Petco Text Logo
Petco Pet Logo

  • Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!

My dog still has fleas after treatment. When can I reapply and help?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Small (up to 22lb) | Male | neutered | 3 years and 4 months old | 17 lbs

I have been using Adventist’s II my dogs’ entire life. We had a time where we missed it recently and both picked up fleas. We immediately re treated. Our lab cleared up but our terrier has not rid them and is misserable. We treated on March 18. When can it be reapplied and what can we do to help him? We are also on the shelter in place order like most. We have shaved him and given a bath, combed what we can, check frequently and treated the one room with carpet just in case.

This question includes photos that may contain sensitive content. Click to view.

View more to consider that the photos may include sensitive content.

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Image profile

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on April 2nd, 2020

If it's been at least two weeks, you can reapply it. 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.

Vote icon

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Questions

Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
We found fleas on both dogs. I gave them frontline yesterday. Two hours after I gave that my wife gave them a bath. Should I reapply flea killer?
Dogs are not supposed to get wet for at least 24 hours after application of a topical flea medication, and more than likely it was washed off during the bath. You can reapply the flea treatment, and I would give them Capstar given you have seen fleas. It's a one time pill that starts killing fleas within 30 minutes, and it's safe to be given at the same time as the spot on treatment. Just as a note, I would not recommend using Frontline. In my experience (and from the experience of many colleagues), there is a resistance to Frontline, and you may not get the best results from it. I recommend using Advantage or Revolution instead. 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.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My dogs are experiencing a bad flea outbreak. We used a generic for Frontline (fipronil) two weeks ago, with no results. I have purchased a generic for Advantix II (Imidacloprid, Permethrin, and Pyriproxyfen) and am wondering if I need to wait the fu
In severe outbreaks, 2 weeks between different drugs is ok. You will also need to use a household flea treatment in order to break the cycle, only 5% of the flea population are adults and actually present on pets, tge remaining 95% are eggs/large and will continue to hatch, develop and reinvest your pets. All in contact animals should be treated together and also given a tapeworm treatment because tapeworms are also transmitted by fleas
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Hi My 7 kilo, 13yr old Jack Russell X was given advocate 3 weeks ago but in the last week he is riddled with live fleas again. Have treated all house too. Should I use Advocate again at 28 days or Advantage 11. He had a terrible reaction to Bravec
Hello, you can retreat him now and keep him off the water for atleast 5 days. You’ll need to continue to treat your house and deep clean for atleast a month. Other oral preventatives you can try are nexguard. Hope this helps and best of luck
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
I discovered two days ago my puppy has fleas. Right after my discovery I washed him with flea and tick shampoo and the next day I applied topical flea and tick medicine but right after I washed him, I washed his blankets that stay in his cage. I was
Because they have been washed, you can put them back into the cage now. I would also disinfect the environment. 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.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
we went on vacation to clean city Maryland and my dog came home with fleas. we applied his parastar plus 15 days ago and we are still finding live fleas on him. we purchased advantage II, can we put it on him now or wait another 15 days?
Great question! Because 15 days have passed, it's fine to give Roman the Advantage II. I would also give him Capstar. It's a one time pill that is safe to give now and will start killing fleas in 30 minutes. Remember as well you need to disinfect the environment, as the environment can be a continuing source 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. I hope this helps :-)
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
I gave my cat her flea treatment on 12/31 (sentry) and over the holidays she was exposed to fleas. I bough a new flea treatment (soresto) how soon can I put that on her? I've been using a flea comb on her mulitple times a day and pulling off as many
