Treatment FAQ

what flea treatment is best for dogs topical or collar

by Candida Schowalter Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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In total, a flea collar is better than topical medicine in terms of cost and administration. The product is cheaper than a spot-on alternative. However, for best results and the pet’s safety, choosing a veterinarian-approved flea collar is a must.

Frontline Plus is our favorite non-prescription topical treatment, and it protects against fleas and a range of tick species. But it requires monthly applications, and it won't fight against parasites like heartworms.Apr 1, 2021

Full Answer

What is the best over the counter flea treatment for dogs?

  • Frontline Plus.
  • Advantage® II.
  • Capstar.
  • Flea Away.
  • Seresto.
  • Frontline Flea Spray.
  • Natural Chemistry Squeeze-On for Pets.
  • Flea Busters.
  • Advantage Yard & Premise Spray.
  • De Flea Pet Shampoo.

What is the best natural flea repellent for dogs?

  • Traps (soapy water, electric, or glue) – kills adult fleas
  • Diatomaceous earth – kills adult fleas
  • Cedarwood and Neem oils – kills eggs, larvae, and adult fleas
  • A Dawn Dishsoap bath – kills adult fleas and larvae
  • Rosemary essential oil – repels adult fleas
  • Apple cider vinegar – repels adult fleas

What is the best remedy for fleas on dogs?

  • Prepare a concoction of dish soap with warm water in a bowl or a plate.
  • Utilize the dawn detergent dish soap or lyzol can be used on dogs to get rid of fleas. These are animal safe options.
  • Place it in the different areas of the house where the fleas are seen mostly.

What's the best flea/tick medicine for dogs?

Best Flea Treatment for Dogs - Buyer's Guide Novartis Capstar Flea Tablets for Dogs and Cats. This is a medicinal tablet that is supposed to be given to your pet orally. ... B ayer Advantage II Topical Flea Control for Dog. This is a flea control product that is only used on dogs. ... Bayer K9 Advantix II Flea, Tick and Mosquito. ... More items...

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What is the most effective flea treatment for dogs?

Best flea treatments for dogs and catsFinding the right treatment. ... Frontline® Flea Spray for Dogs and Cats. ... Frontline® Plus for Dogs and Cats. ... Seresto™ Flea and Tick Collar for Dogs and Cats. ... Capstar® Flea Control for Dogs and Cats. ... Advantage® II for Dogs and Cats. ... Sentry Fiproguard for Cats. ... Effix for Dogs.More items...

What flea treatment do vets recommend for dogs?

The Seresto 8 Month Flea & Tick Collar is a veterinarian-recommended flea collar that comes in two options. The Seresto 8 Month Flea & Tick Collar for Large Dogs and the Seresto 8 Month Flea & Tick Collar for Small Dogs are both safe for puppies and dogs that are 7 weeks and older.

Can I use a flea collar as well as flea treatment?

Don't use a flea repellent or flea collar to treat a flea burden. Flea repellents and flea collars are preventative, slow releasing products that are not strong enough to affect a significant infestation. Always use products that claim they 'kill fleas' when you already have a flea infestation.

Which flea treatment is better oral or topical?

The ninety-day study found that topicals were 88.4 percent effective, while oral treatments were 99.9 percent effective.

Is topical flea treatment safer than oral?

If your pet has experienced this with topical medications in the past, an oral flea treatment may be a safer option. Similarly, if your pet has reacted badly to oral flea treatments, then a topical flea treatment may be a safer option.

Do vets recommend Seresto?

Trepp is one of many vets who's recommended the Seresto collars to her patients. She told Daily Paws that she's "never" had any issues with them, and none of her veterinary colleagues have either. Tracey said something similar: Flea and tick collars "are generally regarded as safe preventatives for cats and dogs."

Why you shouldn't use flea collars?

Ranging from skin irritation and gastrointestinal distress, to organ failure and even death, flea collars have a long history of harmful effects in both cats and dogs. When used as directed, flea collars are still known to cause severe chemical burns and seizures in pets.

Can you mix flea collar and topical together?

Some flea collars, like Preventic, are generally safe to combine individually with one of the following: Frontline Plus, Revolution, Pet Armor, Frontline Top Spot or Farnam Bio Spot, K9 Advantix II, Advantage II, Trifexis, Interceptor, Certifect, or Advantage Multi.

Is a flea collar better than frontline?

Generally, though, their differences come down to how they work rather than how well they work. Both products kill fleas, ticks, and lice living on your dog. Seresto prevents new ticks from climbing onto your dog's coat and skin, but Frontline does not. Meanwhile, Frontline repels mosquitoes, while Seresto does not.

