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My dog has fleas, nothing works. How to clear a home infestation?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | American Bulldog | Male | neutered | 8 years and 5 months old | 66 lbs

We have tried many different flea topical treatments, sprays, and shampoos but nothing works more than a day to a week at best. Weve tried to treat outdoors with products that wont harm our dogs to no avail. What can we do as we are now all infested with fleas?-

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on June 21st, 2020

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question. Fleas are the worst! I will give you the flea treatment program that has always worked for me. First, I would give him 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 because fleas live in the environment, not on the dog. They jump on to feed, and then jump off. Wash the dog 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. You may need to call in an exterminator to bomb the house. That would be the best way to kill all the fleas in your home. I hope this helps!

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Related Answers from Veterinarians

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    Answered By Dr. Leigh, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on November 28th, 2016

    So sorry you are having this problem. I recommend you give your dog a dose of Capstar which will start killing fleas immediately and then use a monthly flea prevention, like NexGard, Frontline, Advantage, Revolution, etc. You should buy they product from your veterinarian as there can be counterfeit products online. If you give your dog monthly heartworm pills, you could switch to Sentinel as it will also sterilize any fleas that bite your dog so they can't produce any eggs. You will also need to treat your house with a flea product that has a growth regulator. Hope you can get the problem under control.

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    Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

    Veterinarian

    Published on August 16th, 2018

    Fleas can be so hard to get rid of, and I can give you a program for Rocky. First, I would give him 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 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. I hope this helps!

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    Answered By Andrea M. Brodie, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on September 3rd, 2018

    Flea collars other than Seresto usually are more poisonous to the dog than to the fleas. So here is a good way to combat fleas: Unfortunately fleas only hop on the body of your pet when they want to feed, then they hop off again and stay in your pet's environment. So you need to treat all pets in the household as well as the environment (which contains the fleas, their eggs and larvae). Flea treatment:  1) Get some flea medication such as a Flea spray or a spot on from a pet shop or your veterinarian and apply monthly 2) get flea powder, put some in your vacuum cleaner bag and vacuum your house and furniture and also non-carpeted areas frequently to remove flea larvae and eggs which live off house dust., Dispose of the bag in the trash outside. Hot-wash all the pet's bedding, If you do this diligently for a few months you will get rid of the fleas. Flea products: Spot-ons and/or chews Advantage, Advantix Advantage Multi (Advocate in the UK) Frontline (ticks as well) Bravecto spot on (ticks as well) - for cats, in tablet form for dogs Simparica, Nexgard Revolution (stronghold in the UK) Tablets: comfortis (will only kill fleas once) Collar: Seresto (ticks as well)

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