How To Choose The Most Effective Flea And Tick Treatment For Your Dog
Determining that your dog requires a flea and tick treatment is only half the battle. You must next traverse the assortment of collars, topical therapies, shampoos, and oral meds. Each has its own merits and downsides.
Consider your dog’s preferences, the degree of their infestation, and the time you have available for frequent flea treatments when making your ultimate decision.
This guide was created to assist you take the initial step by highlighting the differences between each therapy and its perks and downsides.
How Long Does It Take For Flea Medicine To Work
Various flea and tick meds are available in the market. And a pet can be treatable in a number of ways. However, the desired results depend on what type of treatment a person is employing. Many oral treatments would start working in 30 minutes to 1 hour. In case of a spot-on treatment, it yields results in 24 hours. Most therapies kill fleas in 24 hours which reduces any chances of these eggs. Certain oral pills are quite effective that show effects immediately as a dog swallows them.
Should You Combine With Worming In An ‘all
Which is best – a ‘flea only’ product, or a ‘combination product’ which takes care of worming too? Ultimately, either option is sufficient, and the choice depends on your personal scheduling preference.
Giving a flea and tick treatment separate to worming can have its benefits – for example, some people might only wish to give flea treatment in the warmer times of the year but continue worming all year round. But if you require flea treatment all year round, combining everything into one treatment is very convenient indeed.
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The 6 Best Flea And Tick Medicines For Dogs With Tips From Veterinarians
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Choosing flea and tick medicine for dogs can be complicated. There are many pills and topical treatments available, and they’re all a little different. The good news is there are many safe, effective flea and tick medications, either available with a veterinarian’s prescription or sold over the counter. Many of these products kill and prevent other parasites, including ticks, heartworms, intestinal parasites, mites, and biting flies.
For this guide to the best flea and tick prevention for dogs, we used the quick product reference guide published by the independent, nonprofit Companion Animal Parasite Council to research different treatments. Products were selected based on safety, the number of parasites targeted, ease of use, and the minimum age for use. Read more about our selection criteria and expertise at the end of this guide. For additional guidance about fleas and dogs, we spoke with two veterinarians.
Before choosing a flea medicine for your dog, talk to your veterinarian who can advise you on what type of product might be best depending on your dog’s temperament and lifestyle and what parasites are most prevalent in your location.
What Is The Fastest Way To Eliminate Fleas
Look for products with fast-acting results. Still, as already emphasized, you shouldnt have unrealistic expectations. For example, a single flea can lay 40 to 50 eggs a day! In other words, you need to be persistent and apply the treatment for a few months despite its seemingly quick effectiveness.
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Consider Using An Insecticide Spray In The Home
Using one of these sprays can kill the fleas that are infesting your cats environment.
This flea collars active ingredients are flumethrin and imidacloprid, which work together to kill adult fleas and prevent reproduction. This flea collar can keep your cat flea-free for 8 months.
While the Seresto flea collar may be the best of its type, results vary. This flea collar gets its share of negative reviews from people who say that their cat had a severe skin reaction to the chemicals in the collar. In fact, as of April 2022, the EPA has received nearly 100,000 complaints of harm to pets, including 2,500 deaths associated with the Seresto flea collar.
In spite of this staggering number of complaints and a petition asking the EPA to ban the collar, the agency has not done anything to stop further issues. In fact, multiple scientists at the EPA reveal that theyve been encouraged to stay quiet about the Seresto issue.
Between the EPAs inaction and parent company Elancos refusal to change anything in light of these complaints, we cant feel confident about the information were seeing about this flea collar. Opt for another flea treatment or proceed with extreme caution.
Best For Puppies: Bayer K9 Advantix Ii Flea And Tick Prevention For Small Dogs
Amazon
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Begins working in 12 hours
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Not safe for cats
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Doesn’t always last full four weeks
Not all flea and tick treatments are recommended for puppies, so its important to check with your vet first before purchasing one. K9 Advantix can be safely used on dogs as young as seven weeks and the small dog variety is made for dogs that weigh between 4 to 10 pounds.
The treatment uses a combination of three different ingredients, a flea adulticide, a repellant, and an insect growth regulator, to stop pests at different stages of their lifecycle. The topical works for 30 days and kills on contact, which means fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes dont have to bite your pup for it to be effective. It starts killing fleas in 12 hours after application. This products is not safe for use on cats.
Our best overall pick is the NexGard Soft Chew for Dogs, which is as tasty as your dog’s favorite treat and works well to kill fleas quickly. But if you need a topical treatment that doesn’t require a prescription, consider the Adams Plus Flea and Tick Shampoo, which can help you deal with an infestation but may require frequent application.
