As pet owners, it's important that we keep on top of pest control, which is why you should always have the best flea treatment for dogs at hand in your dog grooming products kit so you're prepared the moment you spot the signs. Though fleas are tiny creatures, they can cause big problems for your pooch so it's important to treat them as soon as you suspect that some fleas may be causing your hound some discomfort.
You may have taken preventive measures like regularly brushing and cutting your pooch's hair with dog grooming scissors, washing their bedding and toys frequently and keeping the grass in your garden at a short length, but fleas are sometimes unavoidable, especially when interacting with other dogs or exploring the outdoors. When those pesky parasites have a will, they'll find a way of infecting your dog and you'll definitely know about it! The signs are your dog excessively scratching and biting at their fur, visible tiny black specks in their coat, or you will see small, reddish-brown insects moving through their fur.
Best flea treatment for dogs at a glance:
• Best overall flea treatment for dogs: Frontline Spot On Flea And Tick Treatment – view on Viovet
• Best spot-on flea treatment for dogs: Bob Martin Clear Spot On Flea Treatment – view on Amazon UK
• Best flea collar for dogs: Seresto Flea Collar For Dogs (over 8kg) – view on Viovet
Not only do fleas irritate your dog's fur and skin, but they can also make their way into curtains, furniture or any other furnishings around the house, which can aggravate us owners, too. You may have been recommended flea treatments by your vet, but it's not always simple to get your paws on effective treatments that really get rid of those troublesome insects, especially once they're around your home.
The good news is there are a variety of treatments available now so you can get rid of fleas. You can use spot-on treatments, flea collars or shampoos to treat your hound, and when it comes to treating your home, there are some great preventer sprays and traps you can use to say goodbye to the flea infestation once after all. You can also get combined flea and tick treatments to treat both pests at once. To save you the hard work of finding them all yourself, we've hunted down the best flea treatments for dogs and your home that are available online right now.
Best flea treatment for dogs to buy online
Best overall flea treatment for dogs
www.viovet.co.uk
Not only does this Frontline Spot On Flea And Tick Treatment get rid of fleas but it sorts out ticks and lice too, which is why we think it's the best of the best. Frontline is recommended by vets, but it's easily bought at pet stores without a prescription, so you'll be able to stock up when you need it. Find fleas and ticks gone within 48 hours, available in packs for small, medium, large and extra large dogs, as well as cats.
Customer review: "Having used many different products over the years from the vets. This is the one I keep coming back to. It works well and more importantly, my animals have no adverse reactions to it."
Pros
- Frontline is recommended by vets, so you know you're giving the best option to your dog
- Gets rid of fleas, ticks and lice
Cons
- You need to make sure you're getting the right dosage for the size of your dog, which is why there are many pack sizes available
Treatment type: | Spot on |
Best spot-on flea treatment for dogs
Spot-on flea treatments are the most popular method of killing fleas from dogs. These Bob Martin treatments come in a variety of sizes depending on your dog and also have matching flea sprays and fumigation kits that you can use inside your home to ward off fleas and ticks. We've linked to the medium dog kit for 10-20kg, but it's also available in small dog and large dog kits.
Customer review: "There are treatments that are a lot more expensive than this 'spot' treatment from Bob Martin. However, price is no guarantee of efficaciousness. In my dog's case, (a 40kg GSD with medium-length hair) the effect has been nothing short of miraculous. He now has a luxurious coat, and more importantly, he no longer suffers from the stress that the infestation of these parasites cause."
Pros
- Variety of sizes for different breeds
- Suitable for dogs over eight weeks old
Cons
- Some dogs react badly to the ingredients in this, so make sure to check with your doctor in case your particular dog may react
Treatment type: | Spot-on treatment |
Best flea collar for dogs
www.viovet.co.uk
If you're after a hassle-free solution that eliminates the need for monthly treatments, consider the Seresto Flea Collar For Dogs. It's designed to offer continuous protection against fleas and ticks for your furry friend, with treatment lasting an impressive seven to eight months per wear. Its active ingredients are dispensed in controlled doses onto your dog's skin and coat, ensuring consistent and effective coverage.
Customer review: "This is my 3rd time using this collar, I am pleased to say it works great. I have had no issues or, I should say, my dog has no issues with fleas and ticks since using this collar. I will be using it again without doubt."
Pros
- Kills fleas without the need of monthly treatments
- Seven to eight months of protection per collar
Cons
- Collar needs to be worth continuously for the protection to be there
Treatment type: | Flea collar |
Best flea shampoo for dogs
www.viovet.co.uk
If you prefer the method of lathering your pooch up and getting into the nitty-gritty of their coat, invest in a flea shampoo like this Animology option. It's tea-tree scented which means no nasty smells and soothes your dog's skin as it gets rid of those fleas. There are a variety of options you can get, like shampoos for white-haired dogs, curly coat flea shampoos, deep clean and more.
Customer review: "Since using it (and respraying beds, carpets etc with flea spray) [fleas] have all gone! Lathered up well, the scent was pleasant and not overpowering, it rinsed out quickly... All in all, I give this shampoo 5 stars. It's great!"
Pros
- It's easy to incorporate into your routine (aka washing your dog)
- There are a variety of options for different coats
Cons
- You may need to wash your dog several times before all fleas are gone
Treatment type: | Shampoo |
Best sensitive skin flea shampoo for dogs
Does your dog suffer from sensitive, itchy skin from normal dog shampoos? Make sure to pick up this Cooper & Gracie Flea Shampoo For Dogs, made with natural ingredients. It helps to soothe those bites and scratches from fleas. It's also suitable for puppies.
