickly and protect your dog for 4 weeks. Woodward Vets focuses on preventative health care as essential for your dog’s well-being as it’s much simpler and kind to your pet than finding cures. Prevention is not only easier but also more cost-effective than seeking a cure later on. Ensuring the long-term health and happiness of both your pet and your family requires consistent use of proven preventive measures against the most common parasites throughout your pet's life.
Hassan Wehner
2025-08-20 14:39:54
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It’s crucial for your dog to be on flea and tick prevention to help minimize the risk of disease. However, there are important guidelines to prevent toxicity when giving these medications to your pup. Substances that are toxic to fleas and ticks can also be harmful to pets when consumed or applied in large quantities. These preventions are generally safe to use if the appropriate dose is administered. Dogs can also become exposed at toxic quantities through the ingestion or absorption of household insect sprays, foggers, and granules. Prior to medicating your dog, verify the correct drug, dose and size of the product and that the proper time frame in between doses has occurred nor that someone else in the family already gave it. Additionally, don’t give expired medications or cut larger sizes into smaller pieces or give multiple smaller doses. If the product is labeled for cats, do not give it to your dog—or vice versa.
Charlie Denesik
2025-08-08 16:14:28
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Scientists now recommend animals should not be treated for fleas unless they have them. Vets often recommend regular flea treatments as a preventive measure, even when dogs and cats do not have the pest. But sources at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said they had commissioned the veterinary medicines directorate to look at options for potentially restricting the use of these treatments. The damage that these products can do is catastrophic to our natural world, and we should be doing more to make sure that these products are not getting into our waterways. Research has found that these treatments enter rivers, killing the wildlife within, and that pet owners using them risk contaminating their hands with the chemicals for at least 28 days after applying the treatment. Cats and dogs are widely treated with topical treatments that include insecticides to prevent fleas. At the moment, the treatments can be bought by anyone in pet shops around the country. There is growing concern about the impact these treatments are having on biodiversity. Imidacloprid and fipronil, for example, are powerful insecticides: one monthly flea treatment for a large dog contains enough imidacloprid to kill 25 million bees.
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