With spring already here and summer fast approaching, there is one thing on everyone’s mind when it comes to our pets...fleas and ticks. Yes, it’s the start of the flea and tick season and, to come with it, scratchy miserable pets. However, with many advances over the last ten years, there is hope for saving our pets from misery. More than twenty years ago, we relied on flea dips for treatment. These dips have all but disappeared due to many great new products that have come to market. The reason? These dips were messy, smelly and unfortunately toxic to people and pets. The next best option was flea and tick powders and collars which were less toxic, but really not effective. Also available was flea spray, which worked well, but only for a short period of time (1-2 days). All these products had a decrease in effectiveness when exposed to water. All were basically made up of pesticides, which gave the chance of toxicity to the pet. As stated in the beginning, we have many new wonderful options for flea and tick control. New products including Program, Frontline, Advantage and Revolution work differently to protect our pets.

Program, a once a month pill given to your pet orally, is used to sterilize the flea, therefore reducing the chance of breeding and infestation within the pets area. This product is great for those pets that are indoors at all times, or many be indoors/outdoors in a very small controlled area. It will work well when a pet starts in a no or low flea area. It does not work as well if your pet is in a highly infested area as it does not kill fleas, only sterilizes them. Program does come with added heartworm prevention (called Sentinel) if desired.

Frontline and Advantage work the same, as they are once a month liquid products that are applied to the back of the neck between the shoulder blades onto the skin. The product works by attacking the nervous system of the flea therefore killing the flea. These products are non-toxic to humans and pets because the flea’s nervous system is different from humans or pets. The effectiveness is excellent in killing fleas and ticks. A bonus is the pet can swim or bathe without decrease in effectiveness of the product. The only big side effect seen is drooling due to the pet licking at the product, which contains alcohol. This is the reason to apply far up on the neck so the pet cannot reach it. Revolution is basically the same as Frontline and Advantage with the added benefit of intestinal parasite control and heartworm control. These products are great for a pet that may be entering into an area that has fleas or for an outdoor dog that may be exposed daily to fleas. With all these products you need to know that while it only takes contact of the flea with the product, it may take up to 24 hrs for the flea to die. So those pets that have a flea allergy, where one single flea bite can cause severe itching, may need other products to help control their allergy.

All four products can be found at most veterinary hospitals. “Wait“, you may be thinking, ” I know I have seen these products at my local feed store, grocery store or superstore“. Well, the truth is that these are not the same products. They are concentrated pesticides, which are applied the same way as Frontline, Advantage or Revolution. The problem, as stated in the beginning of the article, pesticides can be toxic to humans and pets, especially in concentrated amounts. Used incorrectly can cause vomiting, diarrhea, seizures and death especially in cats and small dogs. It is recommended to talk to your veterinarian before using these products on your pet. Though they are less expensive, you may be spending more if your pet gets sick from the product. It is not worth the risk.

As far as treating ticks only, the only reliable product that most Veterinarians recommend is a Preventic Collar. It will control ticks for up to three months.

Since we live in a climate that stays warm most months of the year, it is recommended to start your flea and tick control in February/March (before the season starts) and continue till the first frost which is generally October/November. If you live more south, you may need to use these products all year round. Up north, the season is generally shorter.

I hope this helps you get on your way to controlling those pests. For more information on these products and other flea and tick control, consult your Veterinarian.

Dr. Browning