gw-smith
04-21-2004, 08:36 AM
As a new moderator, I will try to periodically post informative topics for dog owners. If you guys have something you would like to hear about let me know. Since summer is coming around I thought I would post some information on flea control products. There are a ton on the market now and I will try to give a brief description of all the major ones. This will include factual information as well as my opinion and all recommendations should be taken as my opinion only.
Everybody says that “flea products seem so expensive now.” Or “I have never paid this much for flea control.” The simple facts are that the newer products are more expensive that the old fashion flea collar but they work. Just a few years ago we had no real answer for fleas and were “bombing” houses, yards, etc and bathing and dipping animals on a regular basis with poor success. Despite the prices of the products I am thrilled to have something that actually works on the market. So in order from my most favorite to my least favorite.
1) Advantix- Probably the newest product on the market. Also a topical drug that is applied to the dogs back once a month. It kills both juvenile and adult fleas (within minutes), repels (and kills) ticks, and actually repels mosquitos. This product has been shown to prevent 98% of ticks from ever biting and over 90% of mosquitos from biting. Some other products that kills ticks need the tick to bite first which risks transmission of several diseases (ie. Lyme’s disease). In my opinion, this is the best product on the market right now. It is safe to use on puppies and is effective even if the dog swims (ie. labs) as long as he doesn’t swim for 24 hours after application
2) Frontline Plus- Another topical product that is applied to the dogs back once a month. This medication was initially developed as a treatment for fruit flies and is currently the treatment of choice for termites in Texas . It is an adulticide and an insect growth regulator (kills adults and immature fleas). It also controls ticks. It has no flea repellant properties. This is an excellent product
3) Advantage – A topical product that you apply to your dogs back once a month. It kills fleas rapidly, but is only an adulticide (kills only adult fleas – not larvae). It has no flea repellant properties and has no insect growth regulator (no activity on immature fleas). Overall I think Advantage works pretty well but I prefer Fronline Plus or Advantix.
4) Revolution- Another topical that is applied to the skin once a month. It kills both adult and juvenile fleas but works a little slower than Advantage or Frontline. Works fairly well for fleas – doesn’t work at all for tick control.
5) Program- This is a pill given to dogs that halts the reproductive cycle of fleas (keeps larvae from hatching). It does not kill any adult fleas. At one time this was a good product, however many dogs will get “reinfected” with adult fleas in their environment and won’t have effective flea control with this product alone. I would not recommend this product – one of the 3 listed above is better because they actually kill fleas.
6) Sentinel- This is basically Program combined with Interceptor (used to prevent heartworms). Sentinel is marketed as an effective prentitive for both fleas and heartworms. From a “flea” standpoint it has the same drawbacks as Program (above) – does not kill fleas – only stops their reproduction.
7) Pyrethrins – there are a variety of products such as powders, sprays, and shampoos that contain pyrethrin or permethrin chemicals. They are somewhat effective in repelling and killing both fleas and ticks but have a very short duration of activity (like 1 day). Unless constantly applied – they are much less effective than other products. Flea collars containing pyrethrins exist but only keep fleas from away from the neck area – you will still find fleas on the other parts of the dog.
8) “Knockout” flea collars- These are special flea collars that contain an insect growth regulator called Nylar. If does not have any effect on adults but provides but might be effective when combined with one of the products that kills adult fleas (ie. Advantix).
Let me know if you have any questions.
Everybody says that “flea products seem so expensive now.” Or “I have never paid this much for flea control.” The simple facts are that the newer products are more expensive that the old fashion flea collar but they work. Just a few years ago we had no real answer for fleas and were “bombing” houses, yards, etc and bathing and dipping animals on a regular basis with poor success. Despite the prices of the products I am thrilled to have something that actually works on the market. So in order from my most favorite to my least favorite.
1) Advantix- Probably the newest product on the market. Also a topical drug that is applied to the dogs back once a month. It kills both juvenile and adult fleas (within minutes), repels (and kills) ticks, and actually repels mosquitos. This product has been shown to prevent 98% of ticks from ever biting and over 90% of mosquitos from biting. Some other products that kills ticks need the tick to bite first which risks transmission of several diseases (ie. Lyme’s disease). In my opinion, this is the best product on the market right now. It is safe to use on puppies and is effective even if the dog swims (ie. labs) as long as he doesn’t swim for 24 hours after application
2) Frontline Plus- Another topical product that is applied to the dogs back once a month. This medication was initially developed as a treatment for fruit flies and is currently the treatment of choice for termites in Texas . It is an adulticide and an insect growth regulator (kills adults and immature fleas). It also controls ticks. It has no flea repellant properties. This is an excellent product
3) Advantage – A topical product that you apply to your dogs back once a month. It kills fleas rapidly, but is only an adulticide (kills only adult fleas – not larvae). It has no flea repellant properties and has no insect growth regulator (no activity on immature fleas). Overall I think Advantage works pretty well but I prefer Fronline Plus or Advantix.
4) Revolution- Another topical that is applied to the skin once a month. It kills both adult and juvenile fleas but works a little slower than Advantage or Frontline. Works fairly well for fleas – doesn’t work at all for tick control.
5) Program- This is a pill given to dogs that halts the reproductive cycle of fleas (keeps larvae from hatching). It does not kill any adult fleas. At one time this was a good product, however many dogs will get “reinfected” with adult fleas in their environment and won’t have effective flea control with this product alone. I would not recommend this product – one of the 3 listed above is better because they actually kill fleas.
6) Sentinel- This is basically Program combined with Interceptor (used to prevent heartworms). Sentinel is marketed as an effective prentitive for both fleas and heartworms. From a “flea” standpoint it has the same drawbacks as Program (above) – does not kill fleas – only stops their reproduction.
7) Pyrethrins – there are a variety of products such as powders, sprays, and shampoos that contain pyrethrin or permethrin chemicals. They are somewhat effective in repelling and killing both fleas and ticks but have a very short duration of activity (like 1 day). Unless constantly applied – they are much less effective than other products. Flea collars containing pyrethrins exist but only keep fleas from away from the neck area – you will still find fleas on the other parts of the dog.
8) “Knockout” flea collars- These are special flea collars that contain an insect growth regulator called Nylar. If does not have any effect on adults but provides but might be effective when combined with one of the products that kills adult fleas (ie. Advantix).
Let me know if you have any questions.