Flea Control Recommendations For Your Pet

We strongly recommend using a flea prevention product every month.

All pets (indoor and outdoor) MUST be on a monthly flea control product all year long.

We DO NOT recommend using any over-the-counter products as they are not effective and can be dangerous.

Please note that some flea control products for dogs can be toxic to cats. For example, if you use Vectra 3D on your dog, your cat should not come into contact with your dog for several hours until the product dries. The regular Vectra made for cats is safe to apply to your cat.

Application of topical products is very important:

Topical products must be applied to the skin and not just on the hair. Part the hair on the back of the neck and apply the full amount of product to your pet. DO NOT drag the tube down your pet’s back as the product will only get on the hair, and your pet may lick it off.

Your pet should not have a bath two days before or two days after applying the product. The product requires an intact oil layer to work properly.

These products are based on your pet’s weight; make sure that you are using the correct size for your pet. (Remember, cats over 15 lbs need 2 vials of Revolution applied or 1 adult size + 1 kitten size when appropriate).

The products should be stored at room temperature in your home and not in your car. If using Comfortis, it should be given with a meal.

If you continuously see fleas, this means that the environment is overpopulated (rugs and carpeting are ideal environments for fleas, flea eggs, and larvae). Each flea can lay hundreds of eggs in the environment, and those eggs hatch in 21 days and are then ready to lay more eggs.

The most effective flea control program MUST include treating the environment.

Thoroughly vacuum all carpets, rugs, furniture, etc. Discard the bag after vacuuming as the eggs will hatch in the bag.
For carpeting, rugs, and hardwood floors, we recommend Flea Busters (available in our reception area).

For large outdoor areas, we recommend either Over and Out (available at Walmart, Lowe’s, Home Depot) or Bayer Advanced Yard Protection. We also have Adam’s Yard Spray (hose attachment) available in the reception area.

For anything that cannot be thrown in the washing machine, we recommend Siphotrol Spray (available in the reception area).

If you elect to call a professional exterminator, ask specifically for flea treatment and ask them to treat more than just the perimeter of your property.

Remember that other environments can be a source of re-infestation (the car, an area where the pet is walked, someone else’s house, doormats, decks, porches, etc.).

We also have Capstar tablets which can be given orally every other day for one month to help depopulate the environment. This product is meant to be used in conjunction with monthly flea prevention.

FOR ANY OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCTS, PLEASE READ THE APPLICATION AND SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE USING.

FLEA CONTROL PRODUCTS

Please note that this information is meant to give you a summary of flea control products that we use on a regular basis. There are other products on the market, and if you are interested in any of these other products, please let us know. There are no products that will actually prevent fleas from getting on the pet. All of these products work by killing the fleas once on the animal. For this reason, if you are having a flea problem, we recommend treating the environment. Make sure that your animal is also on an appropriate monthly heartworm prevention medication.

Again we do not recommend using over-the-counter flea products. Flea control products are available at online pharmacy.

Bravecto:

We recommend Bravecto Plus for cats and Bravecto chewable for dogs. *Bravecto kills fleas and prevents flea infestations. Bravecto Chew kills ticks (black-legged tick, American dog tick, and brown dog tick) for 12 weeks and also kills lone star ticks for 8 weeks. Bravecto Topical for Cats kills ticks (black-legged tick) for 12 weeks and American dog ticks for 8 weeks.

*Direct from the Bravecto website