Anti-flea tablets for dogs: is it really effective?

Anti-flea tablets for dogs: is it really effective?

Dog flea tablets are for the treatment of fleas or ticks. There are three types, to prevent, to heal and to curb the growth of parasites. On the other hand, if their effectiveness can be questioned, they can also present some risks for health. Discover their specificities in this article.

The different types of dog flea tablets

There are three kinds of flea pills for dogs.

The healing tablets

The healing tablets have the function of healing, as the name suggests. They must therefore be given to the dog to eradicate the fleas already present in his coat within a few minutes. This tablet is indeed advantageous thanks to its immediate effect. On the other hand, its effect does not extend; as a result, if you do not treat your dog's infested environment, the fleas can contaminate it again soon after.

Preventive tablets

Preventive tablets have a persistent active substance in the body, which allows them to act for several weeks after taking it. As a result, if your dog is bitten by other fleas after ingestion, it will be protected and they will die before they can lay their eggs. On the other hand, again, the tablet does not act on the environment; it will therefore be necessary to treat it to permanently eliminate fleas.

Growth regulators

Growth regulating tablets have the effect of stopping the natural cycle of flea development. Thus, they remain immature and can not reach adulthood, so they can not reproduce and lay eggs. This type of tablet is to be used in addition to an adulticide pest control.

How do dog flea tablets work?

All tablets do not contain the same active substances. These differ by brand, but all contain insecticides that target fleas and ticks to eradicate them. The addition of flavors makes the tablet more palatable and promotes its grip by the animal.

The tablets pass into the dog's body once swallowed and they act quickly to kill fleas within minutes or hours and ticks in up to two days. The tablets attack the nervous system of animals to kill them quickly.

In theory, after its administration, a preventive tablet can act for 4 to 12 weeks, depending on the brand and the active ingredient it contains.

Is the dog flea tablet really effective?

Each tablet is different because each one has its own composition characteristics; their effectiveness is therefore variable. For a better effect, it is important to choose the appropriate tablet for your pet's needs and situation. The advice of your veterinarian can be particularly helpful in this case to make the right choice.

Fleas and ticks usually die within hours of ingesting the pest, but this depends on the brand and the active ingredient chosen. Efficacy can last up to a month after assimilation, rarely more. On the other hand, not all tablets are effective against ticks, depending on their composition.

On the other hand, for the effect to be true, it is essential to treat also the environment of the dog. Indeed, if fleas and ticks have invaded your home and sleeping area and you do not get by with a suitable treatment, they will re-infest his coat immediately after the end of treatment, besides in this time of time, they will develop and spread very quickly in your home.

What are the risks of dog flea tablets?

If dog flea tablets are effective, they can also have adverse side effects harmful to the health of animals.