My dog gets hyper and scratches after flea spray. Is it normal?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed | Female | spayed | 3 years and 4 months old
I've been using advantage flea&tick spray for my dogs, whenever I spray my dogs they get hyper and start scratching and bitting themself. They run around like crazy. I spray them from a distance and I don't use alot. Is that normal? Should I continue using it ? Or is there anything else I can use to kill fleas and ticks?
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on February 15th, 2018
Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I think the topicals sometimes cause tingling or burning. My dog didn’t like the advantix spot on. I really like the new oral flea/tick medications, monthly nexgard or simparica or every 3 month Bravecto. I hope this helps!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on June 20th, 2018
Max could have some skin irritation from where you put the flea treatment. This can be a side effect of using topical treatments. I wouldn't try to touch the spot since it seems to bother him, hopefully this irritation will go away in a couple of days. If it doesn't or you notice a sore developing where you put the treatment, then I would have him seen by a vet. Best of luck, I hope this helps!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Health & Wellbeing
NexGard seems to make our puppy itch. We have only had him 2 weeks, he does not have fleas. We gave him his monthly pill as instructed by the Vet and he is itching now. Is that ok or should we switch brands for next month? 18 pound spaniel-terrier mi
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! I would not recommend that you switch him yet as this may be completely coincidental. Nexgard is a great preventative and I would give it more time before switching to something else. Hopefully the scratching is not a reaction to it as that would be quite unusual. If the itchiness continues despite giving it a few days, that would likely be due to allergies rather than a cause of using Nexgard. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing his allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Puppy of 9 weeeks. Had Bravecto but now scratch even more. Tummy is red. Keeps on scratching her ears and tummy. Biting her tail and licking her vulva. She urinates often, sometimes twice in 5 minutes. She is a staffie and jack russel crass. Vet g
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! This may be due to allergies though not necessarily just due to fleas. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing her allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which req
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
our dog keep on scratching him self we use flea and tick spray but still doing it
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! This is possibly due to allergies. It could actually still be flea allergy dermatitis if the fleas are still not under control. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing his allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Three days ago I gave my dog (corgi/australian cattle dog mix, 5 yrs 40 lbs) the Sentry Pro flea treatment for his proper weight category. The next day he was still scratching pretty bad. I went to inspect the area on his neck/back that the treatme
Max could have some skin irritation from where you put the flea treatment. This can be a side effect of using topical treatments. I wouldn't try to touch the spot since it seems to bother him, hopefully this irritation will go away in a couple of days. If it doesn't or you notice a sore developing where you put the treatment, then I would have him seen by a vet. Best of luck, I hope this helps!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My dog keeps getting up quickly as if something scared him and then walks around and lays back down. He is scratching as well but I know he doesn't have feels because I just gave him a flea bath.
Hi, thanks for using Boop by Petco! Unfortunately it sounds like something is biting him (like fleas, flea baths and dips only last a few hours to 1 days and do not prevent NEW fleas from jumping back on), or skin irritation from bathing or grooming or full anal glands. Sometimes gassy intestines or stomachs causing cramping will also make dogs jump up quickly. I would check his skin well for irritation or live fleas. I would use a long lasting GOOD flea preventative like the oral medications Nexgard, Simparica, Bravecto or the Seresto collar. I wish you the best!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
I have a dog and she is at least 4-5 months old. I have given baths to when she gets fleas and she's used to that but recently I used Adams flea spray and she's been getting rash spots. What should I do? Is it because she's not used to it?
Hello and thank you for reaching out to Boop by Petco. It sounds like Fifi has had a bad reaction to the Adam's flea spray, so this should NOT be used again. The only topical flea and tick products that should be used on dogs (and cats) are those purchased from a veterinarian. Flea and tick products that are purchased from a pet or food store or online are not safe or effective for dogs, and can cause these painful skin reactions, or can even cause dogs to become systemically sick. I recommend contacting your local veterinarian about what flea and tick products they offer. Appropriate topical options include K9 advantage and Frontline. There are also oral options such as Bravecto and Nexgard, as well as a collar than can be worn (Seresto collar) for up to 8 months of flea and tick prevention! I hope this is helpful.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Training & Behavior
Hi I gave my dog capstar yesterday and today she's scratching and biting her tail alot today is that normal.
Hello and thank you for contacting Boop by Petco. Excessive skin itchiness is listed as one of the potential side effects of Capstar. The symptoms are supposed to be mild and transient. Sadie should be back to normal within 24-48hrs, if not please, take her to your local vets for a check.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
I applied pet armour plus to my dog and 3 hrs. later my daughter took him for a walk it started raining do i need to reapply still scratching,biting
I would refrain from reapplying this topical product, because you cannot be sure how much of it was rinsed off and it is best to not overdose him.
Also the biting and scratching can be normal for any pet that has just received flea preventative if there was a large infestation of fleas. The "itch cascade" as we call it can last even after the parasites are gone, and often pets require a short course of steroids or a steroid shot to stop the itch completely.
Your best option at this point, if you still see evidence of fleas or ticks, is to follow up with a medication called Capstar. This is the only flea ridding product that can be used in conjunction with topical flea preventatives, because it does not last in the pets system very long.
You can safely redose the Pet armour in 2 weeks time. However I will say I am not a fan of this product and find there are better, more effective ones on the market. For instance, Bravecto, Nexgard, Advantage Multi, just to name a few.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My dog gets monthly advantix flea treatment but today we found a flea on him! I even made a post yesterday because he was itchy near his anus but i didnt think it could be a flea due to the fact he has treatment! Is advantix not good? Could he be itc
If you’re noticing increased itching in that area and you found a flea, you may try switching the flea prevention to see if that helps. Fleas can become immune to products. The top products on the market are oral products such as Nexgard and Simparica. Most pets can use these products but you should talk with your veterinarian before switching. They are administered once a month and at this point appear to work very well. If the itching goes away, then you know it was related to flea bites. Best of luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Good Morning. I have concern over a topical flea medication which I put on my cat yesterday. Bravetco. My cat seems to be constantly scratching now and the site where I applied the product is sticky - can't wash it out. I've now seen TERRIBLE rev
Thank you for using Boop by Petco. Pruritus or itching is not listed as a common side effect of Bravecti, however if your cat is not used to topical medications it may be that the sensation is irritating Jack. In most cases, Bravecto is a great flea and tick prevention. If concerned that this is a reaction, I recommend contacting your veterinarian, or the company directly. If there are any signs of seizures or tremoring, please take Jack to an emergency veterinarian ASAP. More info on Bravecto. https://www.plumbsveterinarydrugs.com/sites/default/files/Fluralaner_v3%20FINAL%20UPDATE%20Sept%202018.pdf.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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