Chihuahua Flea Treatment and Prevention

If you see a flea on your Chihuahua, it’s important to take immediate action to treat and prevent them from coming back. Although they are most commonly found in parts of Europe, Asia and Africa, dog and cat fleas can still be found year-round in warmer regions of the U.S. The problem is that many owners don’t even know their Chihuahua has fleas until an infestation has begun. Their small size and stealth-like behavior allows them to go unnoticed while they feast on the blood of your tiny canine companion. Here we’ll take a look at some of the most effective ways to both treat and prevent fleas in your Chihuahua.

Flea Diagram

Many Chihuahua owners are under the assumption that there’s only a single type of flea. The truth is, however, that there are over 2,000 species worldwide, 200 of which are located inhabit the U.S. While they may look and act the same, there are some distinct differences between the species. No matter what type of flea is infesting your Chihuahua, you need to treat them in a timely manner; otherwise, they will reproduce and grow to numbers that are difficult to control.

Think you know everything about fleas? Think again. Take a look at some of these interesting statistics and facts about fleas:

  • Prehistoric fossils reveal fleas to have been around 100 million years ago during the Cretaceous period.
  • A single female can leave over 2,000 eggs in their lifetime.
  • The average flea will bite into their host several hundred times a day. If a Chihuahua is infested with just 10 fleas, that’s thousands of bites each day!
  • Fleas prefer warmer temperatures, but they can still live in near-freezing regions when necessary.
  • Fleas live approximately 3 months before dying.
  • Because of their powerful back legs, fleas can launch over 10 inches into the air, which is why they are so difficult to pick off a small Chihuahua.

Danger Sign

Why Fleas Are Dangerous To Chihuahuas

Unfortunately, a lot of owners brush off a flea infestation as something that’s minor and not of serious concern. While it may only look like it causes an occasional itching, fleas are much more troubling. Fleas are considered parasites because they bite into their host (your Chihuahua) to drink their blood, which they typically do about 300-400 times per day. As a result of being constantly bitten throughout the day, some Chihuahuas will obsessively lick and clean themselves to try and eliminate their fleas, but this usually doesn’t work. An infested Chihuahua will remain covered in fleas until the owner steps in to remove them.

To make matters worse, some Chihuahuas are allergic to the saliva in fleas’ mouths, which causes them to chew and scratch the hair off their body. In some of the more severe cases, Chihuahuas will even chew the skin off their body, leaving open wounds that are susceptible to infection. In addition to traditional flea treatments, you’ll have to place a cone over your Chihuahua to keep them from causing further injury to their body.

Possibly the most serious issue associated with fleas is their ability to transmit harmful parasites and diseases, such as Rickettsia typhi, Bartonella hensalae, hemoplasmas, Flea Tyhus and even the Bubonic Plague! Some of these harmful pathogens are even transmittable to humans, so keep your Chihuahua out of your bed if they’re infested with fleas.

Flea Under Microscope

Treating Your Chihuahua’s Fleas

The first step in treating fleas in your Chihuahua is to understand and identify their breeding grounds. If you see fleas on your Chihuahuas skin, they’re probably burrowed in other parts of your home, and it’s up to you to find out where. Think about where your dog spends their time napping and resting and clean these areas. If your Chihuahua has a bed or crate filled with blankets, take these items out and wash them using warm water and a small amount of bleach. Also, it’s not uncommon for fleas to lay their eggs in the carpet and on rugs. When your Chihuahua has a flea infestation, try to get into the habit of vacuuming the floors daily to help remove eggs that could possibly be lingering there.

Giving your Chihuahua plenty of baths is also helpful in reducing the number of fleas and flea eggs infesting their body. Don’t just use any dog shampoo, but instead look for one that’s made specifically to treat fleas in small dogs. Hertz sells a couple of different products that many owners have had success using. Just be sure to follow the directions step-by-step to ensure your Chihuahua is safe and comfortable during their bath. As you bathe them in the water, it’s also a good idea to keep a cup of soapy warm water nearby to place any fleas you pick off your Chihuahua in. The soapy water should drown them, as they won’t be able to jump out.

When your Chihuahua is done bathing and you’ve given them plenty of time to dry off, you should go over their coat with a flea comb. These combs and can be purchased from most major pet stores for as little as $5 bucks and are designed to pull out both fleas and their eggs. Just keep another cup of warm soapy water nearby and occasionally dip the comb in it to remove any fleas you’ve picked off them.

If you want to go one step further, you can fill a spray bottle with a mixture of vinegar and water and spray your Chihuahua’s coat down with it. The highly acidic content of vinegar won’t bother your Chihuahua (just keep it out of their eyes), but fleas seem to hate it.