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Cheristin Flea Treatment Topical For Cats
As a moderately-priced flea treatment, Cheristin Flea Treatment Topical for Cats is only moderately-effective. This is why it lands right in the middle of our list. It works effectively in most cases but isnt the absolute best. It is designed to be used once a month. It kills fleas and prevents them from coming back. It is suitable for kittens that are eight weeks or older. However, they have to weigh 1.8 pounds, which makes it less versatile than some of the other options on this list.
It kills fleas, starting within 30 minutes of application. It kills most fleas within 12 hours and then continues working up to a month after that. Each treatment lasts for one month. The easy applicator makes it very easy to use. Perhaps best of all, this formula is completely non-greasy. It gets all the way down to your cats skin easy, which is precisely what you want it to do.
While it is advertised to last a month, we didnt find this to be true. Some cats may be reinfected longer, especially if there are many fleas in their environment. Outdoor cats may be infected sooner as well.
- Doesnt work for a full 30 days
- Only suitable for cats over 1.8 pounds
Finding The Best Flea Collar: Updated For 2022 Faqs
What is the most effective flea collar for dogs?
The most effective flea collar is one that not only treats fleas but also prevents an infestation. Moreover, it should also be able to target fleas in various life stages adult, larvae, and eggs. Another requirement for a flea collar to be effective is how it provides protection to all areas of your dogs body. The collar should be able to distribute the active ingredients throughout your dogs body, not just around the neck and shoulders.
Of course, having the right ingredients is also important. The chemicals used must be fast-acting. In addition, they should also be of zero to low toxicity to your pet as well as humans. Based on one scientific study, the combination of imidacloprid and flumethrin are not only effective insecticides for fleas but also good for killing ticks. Not only that, these insecticides are able to kill fleas and ticks within 24 to 48 hours. Moreover, these ingredients are very low in toxicity to humans, especially when exposed via skin transfer. This is an important consideration since you and your loved ones will most likely be petting your dog throughout flea season and beyond.
What flea collar do vets recommend?
Before you purchase a flea collar for your dog, its important that you first talk to your vet. The vet will know what treatment and prevention methods are best for your dog based on the risk of your pet getting fleas and his/her health.
Do flea collars for dogs really work?
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Whyshould You Treat Cat Fleasand Ticks
Fleas and ticks are not only dangerous but can infect your whole home, however treating them regularly can feel like a chore. Care for your cat with high quality, advanced tick and flea treatment for cats. Not only will it prevent your cat from developing infection or diseases but continue to enable them to live happily and healthily for longer. Unfortunately, fleas and ticks can infect your cat with worms meaning they will become ill and require further worming treatment. However, in order to prevent any of these issues, our Cat Flea Treatment products cover you for up to 8 months.
Even if your cats fleas and ticks arent visible, they can live within your cats fur and infect them without you even noticing. Fleas are known to only attach to cats for a short amount of time, but they can infect them quickly and leave their eggs on your cats skin. Some ticks carry diseases such as Lyme disease which can be incredibly dangerous and make your cat very ill, meaning they wont feel or act like their usual happy self. Therefore using cat tick treatment is importation for prevention and getting rid of your cats fleas and ticks.
The 7 Best Flea Treatments For Cats In 2022
Our favorite is Revolution Plus Topical Solution for Cats
Sarah Scott is a fact checker with more than 16 years of experience in researching, writing, and editing digital and print media. She has verified and edited articles on a variety of subjects for The Spruce Pets, including pet behavior, health, and care as well as the latest trends in products for animals in the home.
We independently research, test, review, and recommend the bestproductslearn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.
The Spruce Pets / Sabrina Jiang
Fleas can transmit serious diseases to your cats, making preventative treatments a useful tool for cat owners with animals at risk for picking up fleas. Flea treatments for cats, including preventatives, are available in a variety of forms, including as a topical solution and as an oral treatment.
Not all flea treatments work well with cats, especially because they are very sensitive to certain chemicals . Using vetted, cat-specific treatments is key to maintaining you cat’s health while getting rid of their flea problem. We evaluated products for reliability, safety, and ease of use.
Here are the best flea treatments for cats.
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The Best Flea Control For Young Kittens
Capstar Flea Control Tablets are safe for kittens as young as 4 weeks old and start killing fleas within 30 minutes.