Generally flea products should not be reapplied within 2-4weeks. Many flea products (including sentry) only kill adult fleas after they bite your pet so there can be a timeframe in between where you may see the adult flea before it becomed unwell and dies. I strongly recommend you use an insecticidal household spray to kill any eggs and larvae in the house/bedding areas in such a severe infestation (5% of the fkea population is adult at any one stage; 95% are eggs and developing larvae). Seresto could then be applied after 14days
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My two dogs are recovering from a major flea infestation that caused them both to lose a lot of fur on their behinds. We've been treating them with Seresto flea collars (as reccomended by our vet) and the fleas seem to be gone, but the dogs are still
When you have a heavy flea infestation, you also have to disinfect the environment as well. Wash theirs 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. Dogs who have heavy flea infestations can also develop flea allergies, which would lead them to continue to be itchy and may affect the fur growing back. I would take them both back into the vet, and the vet can discuss if they do have flea allergies and how to treat them. Tonight, give them baths in Epsom salts or oatmeal, as it may help temporarily with the itching. Tomorrow, I'd take them into the vet. Good luck, I hope this helps!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
I applied revolution flea treatment about an hour after a bath, not realizing I should have waited to bathe him. I still see some fleas a day later, is the treatment still going to work? If not, can I apply the next dose early? Thanks!
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! It should be ok as long as you applied to topical after the bath. If the fleas are slow moving it is likely the treatment is working. There are still fleas in the environment that have to get on the pet in order to die. Continue the treatment every 4 weeks for 3-4 doses. You can apply after 3 weeks if you are still seeing live fleas. Also remember to treat all pets in the home. Kisses to Charlie!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Can I reapply flea treatment early? It’s been 2 weeks with no results.
A [flea](https://www.petcoach.co/article/fleas-life-cycle-anatomy-disease-transmission) infestation on your pet or in your home can be [difficult and frustrating](https://www.petcoach.co/article/why-are-fleas-so-hard-to-kill) to deal with. Yes, if after two weeks the [flea preventive you applied isn't working](https://www.petcoach.co/article/6-reasons-your-flea-prevention-isnt-working), you can reapply flea treatment early, or switch to another brand. I recommend using Advantix or a chewable prescription product from your vet, like Bravecto, Nexgard, Simparica, or Credelio. This recommendation is unrelated to Petco or Boop by Petco. If you are seeing fleas on Mia now, you can give her Capstar ([Nitenpyram](https://www.petcoach.co/pet-medication/nitenpyram)). It's a one time pill that starts killing adult fleas in 30 minutes and is safe to use with a topical treatment. Use a monthly preventive on all pets for at least 3 consecutive months to break the flea life cycle. Year round us
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
I put Petlock on my dog and it worked well for a week. When I did see a flea or two on her they would appear to be dying. I washed and cleaned everything in the house. Now 9 days later I am seeing way too many fleas on her and they seem healthy. Can
You can apply a different topical or oral flea medication but not the same one. bear in mind advantage and advantix are the same as Petlock so you cannot use these either. other options you can use: Spot ons: Revoulution (stronghold in the UK) Frontline (ticks as well) Tablets: Trifexis/comfortis Bravecto (ticks as well) - Collar: Seresto ( (ticks as well) House spary: Indoorex
Updated on September 24th, 2025

Related Searches

Topical Flea & Tick Treatment for Dogs Dog Food Flea Bombs & Foggers for Dogs Flea & Tick Treatment Sprays for Dogs Dog Flea Sprays for Houses & Yards Flea & Tick Solutions for Dogs Dog Flea & Tick Carpet Powders Flea & Tick Shampoos for Dogs Dog Flea & Tick Pills & Chews Prescription Flea & Tick Medicine Advantage II Topical Flea & Tick Treatment for Dogs Elanco Flea & Tick Treatment Sprays for Dogs Advantage Topical Flea & Tick Treatment for Dogs K9 Advantix II Topical Flea & Tick Treatment for Dogs Nextstar Topical Flea & Tick Treatment for Dogs Elanco Flea Bombs & Foggers for Dogs Elanco Dog Flea Sprays for Houses & Yards K9 Advantix Topical Flea & Tick Treatment for Dogs PetArmor Topical Flea & Tick Treatment for Dogs Advantage Dog Flea Sprays for Houses & Yards
image
Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Book Now

Sponsored