Severe Flea Infestations

Depending on how severe your Chihuahua’s flea infestation is, using the traditional methods listed above may not be enough. If you can’t seem to get rid of all their fleas, or if they come back in a few days, you’ll need to take a different approach to treat these horrific parasites. Hands down, one of the strongest and most effective flea medicines for dogs is a product called Frontline. According to their official website, Frontline is also the #1 choice of flea and tick treatment by veterinarians. So, why is this product so popular and effective? Unlike other flea medications, Frontline kills fleas at all stages of their life (eggs, larvae, pupae). Once it’s applied to their skin, it will begin to kill the fleas in as little as 12 hours.

References:

PedMD Fleas

Frontline.com

Comments

    • Laurie Johansen
    • March 27, 2021
    Reply

    ok I’m coming to the rescue I have a long hair red fox chi and a terrier jack russell .chi is 10 and the jack is 6 I’ve always given them once a month half a teaspoon of crushed garlic. and never a flee till recently out OF NO WHERE ALL OVER THEM .IM A HAIRDRESSER SO I LOOKED AT IT LIKE HEADLICE WENT TO WALMART AND BOUGHT A $2.00 BOTTLE OF BORIC ACID BY YHE ROACH AMD TICK. SPRAY. THIS STUFF IS AMAZING YOU JUST LIKE PUFF SPRAY IT EVERYWHERE ON FURNITURE OTHER PETS, KIDS, AND ADULTS .DOESNT HURT OR DISCOLOR ANY THING YOU WILL JUST SEE WHITE POWDER ALL over after about four days the house your pets. your car ..all flea free. plus any roaches, spiders ticks bedbugs all dead. I thought no boric acid. would makes them sick no never even my friends baby’s come over. there fine . so now twice a year or 3 I do this. I even pour some in there bath water . after the tub has slot of dead flees. so boric acid. $2.00 a bottle pour it in cupboards all over your rugs. closets dog bed after a couple days it’s gone. I usually vacuum after 3 days takes that long for them all to die. safe and nontoxic . trust me pour it on your dog after the bath no smell .it’s like pouring on baby powder. ..comment and like. so I can spread the message. mahalo,Mrs. L.J God Bless

    • Snatch
    • August 25, 2020
    Reply

    Has Anyone ever Used a Soresto Collar on their Teacup Chihuaha??ive used one on my average size Chi weighed 7lbs Applehead

      • Cheryl
      • June 12, 2021
      Reply

      Yes & they don’t work! My brother-in-law came to live with us. Used Frontline switched to the collar. I had terminex here last week because the fleas are out of control. Don’t use it

    • Debbie
    • January 16, 2019
    Reply

    I have a long haired Chihuahua. Every couple days i have to wash her as she gets fleas. Iv use the drops. the collar. Iv spared her bed everything.

      • Chris Welch
      • November 28, 2021
      Reply

      I use oral Bravecto on my 2 Chihuahua/ MinPins. Works like a charm, use smallest dose possible, try half a pill 1st to see if other half can wait until next time (6 wks).

    • Kylene Dowdy
    • December 24, 2018
    Reply

    My Chihuahua has this black sticky substance all over her. You touch her and it rubs off on you. I have tried to find any information. I have taken her to the vet several times. Any idea what this is? Anyone have this problem???

      • Jon
      • June 11, 2019
      Reply

      It is frass. Flea poop. 100% blood.

      • Mariangel Wilkinson
      • November 11, 2022
      Reply

      I have a long Coat chihuahua that also has an allergic reaction to fleas which has devastated her coat. She gets that Illy stuff going, which makes her itch worse. I have recently been putting Herbal Aloe gel, product from Herbalife, on her after bath, rub it all over, wipe off excess. It’s making a big difference and the fleas don’t like it.

    • Anna
    • July 7, 2018
    Reply

    My chihuahua loses hair. She is full of spots scratched and licks her feet. I use light vets pallets. We tried a lot of products the vet put her on cortisone, but I think that is not good for her as she weighs 5kg now. We tried regal products, but those are a waste of money. Please help me.

      • Joe
      • September 20, 2020
      Reply

      Use coconut oil make sure it pure an u can even give ur chi little buts by mouth an it helps out chi is 14 years old an we have been giving him coconut oil for years an the vet says he is health as a horse he is loosing his hair but the vet said without us rubbing him down in coconut oil an giving him some oraly he would have lost all his hair plus coconut oil helps keep fleas off they cant latch on or get in fur cause its to slick

        • Diane Perry
        • August 21, 2021
        Reply

        I have a chihuahua she is almost 10 yes. She’s pretty healthy but she will get a flea hear and there. I get her bathed once a week or every 2 weeks. Does coconut really work an non toxic to them she will lick herself.

