Which flea medicine should I get?
This is again a tough question, and vets will disagree on it. The biggest brand is Frontline - which also means it's probably prescribed more often by vets. Next is Advantage, and after that there are Program and Revolution. For dogs, there is also K-9 Advantix, a medicine that kills both fleas and ticks. Obviously this isn't a comprehensive list of every flea medication, but these are all big, trusted brands. We at Pupznpalz Rescue use Frontline Plus and have found it effective for the most part.
The basics:
Frontline - Good because it can kill ticks as well, if you get Frontline Plus it will kill both flea eggs and adult fleas. The bad: it's got bathing restrictions, before and after you apply it - a problem with dogs. Read more about Frontline here.
Advantage - Good - it works virtually instantly to stop flea bites because it causes neurological damage to fleas in a few minutes that stop them from biting. Hands down the winner if your pet is having skin problems or allergic reaction to the flea bites. The bad: doesn't kill ticks, and you have to keep children away from the application spot for awhile. Read more about Advantage here.
Program - Good - it is safer for people (i.e. kids) coming in contact with your pets because it isn't applied to the skin. It prevents fleas from laying eggs, cutting off the life cycle. Bad - doesn't kill adult fleas. They only live a couple of days, but if your pet goes outside it will get more. Read more about Program here.
Revolution - Good - Kills adult fleas AND stops eggs from hatching, so doesn't just target one or the other. It also kills heartworms, an added bonus. Bad - it has slightly higher risk of side effects in the form of stomach problems (vomiting). Read more about Revolution here.
K-9 Advantix - Good - It kills other bugs, like ticks and mosquitoes. It is generally more effective at killing ticks than other flea medicines. It is also waterproof. Bad - Only dogs can use it, cats CANNOT.
What about combs, shampoos, bombs, etc, etc.?
You can use any of these things as well, but the core of getting rid of them is a flea medicine. These other products will, generally, reduce the population but not end the infestation. However, they can be great for speeding up the end to the flea infestation in your house. Think of them as a supplement, not the main thing you should be doing.
I've got a kitten/puppy.
Then don't use the medicines until you have passed the recommended age - it varies from 6 to 8 weeks - focus on natural remedies instead, and try bathing them with baby shampoo and grooming them with flea combs.
OK, but what about my house?
What do I do about all the fleas in there now that I've tackled Rover and put smelly goo all over his neck? The fleas should die off within a few weeks, but there's some stuff you can do to speed that up. Vacuum repeatedly. If your pet has a bed, wash it several times in the washer in hot water. Keep your pets indoors if you can. There are some other products you can use around the house - sprays, some sea-shell dust that will kill fleas, flea bombs, etc. There are dozens of different methods people use, and all kinds of products you can buy. Look around the site for more information.
If I don't want to use the flea medications or chemicals, what are alternative ways to get rid of fleas?
You can look at the following pages for more information on: vacuuming to get rid of fleas, diatomaceous earth (basically, fossilized sea critters that make a soil that kills fleas), nematode worms for flea control (little parasites that kill fleas), plants that repel fleas, flea traps, and our general page on natural flea control.
Pupznpalz has posted this for informational use only. Pupznpalz is not affiliated with any of these companies and gets no compensation for posting this information. As always, Pupznpalz recommends that you consult your vet before making a final choice on what method to proceed with.
