Last Updated: 20/07/2026
How to Get Rid of Fleas on Dogs
Does your dog have fleas? Even if they have already had treatment? Read more from our vet team on how to get rid of the fleas for good.
Author: Dr Teagan Lever BVSc (Hons)
Reading Time: 11 minutes - short read
Is your dog scratching non-stop? If you've confirmed it's fleas, the next step is getting rid of them fast, and making sure they don't come back. The good news is that with the right approach, fleas are very treatable. This guide walks through treating your dog: choosing a product, applying it properly, what to do when treatment doesn't seem to be working, and how to keep fleas away for good!
Not sure if your dog has fleas? Start here. For the full picture on fleas, including what they are and their lifecycle, see our complete guide to fleas on dogs.
Why are fleas hard to eliminate?
Fleas are hard to eliminate because most of them aren’t actually on your dog. Around 95% of the flea population lives in the environment as eggs, larvae and pupae, so the adults you can see are just the tip of the iceberg. Cocooned pupae can lie dormant for months and keep hatching long after you’ve treated your dog, which is why a single treatment rarely fixes the problem, and why staying on a preventative all year is the only reliable way to break the cycle. For the full flea lifecycle, see our complete guide to fleas on dogs.
If you're unsure if fleas are the cause of your dog's scratching, read through our guide to How to tell if your dog has fleas.
What’s the most effective flea treatment for dogs?
The most effective flea treatments for dogs are vet-recommended oral chews or spot-ons that kill both adult fleas and immature life stages and keep working for a month or longer. Long-acting flea and tick collars are another effective option, giving several months of protection from a single fit and suit dogs who are tricky to dose with a chew or spot-on. Choose based on your dog’s weight, lifestyle and additional parasite cover needs.
- Weight: always dose to your dog’s current weight, an under dose won’t work.
- Combined cover: many products also cover other parasites such as ticks, intestinal worms and heartworm.
- Format: oral chews or tablets are usually best as they avoid the risk of losing effect with any bathing or swimming. But spot-ons suit dogs who won’t take a tablet. Collars are good for longer lasting flea and tick prevention but they must be secure and fit well.
Whichever you choose, consistency is what clears an infestation, applied on schedule, every month, all year round.
Skip the old-school and DIY fixes, flea powders and shampoos only work for a day or two and natural remedies like garlic, tea tree oil, vinegar and salt water don't reliably kill fleas and can be toxic to dogs.
Top recommended flea preventatives for dogs
What do you do if treatment isn’t working?
If you’re still seeing fleas after treating your dog, the treatment is usually working, but it takes time for the environment to clear, which is why treating the environment and not just the pet is so important. New adult fleas keep hatching and hitching a ride for weeks, and they can take a day or two to die after contact with the product. Before assuming the flea product has failed, check:
- You’re dosing to your dog’s correct current weight.
- For spot-ons, you’ve followed the label on bathing and water exposure, see when to bathe your dog after treatment
- Every pet in the house is treated, one untreated cat or dog can continually drive the flea population.
- Your home is being treated too, to eliminate the eggs, larvae and pupae in the environment.
For fast relief while a long-acting product does its job, a short acting, 24-hour tablet like Capstar can knock down the adult fleas you can see. Keep the monthly preventative going and reinfestations will taper off. If your dog is still heavily infested after several weeks of correct treatment, check in with your vet.
Do you need to treat your home as well?
Yes. Because around 95% of fleas live in the environment rather than on your dog, treating your dog alone usually isn’t enough to clear an infestation. You’ll need to vacuum, wash bedding and use an environmental flea spray at the same time as treating your dog, and treat every pet in the household. We’ve covered exactly how to do this in a dedicated guide: how to get rid of fleas in your home.
How do you prevent fleas coming back?
Once the infestation is cleared, prevention comes down to one habit: keep every pet on a flea preventative all year round, not just when you spot a flea. Dormant pupae can hatch months later, and fleas breed year round in most Australian climates, so stopping treatment over the cooler months is the single most common reason infestations come back.
Set a monthly reminder so a dose is never missed, and treat every dog and cat in the home on the same schedule, because one untreated pet can restart the whole cycle. Keep vacuuming high-traffic and sleeping areas regularly, and wash pet bedding in hot water every week or two. With consistent, year-round prevention, pesky flea problems should stay a thing of the past.
For a more comprehensive guide on the flea treatments currently available, as well as some points to consider when selecting a flea preventative, see our article on Best Flea and Tick Treatments for Pets.
Flea FAQs
Articles recommended for you
Our vet authored guide to the benefits of feeding your dog fresh food plus tips and advice for introducing it into their regular menu.
Thinking of getting a fish? Check out our guide for setting up a tank and home care tips!
Looking to understand horse feeds better? This comprehensive guide covers feeding recommendations for horses of all ages and disciplines.
Does your pet suffer from anxiety? Check out our Vet-guide for treatment options to help your pet.
History
Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
Mon July 20 2026
Edited by Dr Olivia Clarke BSc BVMS MANZCVS (Unusual Pets, Avian)Dr Teagan Lever BVSc (Hons)
Head Veterinarian, BVSc (Hons)
Pet Circle's Head Veterinarian, Dr Teagan graduated from the University of Queensland in 2010 and went on to work in small animal and mixed practice in various locations around QLD & ACT before joining Pet Circle in early 2016. Dr Teagan has special interests in dermatology, nutrition and preventative health care. She feels privileged to witness the special bond people share with their pets on a daily basis and enjoys forming lasting relationships with pet parents and their fur children.