    • Deborah
    • May 28, 2018
    Reply

    What flea collars and can they be used safely on a chihuahua?

      • Alice. Grubba
      • August 14, 2018
      Reply

      I need to know too. Can chihuahuas have flea collars? 3 and 5 lb chihuahuas.

      • Samatha Peters
      • September 29, 2018
      Reply

      I used a $50 flea collar (I don’t remember the brand) and it irritated my chihuahua to the point where she itched and scratched until she was losing her hair. I’m not sure if it was an allergy.
      I would go with a liquid treatment and baths instead of a collar.

        • Asia
        • October 11, 2018
        Reply

        No don’t. I just used flea collars on three different sized chis and then all broke out on red bumps on their neck to where they now scratched and have opened wounds. I feel horrible that they now are in pain. I don’t agree upon any flea collars with what I’ve been experiencing

    • Pam Aguirre
    • April 24, 2018
    Reply

    I have multiple animals dogs and cats I’ve been using Advantage 2 for large dogs and using too many mg each on my Chihuahuas and my cat it seemed to have worked except for the last two months have they changed the recipe in the Advantage II I save a lot of money doing this but now it’s not working can they be getting used to it

      • Pam Aguirre
      • April 24, 2018
      Reply

      That was supposed to say 2 ml mg per dog and cat

    • Donna Granger
    • September 28, 2017
    Reply

    I have a long hair apple head chihuahua she is allergic to any that has to do with flea medicine. I bathed her in dawn killed some but she still has them. How oftem should I bathe her to get em cotrolled??Help please!!

      • Lorraine Davis
      • November 1, 2017
      Reply

      I have 2 short haired chi’s i made a mixture of dawn soap w baking soda then acv (apple cider vinegar) with garlic cloves soaking in over their bodies while the dawn soap mixture is still on their coat. Yes it sizzles but instantly killed the fleas. Let them sit for a few mins while rubbing their coats and combing it with flea the comb. Then i put them in to another basin and rinse them off with warm water. I dry off excess water. While a little wet i apply skin so soft from Avon products (the original oil) to their coats and it dries with their coats. It’s been keeping them flea free since I’ve been doing this for about a yr now. I bathe them now 3x a month the 1st, 15th & 30th. Use to be 2x 1st & the 15th. My area is fill of fleas so i do it 3x now and treat outside our home. Don’t saturate the oil i put it on them like you do flea treatments. From the shoulders to the tip of the but. Also behind the ear and tail tip its just oil, not too much tho. Fleas hate garlic, you can crush garlic in their foods too not to often tho.

        • Kristen
        • May 17, 2018
        Reply

        Garlic can kill Chihuahuas

        • Melissa
        • June 11, 2019
        Reply

        Don’t give any dog garlic it’s deadly to them.

      • Babydoll
      • April 25, 2018
      Reply

      Weekly!

      • Jenn
      • May 9, 2018
      Reply

      I have the same problem with one of mine. I wash him twice a week. Also I have all tile floors I use pine-sol to mop fleas HATE it. My vet recommended the pine-sol to help fight the problem. Thought I would share this with you

    • JUDI NETO
    • August 23, 2017
    Reply

    I want to know if flea meds are safe for a 6.5 lb CHIHUAHUA? When I rescued her she was wearing a flea collar.
    They sell it from 4lbs to 8 lbs I think K9advantix II
    I dont think there are,any ticks where we live.

      • Julie Hughes
      • October 7, 2017
      Reply

      I am wondering the same thing. I jave a tea cup chihuahua and she probably doesnt each weigh enough for most flea products. I am very converened about using flea killing sprays because lets face it, its a posion to kill the fleas but what about the dog inhaling it and being absorbed into their pores. Can’t be healthy right? After just reading the artical about fleas and chihuahuas i admit using a spray bottle with vingar and water ( I’m assuming half/half solution) after a flea bath sounds so much more safer. Instead of poisonous flea sprays and dips. Any one eles have any non doggy posions methods to keeping fleas off our little ones? Oh, amd I’ve also heard fleas don’t like peppermint oil.

        • Denise
        • October 13, 2017
        Reply

        We use peppermint spray on our cats, it works wonderful!

        • Gail Wrzaskowski
        • November 16, 2017
        Reply

        diatomaceous earth-food grade

        • Judy Godley
        • April 22, 2018
        Reply

        What are some natural ways to keep fleas and ticks off my chihuahua

    • Adrienne
    • August 17, 2017
    Reply

    Dawn dish soap does work but what’s on your pet is only 10% of the population of fleas. The rest are in your house. I have 5 cats and 2 dogs(1 being a chihuahua) and they are infested. I’m even getting bitten. I called a groomer and she recommended a collar called Seresto. You can also get nematodes from arbico organics to help in your yard. As for the house…find a pest control company that treats for fleas.

