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[/font]Please help, we have 2 wks puppies that are infested with fleas! What can we buy or do to get rid of them? We are afraid since they are very young!

starbuck8

I am assuming you are a backyard breeder!! These are the things that happen when you breed dogs when you don't know what you are doing, and the puppies have to suffer for that.

Fleas can be very dangerous to young puppies and can result in the puppies dying from anemia so you do need to kill these fleas NOW!! If the puppy is with it's mother and nursing it is more than likely that the mother dog has a flea infestation so FIRST you need to TREAT THE MOTHER. If there are other cats or dogs in the household you need to treat all pets, as well as your HOUSE!

The safest way to treat a puppy under 6 weeks of age for fleas is to bathe him using warm water and Dawn dishwashing detergent and then to manually pick off remaining fleas. Dawn dishwashing soap is the most gentle, and will kill the fleas, but they will get infestated again if you don't scrub you house from top to bottom!

Fill your sink or tub with warm water, and Dawn dish soap. (Test the temperature as if you were giving a baby a bath). Immerse the puppy up to his neck and ensure that he is saturated. Wet his face and head with a face cloth. Then lift him out and place him on a warm towel. Gently massage in the detergent. Massage the soap all over his body and around his neck, ears, face, head and under his chin, being very careful not to get soap in his eyes. The fleas are not stupid, and will head for the high dry ground of the head area.

Then put him back in the water for a rinse. If he is not fighting and struggling too much try to keep him submerged, except for their heads of course, for a few minutes. If he is distressed get the job over and done as quickly as possible. Having two people perform this is easier. One to hold the puppy and one to massage and wash the the puppy. When finished wrap him up in a warm dry towel and dry him off. Try to do this in a warm atmosphere and don't let him get cold.

Get a flea comb, and apply vaseline to it, so the fleas can't escape from the comb, and have a pot of "boiling" water to dip the comb in after every flea you get. Then you will have to get the rest with your fingers! I sure hope you've got several hrs. to do each, because that is what it is going to take, and the responsibility you took on when you decided to breed your dog without any knowledge!! These puppies are suffering!!

When you are done this, make an EMERGENCY VET APPT., and get those poor pups and their mother into the VET ASAP!! The above method is just a quick fix. DO NOT use ANY flea shampoo's, powders, collars, or ANY chemicals on those little babies!!

Just Dahlia

Starbuck8
I'm sure you are getting tired of answering these, but everytime you answer you are helping some one and hopefully the one you are talking to.
Thanks for keeping it up.