What is the safest flea treatment for dogs?

Types of Safe Flea Treatments for DogsFrontline Plus is an OTC product that uses fipronil and (S)-methoprene to attack fleas and ticks at every life stage. ... Trifexis employs spinosad and milbemycin oxime to keep dogs protected from heartworms and intestinal parasites as well as fleas, but it does not work against ticks.More items...•

How do I choose a flea treatment for my dog?

Your dog's weight: Any product aimed at preventing or treating fleas and ticks on dogs specifies the size of pup on its label. For instance, if you're considering a Nexgard chewable tablet for your 6-pound Chihuahua, you want to get the one formulated for dogs in the 4-10 pound weight range.

How fast do topical flea treatments work?

Modern flea treatments, such as FRONTLINE, don't work by stopping fleas from jumping on your pet- they are effective at killing newly arriving fleas within 24 hours.

What is a topical flea treatment?

Topical Flea Treatments. Topical flea treatments are also known as drops or spot-on flea treatments. Some popular topical flea treatment are Frontline, Hartz, and Advantix. However, regardless of how you choose to refer to them, they all work similarly.

What is a flea collar?

Flea Collars. Flea collars are easy to use and require little work in putting it on your dog. Plus, most are one size fits all and only need to be trimmed to fit your dog. They are one of the oldest flea preventatives on the market and brands like Seresto are very popular (see our Seresto flea collar review ).

How long does it take for a flea collar to work?

Instead, fleas simply need to come into contact with your dog’s skin or coat for the collars to work. Most flea collars start killing fleas within 24-hours.

How do flea collars work?

How Flea Collars Work. Flea collars have specific chemicals that both kill and prevent fleas. After fitting the collar on your dog, the chemicals are released from the collar and are transported using your dog’s natural oils, skin, and fur to spread the pesticide over the dog’s body [ 1]. Depending on the chemical used in the collar, ...

How long are flea drops good for?

Also, flea drops are waterproof for thirty days, regardless of how often your dog goes swimming or takes a bath.

How does a dog's coat get lubricated?

After applying the drops, the chemical is absorbed into the sebaceous glands [ 2], which are responsible for lubricating your dog’s coat. And, as the gland naturally releases oils to keep your dog’s fur healthy, it also releases the chemical from the spot-on treatment. In most spot-on treatments, the pesticide used impacts ...

Do flea collars lose effectiveness?

However, some flea collars do lose their effectiveness if your dog happens to swim or get bathed frequently, causing the collar to lose its potency sooner than advertised.

What is the best way to treat parasites in dogs?

Tablets are administered directly or usually mixed with food for easy dose. On the other hand, chewable comes in flavored form which makes the administering process easier. These tablets goes into the system of the dog and start working against the parasites. It’s vital to administer oral treatments on the same day of every month for complete protection.

Do flea collars work?

The ingredients present in the collar effectively repel the fleas and provide long lasting protection from those nasty parasites. These flea collars are highly recommended for dogs that are outdoorsy! If your furry pal loves wandering into the wild and playing in the backyard where there’s high risk of infestation, these collars are the best pick.

What is the best flea treatment for dogs?

Types of Safe Flea Treatments for Dogs. Veterinarians typically recommend dog flea and tick collars, topical flea and tick treatments , or oral flea and tick medications (sometimes in combination) to fully protect their patients. Here are a few of the safest flea treatments for dogs on the market today and some of their pros and cons.

How to treat fleas and ticks in dogs?

Keep in mind that no two pets are the same. Therefore, a product that’s commonly considered to be safe flea and tick prevention for dogs may be a great option for one animal and a mistake for another. Factors to consider include: 1 Age: Flea treatments must be age-appropriate; many are not made for young puppies. Look at the product’s label for this information. 2 Breed: Coat type may influence your decision. Thicker coats may be difficult for topical treatments. 3 Your pet’s health history: Other medications or supplements that you give, concurrent health conditions, and previous reactions to flea and tick preventatives should be taken into account. For example, neurologic problems have been seen in dogs when high doses of ivermectin (heartworm prevention ingredient) are given in conjunction with spinosad, a flea preventative ingredient. 4 Your pet’s lifestyle: The presence of children and other pets (especially cats) in the household and your pet’s daily activities/exposure to the outdoors are important details. 5 Where you live: Which parasites are common in your area? Is resistance to certain preventatives a concern?

What factors to consider when treating a puppy for fleas?

Factors to consider include: Age: Flea treatments must be age-appropriate; many are not made for young puppies. Look at the product’s label for this information. Breed: Coat type may influence your decision. Thicker coats may be difficult for topical treatments. Your pet’s health history: Other medications or supplements that you give, ...

