My 3 week old puppies have fleas! I hesitate to put anything on the mother because she's nursing.?

Question

I have treated my other dogs with frontline. Any idea's on how to treat the puppies?

Answer 1

Maybe put a flea collar on her. It works great for my dog.

Answer 2

This could be a family project. While one person is cleaning the bedding area, put the puppies in a box on a clean towel. Give the mother a bath with Dawn Dish liquid, original. Massage it into her coat, first around the mouth and near but avoid getting in the eyes, and around ears then around the butt area then the rest of the body. Massage it in for a few minutes then rinse the dog real well. Use a flea comb to remove remaining fleas because some will be stunned but not dead. Dry the mother on low heat or cool dry. Put her back in the area with clean bedding and do the same bathing procedure with each pup taking extra care not to get any soap in eyes, nose or mouth, (or water when rinsing). Use a flea comb to be sure all fleas are removed after rinsing. Dry the puppies on a very low heat setting and put them back with the mother.
This should help. You don't want fleas on the pups and the mom because on the pups it can cause anemia and for all, tapeworms which they will likely need to be treated for eventually anyway.
Congrats on your pups!
I recently fostered an eight day old kitten that was abandoned by it's feral mom and it was covered in fleas. I had to do what I just recommended to you because fleas literally drain small critters of their blood and can be life threatening even. Though the kitten was so young and weak and injured as well, the bath did not hurt it and in fact saved its life because the gums and tongue were whitish.
That kitten is now a feisty three month old! ; )

Answer 3

As someone has said Frontline is safe to use on your nursing dog. Also their is a frontline spray you can get at your vets for pup 2 weeks old and up. I strongly suggest you get some. Fleas on tiny pups can cause anemia and the pups can get very sick.

Clean the entrier area where the pups and mom are and keep on top of the fleas.

Good luck.

Answer 4

Don't make a mistake and put anything on the nursing Mother.You can bath the pups and Mom with the DAWN dishwashing liquid and it is very safe.I'm afraid this is all you can do until pups reach at least 7 wks. old.Treat your lawn for fleas,but remove pets until dry.

Answer 5

If I remember right there is an age limit on putting flea medication on puppies under the age of 8 weeks. Could be harmful. I think there might be some natural remedies you could use or something you could use from the pet supply store.

Answer 6

Mom can wear frontline and flea spray on her back. Puppies can be washed in a week and dried real good.

I have done this with all my litters of chihuahuas. If the fleas are your only problem you are doing great.

Answer 7

You can treat the mother with frontline plus and top spot this is safe to use on mothers that are nursing but as for the pups you have to wait until they are at least eight weeks of age. Consult with your veterinarian because this where you need to purchase this product also he may be able to add more insight on your problem, but from what I know only frontline plus and top spot are to be used on the nursing mother NOT THE PUPS they have to be at least eight weeks old

Answer 8

Put flea powder or flea spray, on the blanket they lay on, this really works. for momma and babies. The best kind is Adam's at the pet store

Answer 9

first bath the pups and blow dry them they aren't to young.
Mom can have front line and use seven dust on the pups and change the bedding. They may drool if they taste it but shouldn't harm them.
I was told this by a vet and I have used it many times with no problems.

Answer 10

you can give them a bath with Dawn dish soap, thats the only thing the vet said I could use on 4 week old kittens.