Choosing a safe puppy flea treatment is important because many flea treatments available contain harsh chemicals or toxins that can harm your puppy. Young puppies are much more vulnerable to the chemicals found in flea treatments, and many cannot tolerate them. Even so, it is very important for pet owners to treat fleas in their puppy, because a flea infestation can be fatal for a young dog. Flea bites can cause anemia in puppies, because they don't have that much blood to begin with. Fleas feed on your pet's blood, and can quickly kill a puppy if left ignored.
Avoid Chemicals
The majority of flea treatments are not safe for puppies to use because they contain harsh chemicals or toxins. When treating fleas in your young puppy, avoid any flea treatment that contains chemicals. It is unsafe to use any kind of chemical on puppies under the age of six weeks. Some flea treatments can actually cause more harm to your pet than the fleas themselves.
The Safest Method
When treating a flea infestation on a young puppy, pet owners should simply use warm baths and dishwashing detergent. The pet owner must also pick out the fleas by hand to ensure they are completely gone. This can be a painstaking and meticulous task, but it is the only way to safely treat fleas in a puppy that cannot be treated with harsh chemicals and products.
Treating Fleas with Warm Baths
Fill your bathtub or sink with warm water. Make sure the water is not too hot, because puppies are sensitive to water temperatures. It is also important that the water is warm, and not cold. Using a sink may be an easier way to bathe your puppy, because you will not need to bend down. Make sure the water reaches your puppy's neck and that he is completely submerged in water. Gently wet the head and face area with a washcloth.
After your puppy has been saturated with water, take him out of the bathtub or sink and put him on a dry towel. Using a generous amount of dishwashing detergent, gently massage and lather the puppy's body. The detergent should be used all over the entire body, including the chin, ears, head and face, but don't get any detergent in the puppy's eyes. After the detergent has been lathered well, set your puppy back into the sink or tub and rinse him. If possible, keep his body immersed in water for a few minutes to ensure he is rinsed and cleaned as best as possible. His head should always be above water, however. Be extra careful when rinsing the face area and around the eyes.
Dry your puppy with a towel, and then comb through his hair with a flea comb. Flea combs are usually not expensive and will help rid your pet of fleas that were not taken care of during the bath. Pick out any remaining fleas by hand, and always drop the fleas into boiling water. Fleas can jump out of cold water, so it's important to use hot water.