Flea treatment after mange in Bull Terriers

A Bull Terrier coming off mange treatment is a situation that needs a bit of care — you want effective flea control without piling harsh chemicals onto skin that's already been through it. The other thing worth knowing straight away: 95% of fleas live in your home, not on your dog, so even the best spot-on won't solve things alone — the carpets, bedding and furniture need treating too. To point you in the right direction, can you tell me roughly how long ago the mange treatment finished, what product was used for it, and whether you're seeing a lot of fleas or just a few? Also, how much does your Bull Terrier weigh?

That's really helpful — and actually good news in one respect. Because he was on Bravecto for mange, you already know he tolerates it well, and six weeks is close to when that dose starts wearing off anyway. Bravecto is a fluralaner chew that covers fleas and ticks for three months, and because it's oral rather than topical, it completely sidesteps the issue of applying anything to sensitive or recovering skin. There's no spot-on residue, no irritation risk at the application site, nothing rubbing against those patchy areas. Given his history and his size, I'd go with Bravecto Chewable Tablets for Large Dogs (10–40kg) — it's the same product his vet already used, just for flea and tick prevention this time. One chew, done for three months. For the home, you'll need a household flea spray as well — Indorex Defence Household Flea Spray is a solid choice and treats the environment for up to 12 months.

It's a fair concern, but the standard dosing interval for Bravecto is every 12 weeks, and at six weeks you're halfway through — so his previous dose may still be offering some protection, which could actually explain why the flea numbers are relatively low. I wouldn't redose at six weeks without speaking to your vet first; they prescribed the last course and can confirm whether his specific situation warrants an earlier repeat or whether it's better to wait until the 12-week mark. The key thing is not to reach for a different product just to fill the gap — mixing a new chemical class on top of a recent Bravecto course is more of a risk than simply timing the next Bravecto dose correctly.

Wash anything washable at 60°C — his bedding, any blankets, sofa covers if they come off. For the sofa itself and the carpets, use Indorex Defence Household Flea Spray. It contains permethrin to kill adult fleas plus an insect growth regulator that stops eggs and larvae developing, which is what breaks the cycle. Vacuum thoroughly before you spray, including down the sides and back of the sofa, then apply the spray and let it dry before letting him back in the room. One can covers around 24 square metres. Given his skin sensitivity, just make sure the treated areas are fully dry before he settles on them — permethrin is safe for dogs once dry, but you don't want him lying on wet spray.

That's exactly the right move. Once you've got the timing confirmed, you'll be in a clean routine — one chew every 12 weeks, home treated, and his skin not having to deal with anything topical while it finishes settling. Bull Terriers can be prone to skin flare-ups at the best of times, so keeping the chemistry as simple as possible really does make a difference. Hope he's fully comfortable again soon.