What is the best and safest method to keep fleas off a 16-year-old dog?

Answer by sawboy_buck

Fleas, although small, are actually dangerous. They continue sucking blood even when full and a bad infestation can cause serious loss of blood. Puppies and kittens can die from flea-caused anemia; a 16 year-old dog can also succumb to this and that should be avoided at all costs.

One of the simplest and most effective "flea repellents" are eucalyptus leaves. For some reason fleas are averse to their smell. Bathing your dog in a mixture of 2 cups of water and a lemon or lime sliced thinly also helps keep off fleas and, like the eucalyptus leaves, smells good. If available, citronella will work even better.

If you feel that your pet or home has a bad case of flea infestation, vacuum your house thoroughly and consult your vet. Flea infestation is not a joke; your vet will know what to do in cases like these.

Answer

Please see your vet. There is topical flea treatments and shots, and your vet is the best person to ask this question from because of the age of your dog.

Answer

You should probably use a flea and tick treatment like K9 Advantex or Frontline plus those are both strong so you have a better chance of avoiding fleas. Also make your they are treated with something to prevent fleas because if your dog ingests one it could get tapeworm and I don't know how that would effect an older dog. Also talk to your vet before you make a decision they might point you in a better direction because of the age of your dog.

First answer by Marcy. Last edit by UclaGirl15. Contributor trust: 1 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 35 [recommend question]