Buying flea and tick medicine for your dog can be a challenging and frightening task. If you haven’t discovered a product that works well for your dog yet, you may want to spend some time doing a little research before making a purchase.
There’s so much information to read and things to consider before buying a flea and tick repellent.
I’ve spent several hours researching customer reviews and experiences with various flea and tick products, and below is a summary of my findings. I hope this information can be of use to you!
The products that will be discussed below are: Frontline Plus, Advantage, Capstar, Program, Comfortis, Sentinel, and Revolution.
1. Frontline Plus
Ingredients
Active Ingredients: Fipronil: 9.8%, (S)-Methoprene: 8.8%
Inert Ingredients: 81.4%
Price
The average price of Frontline Plus for dogs up to 22 lbs. is about $12.33/month.
Description
Frontline Plus prevents flea and tick infestations in dogs. And not only does it kill adult fleas, but it also kills flea eggs and larvae. In addition, it kills all stages of deer ticks, brown dog ticks, American dog ticks, and lone star ticks.
The active ingredients in Frontline Plus are Fipronil and (S)-Methoprene; they act as an insect growth regulator. These ingredients inhibit the life cycle of pest and collect in the oils of the skin and hair follicles. They’re continually released from the hair follicles onto the skin and coat of your Boston terrier, resulting in long-lasting flea and tick control.
Another great thing about Frontline Plus is the fact that it’s waterproof for up to 30 days and it’s gentle enough to use on puppies, pregnant, and lactating dogs.
My Thoughts
Frontline Plus is probably the most popular flea product for dogs on the market right now. Most veterinarians recommend it to their clients, and for the money involved, I’d say it’s a satisfactory flea repellent.
Quite a few of the reviews that I’ve read, state that Frontline’s effectiveness diminishes with long-term use. So, if you’re thinking of purchasing this product, it might be a good idea to buy another type of flea repellent as well, and rotate them from month to month.
2. Advantage
Ingredients
Active Ingredients: Imidacloprid; I-[(6-chloro-3-pyridinyl) methyl]-N-nitro-2-imidazolidinimine: 9.1%
Inert Ingredients: 90.9%
Price
The average price of Advantage for dogs up to 11-20 lbs. is about $9.25/month.
Description
Advantage Flea Control for dogs claims to kill 98-100% of fleas within 12 hours. The prevention lasts for up to 4 weeks from the application date and it kills fleas before they are able to lay eggs. If your dog becomes re-infested with fleas, they are killed within two hours.
Pre-existing pupae in the environment can continue to emerge for six weeks or longer depending upon the climatic conditions.
Advantage is waterproof and remains effective following shampoo treatments, swimming, or after exposure to rain or sunlight.
My Thoughts
Users seem to be generally satisfied with this product. A lot of people seem to have switched from Frontline Plus to Advantage and are experiencing better results. It’s also slightly cheaper, so that’s a plus as well! However, you should remember that Advantage doesn’t provide protection against ticks.
3. Capstar
Ingredients
Contains 11.4 mg of Nitenpyram
Price
The average price of Capstar for dogs between 2-25 lbs. is about $4.66/month.
Description
Capstar’s fast acting formula begins working within 30 minutes and will kill almost all adult fleas within four hours of ingestion. It doesn’t prevent future infestations though, so it‘s recommended that this product be taken in conjunction with Program.
Capstar is probably best suited for a breeder or a kennel where the risk of flea infestation is high and needs to be addressed on a daily basis.
My Thoughts
Capstar is good for new pets or visiting pets, but is not necessary for pets that are consistently on Frontline or Advantage.
4. Program
Ingredients
Lufenuron- 90 mg
Price
The average price of Program for dogs between10-20 lbs. is about $8.83/month.
Description
Program is an oral flea preventive. This flea medicine doesn’t kill adult fleas that may be living on your pet. So it’s usually used along with Capstar, in order to make it a complete flea management system.
Program is a safe and easy oral solution for flea prevention. The main ingredient, lufenuron, is an insect development inhibitor. It was created to be absorbed with your pet’s meal so it should be taken with a full meal in order to work at its full potential.
My Thoughts
The Capstar/Program flea management system seems to be good when paired with one another; however, the Capstar pill is a daily medicine, so I find it inconvenient.
5. Sentinel
Ingredients
Active Ingredients: Milbemycin Oxime 5.75 mg and Lufenuron 115 mg
Price
The average price of Sentinel for dogs between 10-20 lbs. is about $11.66/month.
Description
Sentinel for dogs is an oral preventive that is unique because it also guards against heartworms, roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, and prevents the development of flea eggs. This product does require a prescription from the vet though.
For complete control, this product may be taken with Capstar, which treats flea infestation immediately.
There are numerous side effects associated with this product, so please read the warning in advance.
My Thoughts
This product is great because it provides flea and heartworm protection. However, it doesn’t provide protection against ticks and there are side effects associated with it.
6. Comfortis
Ingredients
Spinosad- 270 mg
Price
The average price of Comfortis for dogs between10-20 lbs. is about $16.16/month.
Description
Comfortis is the first FDA-approved, chewable tablet that kills fleas and prevents future infestations for up to a month. You’ll need a prescription from your vet in order to purchase Comfortis though.
Comfortis starts working within 30 minutes of administration; the main ingredient (spinosad) kills fleas by causing excitation of the insect’s nervous system, which leads to paralysis and rapid death.
There are many side effects associated with Comfortis that you should be aware of before administering this product to your pet. Please read all precautions and safety labels before use on your pet.
My Thoughts
The benefits aren’t worth the risks. I’ve read several reviews where people have had horrible results with Comfortis. It makes some pets extremely ill causing vomiting and diarrhea.
7. Revolution
Ingredients
Active Ingredients: Selamectin 60 mg
Price
The average price of Revolution for dogs between10-20 lbs. is about $15.66/month.
Description
Revolution is a monthly topical treatment that protects your dog from heartworm, fleas, ear mites, ticks, and sarcoptic mange. This medicine requires a prescription from the vet.
About 1% of dogs will experience digestive upset while on this product and it is not advised to be used on ill or underweight pets.
My Thoughts
I can’t wait to try this product. Until now I had never really heard too much about Revolution. Based on what I’ve read about it though, it sounds like an absolute miracle product! One product that treats all the maladies that may occur in your pet!
So that’s all for now! I hope the whole flea prevention stuff makes a little more sense now!
Remember, this just a start to your research. You should probably try a couple of these products for yourself before you find a permanent flea and tick solution for your dog!
Good luck to you and your pup! Leave a comment below if you have anything to add!
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