      • Donna Granger
      • September 28, 2017
      Reply

      I had a cat that keep coming in my house she had fleas she is a wild cat. When we would open door.

      • Sandy
      • January 2, 2023
      Reply

      My baby’s are 8 days old and has fleas what should I do please help me. Sandy

    • Corrisa
    • August 4, 2017
    Reply

    I used gain dish soap and it worked wonders!

    • Lois
    • July 13, 2017
    Reply

    I find that fleas hate ivory soap dish washing liquid, they actually jump off. The chihuahua is so small but we use Hartz ultra every 2 weeks to keep it under control.

    • tammy
    • July 7, 2017
    Reply

    dawn dishsoap is a wonderful method for killing fleas immediately on dogs, sadly though it doesnt do anything after the bath. the fleas jump right back on. this year i have tried every natural remedy and nothing is working so we have decided to go chemical. which scares the living life out of me. but my poor chihuahua/boston terrier is just misserable. so we are gonna give advantix II for small dogs a try. lets hope for some good results. if anyone has tried this medicine on their small dog please let me know how it worked. thank you everyone.

      • Katherine
      • August 30, 2017
      Reply

      Hello Tammy,
      I’ve had dogs all my life and have never seen a poor little chihuahua in misery. We have two cats, two dogs. My chihuahua has tried everything. Advantage for 5 months, did not work at all. Frontline now 3 months, very little change. I think she has one in her ears but I can’t see it. Bombed our house indoor. Sprayed the back yard, etc. different shampoos, a naturaI mix I got off the Internet. wonder why this medicine does not work on her? What are we to do?

        • Gary
        • October 24, 2017
        Reply

        I’ve only ever needed to use Frontline on my chi and it works completely. If it is not working for you then I suggest that you contact the manufacturer for further advice. I have sought extra info from them in Australia and they have been really helpful.

        In my experience there should be no need to bomb the house or spray anywhere — using Frontline is enough. As eggs in your carpet hatch the fleas jump on your dog and die — pretty soon no fleas anywhere. If it’s not working then you must be doing something to stop if from working — are you washing your dog too soon after application?

          • Melissa
          • March 1, 2020
          Reply

          They say now A lot of flees have grown an immunity to advantage so its not effective. I have a 3lb chi and am terrified of all available methods none seem made for her!

    • Shelley
    • June 22, 2017
    Reply

    My teacup chihuahua keeps getting fleas I have to bathe him every 2-3 days with dawn is there a pill or shot for little ☕️? Thanks

      • Deborah
      • July 9, 2017
      Reply

      Nexguard seems to work for all 5 of my dogs.

      • Gena Hawkins
      • May 23, 2020
      Reply

      Help! My chi and bed are infested. Also, my floors.

    • Kris
    • April 30, 2017
    Reply

    Can someone please tell me what flea medicine I could use for 2 lb chi. They all say 3 lbs and up

      • Amanda
      • September 20, 2018
      Reply

      I have a 9 wk old teacup chi and all frontline and such products say 12 was and up can b used to kill fleas. However she weighs nothing and will probably only weigh 3lbs fully grown. I’m unsure if there’s a safe frontline or fla collar out there for her. Does anyone have knowledge on what to use now safely and what’s safe to use after 12 else???

        • Mary Kester
        • January 10, 2020
        Reply

        Contact local Pet Store or call Vet !!!!!

        Mary Ann Kester

    • Shelaina
    • March 15, 2017
    Reply

    Dawn dish soap with tea tree oil works wonders!! Just keep out of eyes. Drops fleas immediately.

      • Gina
      • March 31, 2017
      Reply

      Its crazy how this dosh soap DAWN works !!! They basically just start dying an running off my new puppy with the water! A couple of more bath an I should be at peace an know his clear

      • Lorraine
      • April 1, 2017
      Reply

      What is the recipe or quantity used? Do you use Dawn as a carrier for tea tree oil?

      Thank you

        • Cindy hennemann
        • March 22, 2023
        Reply

        I buy nexgurd but I’m a week back to itching and over it. I don’t know what to do. Help!

      • Reese
      • May 28, 2017
      Reply

      Its this method only safe with the Dawn brand? Would another brand be harmful?

        • Jaylyn
        • April 7, 2018
        Reply

        Don’t use any other dish liquid in my opinion, it doesn’t work and dries out the skin and hair. Dawn is meant to clean animals! It’s a wonderful product.

      • Becky
      • June 18, 2017
      Reply

      In what parts do you mix it in? My dog weighs about 4lbs. The tea tree oil and Dawn?

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