The Retriever Expert Expert Care Tips For Your Retriever
Golden Retrievers aren’t invincible to flea and tick infestations. These furry canines are actually prone to this problem due to their thick coats and outdoorsy personality. Prevention is always the best cure to save your dog from the effects of these pesky insects. For this part, you need the best flea medicine for Golden Retrievers to ensure that your beloved pet has a powerful shield against the bloodsuckers.
Below, I reviewed five of the best topical flea medications that you can use for your Goldie. See which one matches your pet’s needs:
FLEA TREATMENT | BRAND | EXPERT RATING | CHECK PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Our Top Pick! Bayer K9 Advantix II Flea and Tick Treatment |  | |
 | Frontline Plus Flea and Treatment for Dogs | | |
 | Bayer Advantage II Flea and Lice Treatment | | |
 | SENTRY Fiproguard Plus For Dogs |  | |
 | VECTRA 3D Flea Treatment For Dogs |  |
Best Flea Medicine for Golden Retrievers – My Top 5 Picks!
OUR #1 CHOICE
OUR TOP PICK: Bayer K9 Advantix II Flea and Tick Treatment
Product Name: Bayer K9 Advantix II Flea and Tick Treatment
Product Description: Thousands of dog owners trust the Bayer K9 Advantix II Flea and Tick Treatment. This specific treatment is suitable for Golden Retrievers that are at least 55 lbs. It offers broad-spectrum protection by repelling not just fleas but also ticks, lice, flies, and mosquitoes. Aside from preventing an infestation, the K9 Advantix II can also kill existing adult fleas on your dog’s coat. This is made possible by its active ingredients, including permethrin, imidacloprid, and pyriproxyfen.
Offer price: $$$
Availability: InStock
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Summary
Moreover, this flea medication works all year round. It will keep on killing and repelling fleas even during the winter season. It will start to kill fleas within 12 hours upon administration and up to 30 days. This treatment will continue working even if your dog bathes or swims.
The best thing about this K9 Advantix II is it works through contact. This means the flea doesn’t have to bite your dog to die. The moment it lands on the medicated part of the skin, the flea will be poisoned. It will also protect your dog from flea larvae and eggs.
For this specific package, you’ll receive six doses to be used monthly. With this, your Golden Retriever will have long-term protection against the dreaded insect pests.
Pros
Repels and kills at the same time
Works for up to 30 days
Waterproof protection
Cons
It leaves an oily spot on my dog for a few days, which can attract dirt.
RUNNERS-UP
Frontline Plus Flea and Tick Treatment for Dogs
Another flea medicine I swear by for Golden Retrievers is the Frontline Plus Flea and Tick Treatment for Dogs. This is a waterproof tick and flea treatment made for dogs within the 45 lbs. to 88 lbs. weight range.
The Frontline Plus has fipronil and (S)-methoprene as active ingredients. It kills chewing lice, ticks, and flea eggs, larvae, and biting adults. This is a fast-acting treatment that will start killing fleas in just a few hours and will last for up to 30 days.
However, you should prevent your dog from getting wet for 24 hours to allow the medication to spread. After that, your dog will have a full month of protection, even if it swims or takes a bath. If you’re going to use dog shampoo, I suggest waiting for a full week to ensure that you’re not going to wash away the medication.
Overall, you’ll receive six doses of the Frontline flea medication that should be administered once a month. I’m a firm believer of Frontline ever since I got my first Golden Retriever many years ago.
My only gripe is that this medication leaves an oily patch on my dog’s back. Anyway, that’s just a small price to pay for the efficacy of this treatment.
Bayer Advantage II Flea and Lice Treatment
Another flea medication from Bayer that I recommend is Advantage II. This is made for dogs that are at least 55 lbs. It provides protection against adult fleas, flea eggs, and flea larvae. It’s also effective in killing and repelling lice, but not ticks.
Moreover, it has imidacloprid and pyriproxyfen as active ingredients. It works all year round and keeps on killing fleas for up to 30 days. This treatment will become waterproof after 24 hours, so you won’t have to worry about giving your dog a bath.
