Best Flea Treatment for American Bulldogs

If your American Bulldog has been itching a lot lately and looking miserable, it may have a flea infestation. Even if you don’t find fleas on its skin, those pesky pests may be hiding in your dog’s surroundings, either in your home or wherever the dog sleeps.

It’s important to clean the areas where your dog spends its time, vacuuming carpets and providing clean bedding on a regular basis, to get rid of flea eggs and larvae and to prevent adult fleas from forming. However, you also need to use flea medication to keep your dog safe from flea bites and to stop adult fleas from laying more eggs.

This is why we set out to find the best medications you can give your American Bulldog to treat fleas, so you can make an informed decision about which one is best for your dog.

Our Top Picks:

Brand Advantix II Frontline SENTRY
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What to Consider Before You Buy Flea Medication

We don’t want you to rush into buying any flea treatment. You should take your time and carefully consider what you are getting and whether it is right for your specific dog. Here are a few things to think about before you buy any flea medication:

  • Consider the size and age of your dog– The age and size of your dog play an important part in what kind of medication you should use. Check the weight restrictions on the medication and then weigh your dog to ensure that you are using the most suitable medication. If you are not sure, then just ask your veterinarian if the medication you have chosen is right for your dog.
  • Not all dogs benefit from the same kind of treatment- You may need to switch flea medication when treating different dogs. Some dogs respond better to oral medication, while others do better with sprays or collars. Your dog may have a skin condition or some other medical problem that is aggravated by the treatment you use, and you may be forced to switch to something else for your dog’s well-being.
  • Keep the dog’s environment clean– It is advised to clean the area where your dog sleeps and lays around, in order to get rid of eggs and other forms of fleas. Otherwise, your efforts to kill the fleas on your dog will be futile, since new fleas will just keep coming back.
  • Make sure to treat all your pets– If you have more then one pet in your home, chances are that if you treat only one of them, fleas will start bothering the other one (if they haven’t already). If you want a flea-free home, you should make sure there is no safe place for these pests, and that means treating all of the flea’s possible hideouts, including other pets in your home.

Best Rated Flea Treatment for American Bulldogs Reviewed

Here are the best flea treatments for your bulldog, based on price, effectiveness and suitability for American Bulldogs:

Bayer K9 Advantix II Flea & Tick Control Treatment

Bayer has created one of the most powerful flea and tick treatments available. The downside to having something so powerful is that the chemicals being used can have an adverse effect on your dog, particularly if your dog has health issues of any kind. This is designed to be a long-lasting flea treatment. It works in as little as 10 minutes, and it won’t come off even when your dog gets wet. It can last for up to 30 days off a single treatment, so there is a ton of value in this product.

No matter how big or small your American bulldog is, you can a find a Bayer K9 product that works for it. Just read the instructions carefully and make sure you get the dose that is best suited for your dog’s weight, and you should not have any problems.

Pros

  • Lots of choices for whatever size of dog you have.
  • Won’t come off in water.
  • Kills faster than most other flea treatments.

Cons

  • May be too potent for some dogs with health issues.

Frontline Plus Flea and Tick Control

This is one of the most popular flea treatments for American bulldogs, and for a reason. It’s slightly more expensive than some of the other choices on this list, but you are paying for more than just the brand name.

What you get is a powerful flea and tick application that only requires one use to cover your dog for up to 30 days. You simply apply the dose to the back of your dog, between the shoulder blades. Empty the entire contents of a single dose there, and you will see ticks and fleas start dying shortly afterwards. It provides constant protection against adult fleas, and you can give your dog another dose in 30 days, if there still are some fleas. The product comes with three doses.

Pros

  • Lasts for a long time.
  • Very easy to use.
  • Provides powerful protection against adult fleas.

Cons

  • Some sensitive dogs may experience adverse reactions to it.
  • It mostly just kills adult fleas.

Vet’s Best Natural Flea and Tick Home Spray

This is a great all-purpose flea and tick spray. It safeguards your dog against adult fleas, but it also kills the eggs and larvae in the surrounding area. What makes it stand out from other spray treatments is that it is made without the use of powerful chemicals and potent manmade components. Instead, it uses natural oils and safe ingredients to get rid of fleas.

That allows it to be very gentle on your dog, but also not as powerful as some of the competition. It can take longer to kill fleas than some of the leading brands, and it may not kill fleas as effectively as something stronger. If you want something that is easy on your dog and unlikely to cause an allergic reaction or a skin condition, then Vet’s Best is probably the way to go. It is one of the better choices for natural flea treatment sprays.

Pros

  • Very inexpensive.
  • Simple to use.
  • Does not stain.

Cons

  • Not as potent as other flea treatments out there.

SENTRY Capguard (nitenpyram) Oral Flea Control Medication

You can find this in varieties for both small and large dogs, so no matter what size your American bulldog is, there is a Sentry flea treatment option for it. This is a tablet treatment, so there are no chemical residues, bad smells or stains to worry about.

You simply feed your dog this pill when it’s on a full stomach, and there should be no problem in getting rid of the fleas. Your dog is very unlikely to have a bad reaction to this treatment by Sentry, so it is a good choice for people who have had bad experiences with other flea treatments.

Pros

  • Relatively easy and gentle on your dog.
  • Works effectively to kill adult fleas.
  • Uses no harmful chemicals.

Cons

  • Doesn’t affect eggs or larvae, only adult fleas.

Novartis Capstar Flea Tablets for Dogs and Cats

This product is yet another treatment which is made for oral use, so applying it to your American bulldog is effortless. That typically offers a gentle treatment for your dog, and you don’t have to worry much about it getting sick after consuming the pill, since there are no harsh chemicals involved, and its onset on fleas is fast.

It’s a lot safer for pets than many other treatments, but that also means that it won’t be as potent. It is really only going to affect adult fleas and will not do anything to eggs and larvae. You will have to find some other way to deal with them. You can expect to see results from this flea treatment in about four hours, and it is safe enough so that you can give the same treatment to your dog every day, if you like. We would recommend supplementing this treatment with some form of treatment that will take care of flea eggs and larvae, such as the Vet’s Best Natural flea spray we listed above.

Pros

  • Safe for dogs, even many of those with health issues.
  • Effectively target adult fleas.

Cons

  • Takes quite a long time to take effect.
  • Doesn’t affect all flea life stages.

 

Home remedies

Many times, during or even after flea treatment, some dogs may suffer from dry and itchy skin because of excessive scratching, or because there are still some leftover pests still bothering your canine. If you’d like to help your pooch and alleviate the symptoms, there are some great natural home remedies you could use:

  • Flea preventive shampoo – Applying flea preventive shampoo can be very effective. Anti-flea shampoo baths for your American Bulldog can keep those leftover pesky fleas away after a major infestation has been eliminated.
  • Coconut oil for itchy skin – If your dog is scratching itself a lot because of fleas, then coconut oil is one of the best natural remedies to relieve itchiness and skin sensitivity.
  • Homemade dip of rosemary and peppermint – This home remedy is a humidifier, and along with a healthy diet, can moisturize your dog’s skin.
  • Drink water– Making sure your dog drinks plenty of water can be super helpful with itching due to dry skin.

Conclusion

We hope you found a product that works for you and your dog and that will eliminate all your dog’s flea issues. Keep in mind that not every product is perfect for every dog, and sometimes you will have to try a different product for treatment to take effect. This can largely depend on the area where you live, your dog’s health and the severity of the flea infestation, among other factors. The important thing is not to give up and fight those annoying pests until they are gone. One of the products on our list will eventually do the trick, and your dog will love you for it!

 

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