all about fleas and dogs

A:For every flea you find on your dog, 99 others are hiding in your home, car, or yard. Make sure to get your pup on vet-recommended, year-round flea control. We also recommend grooming them regularly and doing a deep clean of your home where fleas love to lurk. This includes your pet’s bedding, carpeting, nooks in the couch, under furniture, and floorboard crevices. If this doesn’t solve your bug battle, speak with your vet to come up with a comprehensive plan.

A:While this may seem like a cost-saving opportunity, it can lead to inadequate dosing and reduced effectiveness for some of your pets and possibly overdosing for others. Veterinary-recommended products, when used according to the label, are supported by the manufacturer. These medications have been proven to work as long as the directions are explicitly followed.

There’s an additional safety concern for cats using dog flea preventive. Dog and cat products are not created equal and some ingredients in dog products are highly toxic to cats. Keep your pets safe and use the products labeled specifically for their size and species.