Customer review: "This shampoo is simply AMAZING! Our pug got infected with fleas despite his monthly treatment and scratched himself to blood. After a single use of the shampoo, he stopped scratching. I repeated the bath a few days later and kept water in the bath to check for fleas and he had none!"
Pros
- Great for dogs with sensitive skin
- Reviews rave about its extremely fast and effective technique
Cons
- It does not state how much to apply to different-sized dogs
Treatment type: | Shampoo |
Best flea shampoo for puppies
Here is another great flea shampoo option that works for both puppies as well as adult dogs too. Killing all fleas and suitable for all breeds, it's great for when those pesky fleas start to make their way in. It contains special ingredients that have insecticidal properties which help to keep your pup's coat bug-free.
Customer review: "Great dog anti-flea shampoo for price. Tried numerous others, more expensive and less expensive but always come back to this. Great lather, great smell. The dog has had no skin problems from this shampoo (Cairn Terrier)."
Pros
- Cheap but effective
- Reviews state the fleas come off easily whilst lathering up
Cons
- This may not be strong enough if your dog has a serious flea/tick problem
Treatment type: | Shampoo |
Best house spray to keep fleas away
Long-lasting product and so easy to use, you should invest in a household pest cleanse such as this Cooper & Gracie Household Pest Cleanse. Safe for your family and pets, it's great for getting rid of fleas that are hidden in hard-to-spot places, all it takes is to spray it on furniture like carpets, curtains and sofas where pests may be hiding.
Customer review: "I was sceptical but on spraying the pet bed, I could see the specks where the spray has killed the eggs. So definitely recommend it. I will buy it again. Smells really nice."
Pros
- Useful if you've already done your defleaing of your dog but are still getting bites- they may be hidden in your furniture
- The spray is pet and child-friendly
Cons
- Reviews are mixed - some state this spray did nothing for them, whilst others say it's a miracle spray
Treatment type: | Cleansing spray |
Best all-natural flea treatment for dogs
Sometimes the best products are those made with all-natural ingredients, most importantly if you have a pet with sensitive skin. This 100 per cent natural treatment from Ruben Oscar will make sure your pup has long-term protection from fleas, ticks and lice. The formula is based on white vinegar, lemon, lavender, lemon grass and lemon eucalyptus to be gentle on your dog's skin but tough on pests.
Customer review: "This is the product for my fur babies! I find applying when they are eating makes it effortless. This has worked better than shampoo, spray, collars and pills and I have tried a few! I am really precious about what Buster, Topsy and Cleo come into contact with so an all-natural solution that is powerful enough to keep them flea-free is a win-win."
Pros
- An all-natural, non-chemical alternative
- You can apply this more often due to its non-toxic ingredients
Cons
- This may be more of a preventative measure than one to solely get rid of fleas that are already on your dog
Treatment type: | Spot-on treatment |
Best flea trap treatment
Sometimes things escalate, and you feel at your wit's end. If you're stuck with fleas everywhere and want an all-in product that will trap them all, these Fly-Bye Ultimate Flea Traps help to catch fleas by replicating animal heat. All you need to do is plug in and leave the non-toxic trap to control fleas for months. This one has two traps and 12 discs in so you won't run out anytime soon.
Customer review: "Amazing product. We ordered two of these, one for the conservatory and one on the landing upstairs. The conservatory trap caught a whooping 329 fleas. We still have the traps going but thankfully they are now clear. I really, really, really recommend this product."
Pros
- If you are really in a flea pickle, these traps will aid you in successfully ridding your house of pests
- They can be useful to gauge which rooms in your house are the most infested and spotlight the problem
Cons
- The bulbs may need replacing after a while but these can be bought easily online/in-store
Treatment type: | Flea trap |
FAQs
What flea treatments are the best for our dogs?
There are a few essential flea treatments that you'll want to become acquainted with as a dog owner. Here's our breakdown of those, so you know what you're getting into:
Spot-on treatments: The most popular of those dog flea options, spot-on removers come in pipettes that you squeeze onto the back of your dog's neck which then kills off fleas and ticks. These are continuous treatments that you'll want to stock up on and can work for weeks. They won't irritate your dog's neck and they won't be able to lick it off because it's at the back of their neck.
Dog flea shampoos: Similar to humans with nit treatments, you can use dog flea shampoo to get rid of those little pests. Just lather a dog-friendly flea shampoo onto your dog during bath time and it should kill off any fleas in your dog's fur.
Sprays: Flea sprays are usually used as insect repellent for furniture and your belongings. The clue is in the name, all you need to do is spray over the appropriate areas and fleas be gone!
Collars: Dog collars work similarly to spot-on dog flea treatments because they activate at the neck. However, instead of manually squeezing on your dog, these collars will continuously repel fleas. This may be an effective route to go down if your dog isn't fond of shampoo or pipettes, as they're more likely to be familiar with a collar.
How do I keep fleas away?
We recommend investing in a continuous cycle of treatment or just making sure that you're stocked up with flea killer in your house so that you can control it before it gets out of hand. Sometimes, fleas are unavoidable. Don't get frustrated if you find they've made their way onto your dog because there are loads of options out there to help you.
Rosie Floyd is a Pets, Homes and Garden Product Writer for Take A Break Pets, specialising in all things dogs. She grew up always having at least one dog as part of the family and has experience in owning a variety of breeds, including Labradors, Cockapoos and Yorkshire Terriers.