How do they work?
Flea & Tick prevention is on any Chihuahua pawrent’s mind. So many questions arise, “are they safe” “what type is best?” to name a few. Not only are fleas & ticks a nuisance, but they can also transmit numerous diseases to pets AND humans.
If you have ever had a flea infestation in your home then you know what a nightmare it can be to get rid of them!
They can also survive all year long, so controlling them is necessary. However, caution and knowledge are needed before considering what, when, and how to administer treatment.
Companies that sell them like to call them medications, but don’t be fooled, these products contain pesticides (not what I would call medicine). How else do you think they kill the nasty little creatures?
Topical - Spot On Drops
They kill fleas & ticks (sometimes mosquitos, depending on the product) by depositing chemicals into the sebaceous glands, where the active ingredient (a pesticide) is released and travels through the glands that lubricate a dog’s coat with oil.
When applied, the compound quickly spreads across the skin. The pesticide will attack the flea and tick’s nervous system and cause the parasites to lose the ability to feed on your pet.
PRO TIP If you’ve chosen to use a medicated flea and tick spot-on, you may not need the full dose. You can give your dog just a drop or 2 of the spot-on treatment. Start with a little to see if you are getting results. You can always increase the dosage.
Flea & Tick Collars
Flea & Tick prevention and repellant collars. While spot-on treatments last approximately a month, collars typically last up to 7 or 8 months. They can be worn along with your dog’s normal collar. Collars have two functions. They repel and treat. Some only repel and others both repel and treat.
Collars that repel do it by emitting a gas that discourages fleas and ticks from biting. But only kill fleas and tick if they bite.
Collars that treat contain pesticides that are absorbed into the sebaceous glands and spread using the natural oils in your dog’s skin. These types of treatments kill fleas and ticks on contact before they bite.
Oral Pills
Oral flea & tick prevention pills are only available by prescription from your veterinarian and come in pill and chewable forms. These are ingested rather than being applied to your dog’s body.
Oral insecticides usually target either flea eggs or adult fleas, but not both. You will have to choose which is best for your situation. These pills work very quickly in as little as 30 minutes. There are no pills currently that kill ticks.
Chews and treats work the same way, but many don’t believe they are as effective.
Powders & Sprays
These types of treatments are designed to be applied directly on your dog and then massaged into the fur all over their body. Some versions can also be applied to upholstery, carpets, and bedding to protect your dog’s entire environment as well as you and your family.
Shampoos
These are meant to kill fleas and ticks that are already on your dog. When applying be sure to cover your dog’s eyes and ears.
Don’t listen to those who tell you to use dish soap such as Dawn. These will strip your dog’s skin of their natural oils causing dry, flakey, and itchy skin.
THEY CAN'T SELL FLEA & TICK PRODUCTS UNLESS THEY ARE SAFE, TRUE OR FALSE?
EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) ensures that all pesticides, including flea and tick products, sold in the United States do not cause unreasonable adverse effects when used according to label directions. This applies to similar agencies in other countries also.
Prior to registering a flea and tick product, EPA conducts a human health risk assessment and an ecological risk assessment. EPA also reviews companion animal safety data to determine if the product has the potential to cause harm to the animal receiving the pesticide treatment for protection against the target pest.
In February 2023, EPA and FDA jointly released a whitepaper that outlines a proposal for an updated approach to clarify regulatory oversight of specific products in alignment with each Agency’s expertise. The whitepaper includes a process for transferring oversight of flea and tick pet products from EPA to FDA. An updated approach clarifying oversight over new and existing products would promote the efficient use of each Agency’s expertise, improve regulatory clarity, and better protect human, animal, and environmental health. Learn more.
Then in August 2023, The FDA released an alert to pet owners and veterinarians of the potential for neurologic adverse “events” in dogs and cats when treated with drugs that are in the isoxazoline class. These include some of the most popular treatments on the market:
- Bravecto -tablets & spot-on treatments
- Credelio
- Nexgard
- Simparica
- Revolution Plus (selamectin and sarolaner)
I hope that this information is helpful in making your own informed decision when it comes to flea & tick treatments for your precious Chihuahua.
I personally prefer to use all-natural flea & tick products for treatment and prevention. I do admit that they do not work as well, but they are definitely safer for your Chihuahua.
Some actually work surprisingly well and those are what I use. The following are links to ones that I think work best and that I have used myself. I can also tell you that we have never found a single flea on any of our dogs ever. We’ve removed a few ticks, however, in the past 25+ years I’ve had Chihuahuas I can count the number of times on my hand.