Pros: Safe for kittens 4 weeks of age or older, safe for pregnant and nursing cats, fast-acting treatment, easy to give alone or in food, can be used with other flea control products, available without a prescription
Cons: Does not offer long-term protection, does not kill flea eggs or larvae, does not prevent any parasites other than fleas
Parasites prevented: Adult fleas
Duration of effectiveness: 24 hours
Safe for: Cats and kittens 4 weeks and older, weighing at least 2 pounds pregnant and nursing cats
Prescription: No
Available without a prescription, Capstar is the only flea control product safe for kittens as young as 4 weeks and weighing at least 2 pounds. With other flea control products, whether topical or oral, kittens must be at least 8 weeks old, and sometimes older.
Fleas should be eliminated as quickly as possible for heavily infested cats, especially young kittens. The active ingredient in Capstar, nitenpyram, works within 30 minutes and kills greater than 90% of adult fleas in as little as six hours.
Capstar only protects against fleas for 24 hours, but it is safe to give daily if necessary. Since giving a cat a pill every day can be inconvenient, pet owners should follow up with a long-term flea control product once the kitten is old enough.
Bayer Advantage Ii For Cats
Bayer Advantage II for Cats is the original flea control product for cats. It kills fleas, prevents heartworm disease, and treats other common internal and external parasites that can be harmful to your cat. This monthly spot-on treatment is available in three sizes according to your cats weight: 4+ lbs., 9-20 lbs., and 21+ lbs. Bayer Advantage II is also water-resistant, so it will remain effective even if your pet gets wet .
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Cat Flea And Tick Medication Prices
The low price range for flea and tick treatments is anything $30 and under. These tend to work slower than pricier treatments. They work it just takes longer.
The medium price range sits between $30 and $90 for cat flea and tick treatments. Most treatments in this range are topical applications containing professional-grade pesticide ingredients.
Anything over $90 is a prescription-strength treatment or is available by prescription only. These are powerful medications. Use them under the advice of your veterinarian.
What To Look For While Buying A Flea Medicine
Getting flea or tick medicine for your fluff companions becomes a great necessity as it might yield disastrous results if not treated timely. Checking various flea and tick prevention reviews would surely help you, but you still need to look for certain features that decide your purchase. Such features are as follows:
Pet Age
Primary factor that rules a purchase is a pets age. If you own a small puppy or young dog, then you should check for the age criteria labeled on a flea product. All medicines do not work well for all ages, so you need to pick up the product that fulfills your dog or cat age criteria.
Breed
Which breed your pet belongs to also helps you to decide what medicine or what type of treatment would work well. If you have a dog of any such breed who has thick coats, then taking up a topical treatment for them will not solve the issues. Ensure whatever type of treatment or product you are going to buy suits your dog or cat.
Pet Health
If you are feeding a pet with any other medications or supplements, then you might consider it before buying flea medicine. Also, any health disorders, previous histories, or allergies need consideration. Various drugs make use of different ingredients, and they might react in different ways in a pets body. So, it becomes necessary to take into consideration all the health histories of a pet.
Type of Parasites
Vet Recommended
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Common Questions About Flea Products:
Our comprehensive Flea & Tick Control For Cats Guide will help you understand what to do in the event of a flea infestation, how to prevent them, and how to care for your pets and your home.
- What is meant by safety in flea products?
Unlike topical flea medications, you do not need to be concerned with touching your pet following the drug administration, nor do you need to separate your pet from other household pets.
- Which products are safe for pregnant cats?
While some products, such as Capstar, CapAction, and PetArmor FastCaps, state they are safe for breeding and pregnant cats, we advise you always to contact your veterinarian for guidance. Your vet can help you assess the risks and benefits so you can make a more informed decision.
- My cat has a health condition which products are safe for her/him?
Please consult with your veterinarian when choosing a product to ensure you have the best guidance possible for your cats case.
- Do fleas have to bite my cat to die?
Unfortunately, Comfortis, Capstar, CapAction, and PetArmor FastCaps require a flea to bite to release the parasiticide.
- Ive used flea products in the past, but none seem to work. Why?
Whats The Best Oral Flea Treatment For Cats
Oral medications may initially seem more dangerous than topicals.
In reality, theyre usually formulated with gentler ingredients that are safe for your cat to ingest and are under stricter regulation. Oral treatments are usually strictly adulticides, so their effects are temporary.
The best oral flea treatment is reliable, safe, and easy to administer using a pill pocket or by crushing the tablet in your cats food.
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Buying Guide For Best Flea And Tick Control Cats 2023
We all know that how much beneficial is online shopping. But before you add that item to your cart, there are a few things you should consider first. Here are some questions to ask before buying anything online.
Here are some questions to ask before buying best Flea And Tick Control Cats online.
1. What is the return policy?
2. What are the shipping costs?
3. What are the customer reviews saying?
4. Is the price right?
5. What are my other options?