How to Kill Fleas on Puppies
If a mother dog has fleas, then fleas will most certainly infect the puppies, as soon as they are born. This can be detrimental to the puppies and the mother since fleas can carry tapeworm larvae or babies. If a puppy swallows a flea or (more likely) the mother dog swallows a flea while cleaning the puppies, an adult tapeworm can grow inside the dog’s intestines. Then your problem is more than just fleas.
Simple holistic remedies are best to kill fleas on puppies, but more robust measures should be taken, if the infestation is too much to manage.
The most common ways to kill fleas on puppies are with:
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- White Vinegar Spray
- Lemon Spray – An Easy Homemade Flea Spray for Dogs
- Witch Hazel Spray
- Coconut Oil Infused with Essential Oils
- Dish Soap Bath Time
Salt Water, Flea Treatment for Dogs
If you already have fleas in your home, you can spray your dogs with a 3-to-1 salt-to-water mixture that you can use as much as you want. Wash your hard floors and spray soft goods with this mixture. The salt dehydrates the fleas and serves as a natural flea killer.
Dish Soap Flea Trap
Another great way to get rid of fleas in your home is to mix some warm water with dish soap into a bowl or on a plate. Place a desk lamp on the floor, over the dish at night. The light will attract the fleas to the soapy water, and due to the high viscosity of the mixture, they get stuck. It is suggested to leave the bowls of soapy water out overnight because fleas are mostly nocturnal.
Veterinarian-Recommended Solutions for Fleas on Puppies
Most flea and tick products aren’t safe on puppies, until they’ve reached at about eight weeks of age. When you bring your puppy in, we can recommend a flea and tick preventative to use, and advise you on when it’s safe to begin using on your puppy.
Flea shampoos & collars: Most flea shampoos and flea/tick collars are not very effective, however, there are some exceptions. Most veterinarians opt for long-term results produced through prescription-based methods.
Dawn Detergent is also a good option for killing fleas, but fully bathing a dog in dawn will dry out the skin. It’s best to use a flea comb and dip it in a Dawn/water solution to pick and kill fleas immediately.