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How to safely treat fleas on my 4-week-old puppies?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed | Female | unspayed | 24 days old

I have 5 puppies, there about 4 weeks old know and they are covered in fleas. Are they too young for treatment? I've tried baby powder but no luck....

5 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Destini R. Holloway, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on December 1st, 2016

Poor pups. Unfortunately they are too young for a topical flea preventative like Revolution (youngest is 6 weeks of age). Your only option here is to give them a Capstar (NItenpyram, located at your local pet store and vet clinic), which is ok to use in puppies that are at least 4 weeks of old AND at least 2 lbs. Then you should bathe them in a Dawn dish detergent (strips the fleas and eggs off very well), just make sure none gets in the eyes, and dry them well after carefully with a blow dryer. And thereafter keep them away from the flea source. Flea fogger your home if you suspect they have bred in the carpet and are getting on the puppies that way. Flea fogger's are found at your local Home Depot or Lowe's. After this you only have 2 more weeks and you can get all puppies treated and protected with topical Revolution.

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Other Answers

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    Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

    Veterinarian

    Published on

    Great question! Yes, at four weeks of age they will be too young for flea treatment. The early they could receive a spot on treatment is six weeks of age (you can use Revolution then). Once they are four weeks old and at least 2 pounds, they can receive Capstar. It's a one time pill that starts killing fleas within 30 minutes. You can also bathe them in warm water with Dawn dish soap. After bathing them, comb out the fleas with a flea comb, and make sure they are dried completely . You will also have to disinfect the environment. Wash their bedding in hot soapy water, and vacuum the furniture and carpet surfaces. You can use a spray to kill fleas in the house, such as Indorex, or a flea bomb would work well to kill the fleas in the home.

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    Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

    Veterinarian

    Published on September 21st, 2019

    At 11 weeks old, it's safe to give them the following flea treatment. First, I would give them Capstar. It's a one time pill that starts killing fleas within 30 minutes. Then follow up with a spot on treatment, such as Advantage or Revolution. This is a treatment that has to be used once a month. You will also have to disinfect the environment. Wash their bedding in hot soapy water, and vacuum the furniture and carpet surfaces. You can use a spray to kill fleas in the house, such as Indorex, or a flea bomb would work well to kill the fleas in the home.

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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    Answered By Destini R. Holloway, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on February 28th, 2018

    Poor puppies. I would also recommend cleaning the environment and treating your home with a flea fogger (pets will have to be evacuated for this). You can give the cap star by breaking it in half and giving a half piece at a time of that works better for you. You just open each pups mouth wide and tilt their head up, then drop the pill way back to their throat, close their mouth and blow in their nose or follow up with a drop of water on their lips. Take care of those puppies and I hope you get rid of those fleas soon. Once they are 6 weeks old they can get a Revolution topical flea preventative and just about every other flea preventative is safe to give once they are 8 weeks old. Please let me know if this information was helpful. Take care!

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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    Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

    Veterinarian

    Published on August 27th, 2017

    Great question! At four weeks of age, he is too young for many flea medications. It is safe to give him Capstar as long as he is at least two pounds in weight. This is a one time pill that starts killing fleas in 30 minutes. Then you can use Frontline Spray, which is safe to use on puppies from two days of age. Be sure to disinfect the environment, as that's very important in getting rid of fleas. Wash his bedding in hot soapy water, and vacuum the furniture and carpet surfaces. You can use a spray to kill fleas in the house, such as Indorex, or a flea bomb would work well to kill the fleas in the home. Once he is six weeks of age, it's safe to use Revolution which is a spot on treatment. I hope this helps!

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