Fleas and sores on puppy

My 7 week old maltipoo has fleas that has made sores on her back. What can I do?




Hi
It sounds as though your puppy may be allergic to fleas (well, to the flea saliva to be exact), this is a fairly common type of dog allergy.

You obviously need to get rid of the fleas, and at 8 weeks old you should be able to use one of the most popular flea/tick preventatives such as Advantix or Frontline. I'd recommend Advantix as it seems to be more effective right now.

You will need to check with your vet first though as they need to be given according to weight and it's important to get the right dosage/strength. Don't be tempted to use over-the-counter products as they're generally not very effective and can have harmful side effects.

To reduce the irritation and itch from the sore spots she has already developed, you may want to buy a hydro-cortisone cream or spray (you can get these from your vet or at large pet stores). This will reduce the inflammation.

See my Fleas and Ticks page for more info. on dealing with these parasites.

Hope this helps, best of luck with your puppy.