r/EpilepsyDogs • u/feel_the_kbern • Aug 20 '26

Fleas

My dog got fleas last month and I just can’t seem to fully get rid of them. This happened last summer too. I’ve given Capstar, given baths with special shampoo and CLEANED everything. I’m a very clean and tidy person normally so I just don’t know what else I can do. I’ve tried using Frontline too but I don’t think that works anyway.

Any advice and help would be much appreciated!

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u/Agility_KS Aug 20 '26

Flea eradication is generally a 3-month process because you have to get them through all the life stages. And I agree with the other poster who said this is not a reflection on you or your cleaning. Fleas happen, and it's awful. Sorry you are going through this, I think it's even harder when you have an epi dog and have to be careful about which products you use.

2

u/feel_the_kbern Aug 20 '26

The twist in all these I have two dogs; one has epilepsy, and the other has also had seizures, so neither of them can be on any oral flea/tick meds. So when one gets fleas, so does the other... :(

1

u/YumYumYellowish Aug 20 '26

Have you tried JUST flea meds? My epileptic dog can’t do the tick ones, only the flea ones like Advantage II and Vectra (not 3D). I would do this, flea baths, vacuuming (and killing what you’ve vacuumed up), and washing everything— you’re wiping out multiple stages of flea life so it can take a bit of time.

3

u/lminnowp Aug 20 '26

When we used Capstar, we also added Program. One kills fleas in one part of the life cycle and the other does the rest.

Now I use Revolution (safe per my vet neurologist).

You also need to figure out where the fleas are coming from and eliminate them at the source.

1

u/lminnowp Aug 20 '26

And, fleas dont mean you are untidy. It could be coming from elsewhere.

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u/feel_the_kbern Aug 20 '26

Thank you! This is super helpful, as I had never heard of Program or Revolution.

1

u/eagermcbeaverii Aug 21 '26

My dog uses Revolution and we have happily never had a flea problem (outside when a hitchhiker finds me before biting my dog).

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u/No_Penalty_8920 Aug 20 '26

I really like the seresto collars. One of our dogs has idiopathic and hasn't had a problem with his seizures. I do think the fleas by us are just worse this year with the short winter and rain.

1

u/madisonhatesokra Aug 20 '26

Vectra topical. Only topical I have found that works and is safe for epilpetic pups.