The Advantage II is also fragrance-free, so it works without any strong smell. It will start working after 12 hours, so your dog will be free of pesky fleas.
So what’s the difference between Advantage II and Advantix II? The latter is effective against ticks, but Advantage II isn’t. Nevertheless, it works well against fleas, even if your Golden Retriever has a massive infestation.
For the best results, I suggest removing your dog’s collar until this flea medication dries. This way, the solvent on the treatment won’t react with the plastic buckles, which can mess your dog’s coat.
SENTRY Fiproguard Plus For Dogs
If you want to save some bucks, I highly recommend the SENTRY Fiproguard Plus. This contains six doses but for a slightly lower price than what Bayer offers. It is a flea and tick control medication that exterminates the eggs, larvae, and adult fleas.
Moreover, this has fipronil and (S)-methoprene as active ingredients. Basically, this has the same ingredient as the Frontline Plus, but for a lower cost. For me, that’s already a steal.
Each dose lasts for up to 30 days and will remain waterproof even if your dog swims or takes a bath. It can also stop the flea life cycle for up to 12 weeks to give your Golden Retriever topnotch protection.
Take note that this formula is made for dogs between 45 lbs. and 88 lbs. It’s not designed to repel mosquitoes, but it’s effective against chewing lice.
If you’re planning to give your dog a bath after administering this flea treatment, it’s best to wait for 48 hours. Also, you should only use this treatment on dogs over 8 weeks old. Anyway, Golden Retrievers only reach 45 lbs. once they are already a few months old.
VECTRA 3D Flea Treatment For Dogs
My last pick for this roundup is the VECTRA 3D Flea Treatment for Dogs. This is made for dogs that weigh 56 lbs. to 95 lbs., which is at least a one-year-old Golden Retriever.
This is a very fast-acting formula that will start killing fleas in as fast as 6 hours upon administration. It also kills on contact, so the fleas don’t have to bite to die. Aside from that, it will instantly reduce flea feeding in just five minutes, so your dog won’t receive too many bites.
Moreover, this flea treatment for Golden Retrievers remains effective even as your dog swims and bathes. It also has a patented applicator that makes applications mess-free and easy.
Aside from that, this flea preventive contains dinotefuran, pyriproxyfen, and permethrin as active ingredients. It’s also effective against mosquitoes, lice, and mites (except mange mites). This broad-spectrum protection makes this the best flea medicine for Golden Retriever.
I also like that this medication dries fast and doesn’t leave a very oily look on my dog’s fur. It also remains effective even if I shampooed my Goldie twice within a month.
Overall, this pack contains six doses, enough for six months. It’s very effective, and I’m quite impressed with the results.
How to choose a flea medication for Golden Retrievers
There are many topical flea medications in the market, but not all are effective for Golden Retrievers. To ensure that your dog is getting a treatment that works, you must consider these points first:
✔️Dosage
The dosage of topical flea treatments is measured based on the dog’s weight. It’s very important to follow this weight-based dosage to prevent any adverse side effects. Remember that using highly concentrated flea treatment on a smaller dog can put the canine’s life at risk.
For Golden Retrievers, flea medications made for dogs weighing at least 45 lbs. to 55 lbs. are the most commonly used. But to be sure, you should weigh your dog first.
✔️Check the active ingredient
Flea treatments are able to kill and repel the pest because of their active ingredients. These are toxic chemicals that disrupt the flea’s life cycle and nervous system functions. The following are the widely used active ingredients on flea treatments and their characteristics:
- Fipronil. Fipronil is a popular ingredient in a range of pest control products. It has a slightly moldy odor and white color. When used as a flea preventive, it works in contact and will disrupt the central nervous system of fleas. It’s more toxic to insects than humans since it attaches better to insect nerve endings.
- Imidacloprid. Imidacloprid mimics the behavior of nicotine. Once it enters a flea’s body, it will mess with the nerves and stop it from sending normal signals. With this, the insect’s nervous system will stop working properly, which will lead to death.
