Newborn Kittens Have Fleas What Can I Do
Give your kitten a bath.
Newborn kittens have fleas what can i do. Be careful not to pinch the kitten s skin with the tweezers as this can obviously hurt them. Newborn kittens with fleas or ticks should be treated immediately. If fleas or flea dirt are present treat the kitten for fleas right away. Do not use flea medications including topical spot on products flea collars dips or shampoos on young kittens unless you have been told to do so by your veterinarian.
The only safe way to rid the kittens of fleas is to wash them in warm water and or pick off fleas one by one with tweezers. In consultation with your vet kittens over 4 weeks old may be treated with capstar there is a minimum weight requirement. Then rub the towel over the baby kitten being sure not to get it in its eyes ears or mouth. Apply a new layer with a towel every couple of days.
Again newborn kittens need manual flea removal. This will allow you to physically remove the adult fleas without exposing your young kitten to potentially toxic ingredients in products. However most professional flea and tick products contain toxic ingredients that can be fatal to kittens. Put a thick soapy lather of dawn around the neck and ears first as they will run fast and far to get away from the soap.
Take a dry hand towel and spray the ovitrol or other flea tick spray and cover the towel. Most flea control products are not safe to use on kittens under 6 8 weeks old. Flea dirt looks like small black flecks of dirt and will be present along the base of the fur. Instead you will need to provide the kitten with a bath.
Have tweezers at your side. For very young kittens under 8 weeks the safest option is using a flea comb on them once or twice a day. Other flea medications safe for kittens list 8 weeks of age as a minimum. This application kills the adult fleas but not their offspring.
When the fleas surface pluck them out and send down the drain. Fleas hate it but it is safe for your pet. Never use a topical chemical treatment on a neonatal kitten as this may be toxic to a young kitten. Blood sucking parasites can be fatal to kittens as they can cause anemia or a low red blood cell count or carry lyme disease.