Where do fleas go after applying drops to a dog’s neck? - briefly
The applied drops are absorbed through the skin and circulate systemically, killing the parasites within minutes. Dead fleas then drop off the coat or are swallowed during the dog’s grooming.
Where do fleas go after applying drops to a dog’s neck? - in detail
Applying a spot‑on flea medication to the cervical region of a dog creates a concentrated zone of active ingredient that spreads across the skin and coat. Fleas that come into contact with this zone experience rapid physiological disruption. Within minutes, the insecticide interferes with the flea’s nervous system, causing paralysis and death. The subsequent disposition of the insects follows several predictable pathways.
- Fleas drop from the treated area onto the dog’s fur and subsequently fall to the ground or other surfaces.
- Dead or immobilized fleas become trapped in the hair, where they are eventually dislodged by grooming, scratching, or routine brushing.
- Dislodged insects may be ingested during self‑grooming, leading to internal degradation.
- Fallen fleas on the floor are subject to environmental factors—drying, exposure to sunlight, or cleaning actions—that accelerate mortality.
- In some cases, fallen fleas are captured by other household arthropods (e.g., predatory mites) which may consume them.
The spot‑on formulation relies on an oily carrier that facilitates migration of the active compound beyond the point of application. This migration creates a protective “halo” extending several centimeters from the neck, ensuring that fleas attempting to move away encounter lethal concentrations. Consequently, the majority of the parasite population is either killed on contact or forced to abandon the host, ultimately ending up on the animal’s coat or the surrounding environment where they perish.