Flea and Tick Information

Scroll down for:
-Our advice on treating flea infestations
-A comparison chart of our flea and tick products


Facts about fleas

Your pet may not be itchy even if there is a flea problem.
Fleas are the most common parasite of companion animals.
Fleas are the leading cause of tapeworm infection in pets.
Fleas are a major cause of skin allergies (a reaction to the saliva of the biting fleas).
Fleas are difficult to eradicate from your home. Fleas lays 50 eggs a day.
Fleas enter a dormant phase during which they are resistant to many sprays.
Flea eggs lay dormant for up to 6 months and hatch in a bloom in the Fall.


Flea prevention

Topical products such as Frontline Plus, Advantix, Advantage and Revolution should be applied monthly at least June through December. Some of these products are also used to deter ticks and mosquitoes and are thus often used year-round.

Note, however, that topical products that deter mosquitoes are not effective for heartworm prevention; products specifically designed for heartworm protection are far superior to mosquito repellants.

Do not bathe pets 48 hours before or after application of a topical flea or tick product since many of those products rely on the presence of normal skin oils to distribute effectively through the skin.

How to treat an existing flea problem

You must treat all pets in the house.
Flea dips and shampoos are ultimately ineffective to control a flea problem.

   In cats:

Begin monthly topical Advantage or Frontline for a minimum of 3 months.
     Oral Program (3 months of treatment) can be used in addition to topicals to help sterilize fleas.
     Oral Capstar may be used to rapidly kill fleas on your cat (effect lasts for 24 hours).

   In dogs:

Rapidly kill all adult fleas with oral Comfortis and continue once a month for 3 months.
      If your dog will not take oral medication, use a topical like Advantix or Frontline Plus (see below).
      Oral Program (3 months of treatment) can be used in addition to Comfortis or topicals to sterilize fleas.


Treating the environment

Vacuum, vacuum, vacuum! Vacuuming twice a week for 3 weeks can dramatically decrease the environmental population of fleas. Adult fleas will die in the vacuum bag and the warmth and vibration of the vacuum will trigger eggs in the environment to develop more quickly thereby becoming more readily vacuumed up later in the week. Make sure to vacuum rugs, hardwood floors, linoleum, furniture, etc.

In addition, you can consider spraying the environment with a product such as Siphotrol (which contains permethrin, an adulticide and insect growth regulator that helps kill flea eggs and larvae).


Call us for advice. We are knowledgeable about our products and can help you determine the best way to manage any flea-related problems in your home.


Flea and Tick Product Comparison Chart

  • We recommend year-round flea and tick prevention for all dogs and for cats that go outdoors.
  • If not done year-round, flea prevention should be implemented at least from June through December.
  • These products are guaranteed by the manufacturers only when purchased through our hospital. The guarantee is not extended from the manufacturer for most online purchases because of the risk of buying harmful counterfeit products on the internet.

Product

Target

Minimum Age

Route

Active Ingredients / Effects

Other Info

Topical Medication

Frontline Plus

(topical)

Fleas

Ticks

Cats: 8 weeks

Dogs: 8 weeks

Monthly

Topical

Fipronil – agricultural insecticide that kills fleas and ticks

Methoprene – inhibits flea egg development

Fleas and Ticks are becoming resistant

Do NOT bathe for 24 hours before or after application

Skin irritation is from the cosmetic base

Advantix

(topical)

Fleas

Ticks

DOGS ONLY

7 weeks

Monthly

Topical

Imidacloprid – kills fleas

Permethrin – kills fleas, repels and kills ticks, mosquitos

DOGS ONLY

Permethrins are TOXIC to CATS

Advantage

(topical)

Fleas

Cats: 8 weeks

Dogs: 7 weeks

Monthly

Topical

Imidacloprid – kills flea larvae on contact; paralyzes and kills adult fleas

For Cats and Dogs

Revolution

(topical)

Fleas

Heartworm

Cats: 8 weeks

Dogs : 6 weeks

Monthly

Topical

Selamectin – kills heartworms, sarcoptic mange, ear mites; some activity on fleas, ticks

Good for hard-to-pill dogs

Not very good for fleas and ticks

Parastar Plus

(topical)

Fleas

Ticks

Chewing Lice

Sarcoptic Mange

DOGS ONLY

12 weeks

Monthly

Topical

Fipronil – see Frontline

Cyphenothrin – similar to Permethrin; kills fleas, repels and kills ticks; TOXIC TO CATS

DOGS ONLY

Permethrins are TOXIC to CATS

Certifect

(topical)

Fleas

Flea Eggs

Ticks

Chewing Lice

Sarcoptic Mange

DOGS ONLY

8 weeks

Monthly

Topical

Fipronil – see Frontline

Methoprene – see Frontline

Amitraz – distributed through lipid layer of skin; dissolves tick’s mouth parts causing detachment

DOGS ONLY

Less effective if swimmers

Can use in combination with Advantage

DO NOT USE in dogs with diabetes or heart disease.

Oral Medication

Comfortis

(oral)

Fleas

DOGS ONLY

Must be:

14 weeks

5 lbs.

Monthly

Chewable

Spinosad – kills fleas rapidly; no effect on ticks

DOGS ONLY

Program

(oral)

Fleas

Cats: 4 weeks

Dogs: 4 weeks

Monthly

Tablet

Lufenuron - prevents flea egg hatching

Does not kill adult fleas

Can use in addition to topical flea preventatives

Sentinel

(oral)

Flea Eggs

Heartworm

Hookworm

Roundworm

Whipworm

DOGS ONLY

Must be:

4 weeks

2 lbs.

Monthly

Tablet

Milbemycin – kills heartworms, hookworms, roundworms, whipworms

Lufenuron – prevents flea eggs from hatching

DOGS ONLY

Does NOT kill adult fleas

Capstar

(oral)

Fleas

Dogs and Cats:

Must be:

4 weeks

2 lbs.

One Pill Daily as needed

Nitenpyram – kills fleas rapidly

Not effective for ticks

Trifexis

(oral)

Fleas

Flea Eggs

Heartworm

Hookworm

Roundworm

Whipworm

DOGS ONLY

Must be:

8 weeks

5 lbs.

Monthly

Chewable

Spinosad – kills fleas rapidly; no effect on ticks

Milbemycin – kills heartworms, hookworms, roundworms, whipworms

DOGS ONLY

Not effective for ticks

Flea Collars

Preventic Collar

Ticks

DOGS ONLY

12 weeks

Replace every 3 months

Amitraz – distributed through lipid layer of skin; dissolves tick’s mouth parts causing detachment

DOGS ONLY
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