Advantage® flea treatment for dogs.
Treats: Fleas, biting lice
Pet type: Dogs and puppies over 8 weeks
Formulation: Spot-on
Suggested frequency: Every 4 weeks
Most dogs will pick up fleas at some point in their lives. In fact, fleas are one of the most common parasites your dog will encounter while on their ‘walkies’.
But just because they’re common, you shouldn’t ignore fleas. Female fleas can lay up to 50 eggs per day which can quickly lead to an infestation, both on your dog and in your home.
Bites from these parasites can cause much more than just an itch for your four-legged friend. They can lead to problems like dermatitis, anaemia (if a flea infestation is severe) and even a tapeworm infection, if your dog were to swallow an infected flea.
Fleas aren’t fussy who they bite either; they’ll feed on the blood of any creature in the household, including humans.
The active ingredient in Advantage flea treatment for dogs is able to kill fleas through contact, so fleas don’t have to bite your pet to be killed.1 It’s easy to apply, fast and effective, and helps protect your dog against fleas.
For dogs > 25kg: The entire contents of the Advantage® tube should be applied evenly to three to four spots on the top of the back from the shoulder to the base of the tail.
Advantage for dogs is a spot-on treatment, so it’s applied to your pet’s skin, where it is able to kill fleas through contact.1
Oral flea products are active in the bloodstream; fleas must attach and feed to be killed.
You can use Advantage on your puppy from eight weeks and over.
As with any medication, side effects are possible. On rare occasions skin reactions such as hair loss, redness, itching and skin lesions can occur. See the package leaflet for full information on side effects, and always speak to your vet if you have any concerns about your pet.
Advantage is a non-prescription treatment which you can buy from your local pet shop or pharmacy and it’s available to purchase online.
It’s quick and simple to use Advantage for dogs, making it a convenient way to treat your pet for fleas year-round. We advise applying Advantage once a month to help protect your pet against fleas.
Step 1: Choose the correct Advantage product suitable for your dog’s weight.
Step 2: Remove one tube from the package. Hold the tube in an upright position and twist and pull off the cap. Use the reversed cap to twist and remove the seal from the tube.
Step 3:
- For dogs less than 25kg: With your dog standing, part the coat between the shoulder blades until the skin is visible. Place the tip of the tube on the skin and squeeze firmly several times to empty the contents directly onto the skin.
- For dogs over 25kg: With your dog standing, apply the entire contents of the tube evenly to 3 or 4 spots located at different application sites along your dog’s back, from the shoulder to the base of the tail. At each spot, part the coat until the skin is visible, and gently squeeze the tube to expel a portion of the liquid onto the skin.
Step 4: Record the treatment date and repeat monthly.
Only apply to intact skin, do not apply treatment where your dog may have a cut or graze on their skin and keep recently treated animals separated so they cannot groom each other.
It is recommended that Advantage is applied every 4 weeks for the prevention and treatment of flea infestations in dogs and for the treatment of biting lice.
A single application lasts for up to four weeks.
Advantage gets to work quickly after application, it can start killing fleas within hours, and fleas will be killed within one day following treatment.
To protect your dog against fleas with Advantage, you will need to choose the correct Advantage product based on your dog’s weight. Use this guide to find the right treatment for your dog:
- Dogs less than 4kg require Advantage 40mg spot-on solution
- Dogs 4kg to 10kg require Advantage 100 spot-on solution
- Dogs 10kg to less than 25kg require Advantage 250 spot-on solution
- Dogs 25kg to less than 40kg require Advantage 400 spot-on solution
- Dogs 40kg and greater require two pipettes of Advantage 400 spot-on solution
Every pack of Advantage for dogs contains four single-use pipettes – each pipette protects against fleas for up to four weeks, so a pack gives up to four months’ protection in total.
You can find this information on the packaging.
Even indoor pets can get fleas. Fleas can be carried into the home on our clothing, or from other pets that visit the house, putting your dog at risk. That means it’s still important to regularly protect your dog with a flea product, like Advantage.
You should use the product only as directed. If you’re unsure of any directions for the application of Advantage for dogs, contact your vet.
It’s important to treat all household pets with a suitable product. When one pet has fleas, other pets in the house will soon be infested too.
If you’ve recently bathed your dog, it’s recommended you wait at least two days before treating them with Advantage flea drops.
It’s recommended that you avoid bathing your dog for at least two days after treatment.
The active ingredient in Advantage sits in the waterproof layer of your dog’s skin and the product remains effective if your dog becomes wet on occasion (for example after exposure to heavy rain or swimming). However, re-treatment may be necessary on some occasions, for example if your dog is a frequent swimmer; in these cases do not treat more frequently than once weekly.
Flea Allergy Dermatitis (FAD) is an allergic reaction some dogs suffer with when they come into contact with flea saliva as a result of flea bites. It causes dogs to scratch and bite their skin to relieve the extreme irritation. This can lead to hair loss, skin ‘hot spots’ or nasty infections.
Advantage spot-on flea treatment can be used as part of a treatment strategy for Flea Allergy Dermatitis, where this has previously been diagnosed by a veterinary surgeon. The active ingredient in Advantage is able to kill fleas through contact, meaning they don’t have to bite your dog in order to be killed.1 This means dogs are less exposed to the saliva they’re allergic to, helping to reduce FAD outbreaks.
Yes, Advantage for dogs can be used to treat biting lice in addition to fleas. You should book a check-up with your vet 30 days after treatment, as some dogs may need a second treatment to clear up the louse infestation fully.
There are a number of ways fleas can easily invade your home and make themselves comfortable on your pets:
- If your dog socialises with other dogs when out on a walk, they can easily pick up fleas from their new friends.
- Your dog can catch them from other household pets. You might not have noticed your pet cat or rabbit scratching more than usual, but if they aren’t treated too they could easily transfer fleas to your dog.
- Wild animals such as foxes, hedgehogs, squirrels and rabbits can transport fleas into your back garden, and your dog may pick them up from there.
- If you come into contact with fleas yourself, these pesky parasites can hitch a ride on you or your clothing into your home.
If your dog does catch fleas, your home can quickly become infested, as fleas lay eggs on your pet, which fall into your home and hatch into flea larvae. These larvae develop into pupae and eventually hatch into adult fleas ready to bite your pet. Flea eggs, larvae and pupae will be hidden in carpets, bedding and upholstery throughout your home
If you are still seeing fleas on your pet despite using Advantage, the likelihood is that these are newly hatched fleas emerging from your home. Of course, once these fleas jump onto your pet, they will be killed by the Advantage, but you can help to reduce the burden that is present in your home as well.
When a flea infestation has broken out in your home it’s important to act quickly. Ensure you wash animal bedding regularly and hoover your carpets and floors to kill fleas at every stage of their life cycle.
A veterinary approved household flea spray may also help with flea control.
For more in-depth tips about tackling flea infestations, read our essential guide to evicting fleas from your home.
1 Mehlhorn et al. Parasitol Res (2001) 87:198-207, information is regarding mode of action and is not intended to imply parasites can be completely stopped from biting.
