My dog has fleas — what do I use to get rid of them?
'Pulci' = POOL-chee. Plural of 'pulce' (flea). 'Eliminarle' = to eliminate them. 'Le' refers to 'le pulci'.
Asking the vet or pharmacist for flea treatment recommendations.
'Avere le pulci' (to have fleas) is the standard expression. 'Eliminarle' uses the clitic 'le' for 'le pulci'. Italian veterinary pharmacies sell both prescription and OTC antiparasitic treatments. Common brands include Frontline, Advantage, Bravecto and NexGard. In Italy, flea season extends from spring to late autumn — year-round treatment is recommended in warmer southern regions.
Devo trattare anche la casa per le pulci?
Do I also need to treat the house for fleas?
Yes — flea eggs and larvae in carpets and furniture require environmental treatment.
Ha uno spot-on o preferisce la compressa?
Do you have a spot-on or do you prefer a tablet?
Two main forms: spot-on (applied to skin) vs oral tablet — both effective.
Il gatto è allergico alle pulci — fa una dermatite.
The cat is allergic to fleas — it gets dermatitis.
FAD (Flea Allergy Dermatitis) is very common — even one flea bite causes reaction.
Italian climate, particularly in the south, allows fleas to survive year-round outdoors. Ticks (zecche) are also prevalent in Italian countryside and parkland — Ixodes ricinus (the sheep tick) can transmit Lyme disease and other pathogens in northern Italy. Combined flea and tick prevention treatments (e.g. Bravecto, NexGard Spectra) are increasingly popular in Italy.