Flea treatment for elderly Cavalier King Charles

Your vet is absolutely right — finding fleas on your Cavalier means there are almost certainly eggs and larvae already in your home, and that's the part most people undertreat. Roughly 95% of the flea population lives in carpets, bedding and furniture, not on the dog itself, so a single product on your dog won't get on top of it alone. To point you in the right direction: how much does your Cavalier weigh, and has your vet already prescribed or suggested a specific spot-on or tablet for him or her, or are you still looking for something for the dog as well?

Perfect — Bravecto will cover your dog for three months, so that's a solid foundation. With carpets throughout and a fabric sofa, you need a household spray that kills adult fleas, larvae and — crucially — stops eggs from hatching for as long as possible. The one I'd point you to is Indorex Defence Household Flea Spray. It contains permethrin for fast knockdown of live fleas and an insect growth regulator (IGR) called pyriproxyfen, which prevents immature fleas from developing into adults. One can treats up to 100 square metres and the IGR protection lasts up to 12 months, so you're not retreating every few weeks. Before I say anything else — are there any other pets in the house, or young children? That affects how you apply it.

Good, that makes application straightforward. Here's what to do: vacuum everywhere first — carpets, the sofa, along skirting boards and under furniture — and empty the vacuum outside immediately, because vacuuming activates dormant pupae and gets them into the life stage where the spray can actually kill them. Then apply Indorex to all carpeted areas, the sofa fabric and any soft furnishings your dog contacts. Keep your Cavalier and yourselves out of treated rooms until surfaces are fully dry, usually around an hour. Because flea pupae are sealed inside cocoons and resistant to sprays, you may see the odd adult flea for up to two weeks after treating — that's normal, not a sign the product has failed. The Bravecto on your dog acts as a safety net, killing any new adults that hitch a ride before they can lay eggs. One can of Indorex Defence should be enough for a typical two-bedroom home; if you have more space, two cans gives you peace of mind.

Yes — Indorex is specifically labelled for use on soft furnishings and pet bedding. The key is letting it dry completely before your Cavalier gets back on the sofa; once dry, the residue is safe for pets. Don't spray it directly onto her bed while she's lying on it, obviously, but treating it as part of your overall spray-down is exactly the right approach. If her bed has a removable cover, wash it at 60°C on the same day to kill any eggs there as well — the heat does what the spray can't on washable fabrics.

Sensible question. The home spray doesn't touch her directly, so her age doesn't affect how you use Indorex. The important thing for an older Cavalier is on the dog-treatment side — but your vet has already made that call with Bravecto, which is licensed for dogs her weight and age, so you're in good hands there. Just make sure she's out of the house or in an untreated room while you spray, and bring her back in once things are dry. Given Cavaliers of her age often have heart conditions, you'd also want to avoid her being in an enclosed space with any chemical smell while it's still wet — good ventilation and keeping her away during application is all you need.