- (S)-methoprene. Methoprene is available in s- and r- forms. Of the two, the s- form is the one most effective against insects. Upon entering the flea’s body, methoprene will act as an insect growth regulator. It stymies the fleas’ growth, including egg-hatching, molting, and maturity. Over time, the fleas won’t have the ability to reproduce.
- Dinotefuran. Dinotefuran is a neonicotinoid insecticide, which has similar characteristics to nicotine. It binds on the insect’s nicotinic receptors, then mimicking the effects of acetylcholine. With that, the fleas will experience incoordination, tremors, and eventual death.
- Pyriproxyfen. Like methoprene, pyriproxyfen serves as an insect growth regulator. It stops young fleas from maturing, which disrupts the insect’s life cycle. This stops fleas from multiplying, which will end the infestation in just a few weeks.
- Permethrin. Permethrin belongs to the pyrethroid family. It’s a group of synthetic chemicals used in a variety of pest control products. When used on flea treatments, permethrin attacks the nervous system of the insects, which will cause paralysis and death. Since humans and dogs can break down this substance faster than insects, permethrin has lower toxicity than other active substances listed here.
Take note that flea medications are usually made of at least two of these active ingredients. This is why many of them can offer broad-spectrum protection.
✔️Check the coverage spectrum
Each flea medication can kill and repel various insects. Aside from fleas, there are medications that can also eliminate ticks, chewing lice, mosquitoes, and mites. All of these boil down to the active ingredient used in the formula. If you want your Golden Retriever to receive the best protection, you should aim for the broadest spectrum available in the market.
✔️Consider the ease of application
Another thing you should consider is the treatment’s ease of application. Flea medications contain active ingredients that could cause irritations if it gets into your skin, eyes, or nose. Make sure that it has an easy-open tip to prevent accidental spillage.
Some medications like the one from Vectra have a patented applicator that makes it a breeze to apply. Overall, the applicator should allow you to pour the content’s into your dog’s shoulder blade without getting anything on your hands.
✔️Think about the price
Lastly, consider the price of the flea treatment. I once purchased cheap medications before, and the effects only lasted for a few days. Still, I have nothing against affordable flea treatments but always check their efficacy and ingredients.
In the end, you wouldn’t want to spend your money on dud formulas that don’t kill the fleas. It’s best to trust established brands that have been tried and tested by thousands of pet owners.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What do vets recommend for fleas?
A: Most veterinarians recommend pills and a monthly preventive. Once your dog has been cleared of fleas, you need to keep applying monthly topical treatments. This is to prevent the occurrence of another infestation.
Q: Can I put baking soda on my dog to kill fleas?
A: A baking soda shampoo can help kill and repel fleas. But if you want a long-term treatment, I suggest applying a topical treatment with broad-spectrum protection. This will give your dog the right treatment without the messy baking soda.
Q: Will vinegar kill fleas on dogs?
A: Unfortunately, spraying vinegar on your dog’s coat will not kill fleas. It can provide a mild repellent effect but with no guarantees. If you want to treat your dog’s fleas topically, you should invest in a potent flea medication like the five I reviewed above.
Q: Does Dawn dish soap kill fleas on dogs?
A: Many veterinarians recommend washing your dog with Dawn dish soap to kill adult fleas. But while it can exterminate a portion of the flea population, it should be your first choice for treatment. A flea medication formulated especially for dogs is still the best resort.
Q: Does rubbing alcohol kill fleas?
A: Rubbing alcohol can kill fleas on contact. However, you should never bombard your dog with rubbing alcohol since it can dry and irritate their skin. Alcohol is also flammable, so think twice before spraying it on your furniture or carpeting.
Final words
The best flea medicine for Golden Retrievers will save your pet from the wrath of the pesky insect. Remember that life-long prevention is needed to ensure that your dog won’t suffer from another infestation. This is why you should always have a monthly supply of these topical flea medications on your dog’s grooming kit.
What do you think of these topical flea medications? Have you tried any of it? Share it with us below!