Can flea and tick collars be used on cats?

As is the case with flea and tick collars, if you’re unable to keep your pet away from small children or animals who may come into direct contact with the medication before it has dried or absorbed into your pet’s skin, a topical treatment might not be the ideal solution. If you have cats in your home, you will want to talk to a veterinarian ...

Do tick collars leave traces?

All flea and tick collars tend to leave traces of the chemicals that make them effective around the dog’s environment and on your pet, so this may be a concern with young children who tend to put everything in their mouths. Some dogs have had local skin reactions to the collar that have resolved when it was removed.

Is a flea collar safe for dogs?

Under many circumstances, newer dog flea collars are safe options for flea and tick control (unlike older collars, which were largely ineffective). The Seresto collar is a very popular option right now. It uses flumethrin and imidacloprid to kill fleas at multiple stages of development as well as ticks. The collar’s effectiveness lasts ...

Does Frontline Plus work?

Frontline Plus is an OTC product that uses fipronil and (S)-methoprene to attack fleas and ticks at every life stage. It also eliminates chewing lice and helps to control sarcoptic mange infestations. While it shouldn’t be ingested, a few surreptitious licks by your dog won’t cause much in the way of problems.

What is a flea collar?

Flea collar overview. Flea collars are another method of flea prevention. Some collars contain a repellent, designed to stop fleas from attaching to your pet and coming into the house. Others contain a combination repellent and pesticide, which rubs into the skin on your pet’s neck and then acts in the same way as a spot-on medication.

How long does flea medicine last?

Giving flea medicine to your pet is a reliable way of preventing a flea infestation. The medications can last from one to three months, providing long-lasting and continual protection. They’re usually easy to give – the spot-on medications simply get applied to the skin where your pet cannot lick them off, and even the tablets are flavoured ...

How long does it take for flea medication to work?

They are usually very fast acting, with some formulations acting within just 30 minutes to treat all adult fleas living on the pet.

Do flea collars work?

Most vets will agree that the vast majority of flea collars in the supermarket aren’t effective, but there are a couple of brands that are. Flea repellent collars are rarely strong enough to do a good job, and fleas can easily hitch a ride with your pet, then go dormant until the collar starts to run out.

Can dogs have flea medicine?

Whilst these are usually rare and mild, there are breeds and certain dogs that shouldn’t have some medications. This is why the best flea medications are only available from the vet, or with a written prescription from a vet – they’re best placed to make sure your flea medicine is as safe as possible.

Can fleas be prevented?

Fleas are one of the downsides to our fluffy friends, but luckily they are easily prevented by using flea medicine or collars. If you’ve ever stepped into a pet store and been alarmed at the range of options available to you, you’re not alone. A quick search of Chewy.com shows over 250 different flea products available, from spot-on medications, ...

Is flea medicine toxic?

The case against flea medicine. Flea medicines are chemicals that are toxic to fleas. Unfortunately, this means they’re probably toxic to all insects; bees and other beneficial insects included.

Types of Flea Control Products

The pet market offers various flea control products, and each has its pros and cons. Here are the different types of anti-flea products:

Best Topical Flea & Tick Treatment for Dogs

Summary: K9 Advantix II is a powerful topical treatment that can be used to kill fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, lice, and even biting flies at all stages of their life. The treatment starts to work within 12 hours of application and can be applied monthly. It is safe for dogs 7 weeks old or above.

Best Oral Flea & Tick Treatment for Dogs

Summary: Capstar is an over-the-counter, oral medication with nitenpyram as an active ingredient. It needs to be administered daily, usually with food, and is effective for up to 24 hours. Capstar is safe to use in dogs 4 weeks or older.

Best Flea Collars for Dogs

Before reviewing the top three flea collars for dogs, we should note the controversy surrounding this product.

Best Flea & Tick Shampoos for Dogs

Summary: The Adams Plus Shampoo contains an insect growth regulator (IGR) and is excellent for managing ongoing flea infestations but does not work as a preventative. It also contains aloe, lanolin, coconut extract, and oatmeal, thus providing skin nourishment.

Best Flea Control Products for Puppies

Summary: Capstar is the best choice for flea and tick treatment for puppies. This is because the active ingredient, nitenpyram, is safe for pups as young as 4 weeks of age and as small as 2 pounds of body weight.

How We Selected the Best Flea and Tick Treatments for Dogs

To compile this list, we have reviewed dozens of different products. These are the main factors we considered when selecting the best flea and tick treatments for dogs:

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