The Best Ways to Get Rid of Fleas and Ticks at the Same Time

Frontline will also kill the ticks responsible for Lyme disease, an important feature if you live in an area where Lyme disease is prevalent.

While Advantage does not kill or repel ticks, Bayer does make a related product called K9 Advantix which is a similar monthly treatment for dogs that will kill fleas, ticks and mosquitoes.

Like Advantage, K9 Advantix comes in small vials for various sized dogs, and is applied between the shoulder blades. This product should not be used on cats, however, since felines are unable to metabolize the active ingredients.

Another topical treatment for use against both fleas and ticks is Revolution, made by Pfizer. As an added bonus, Revolution also provides protection against heartworms, which are a serious long-term health risk for dogs. As with Frontline and Advantix, Revolution is applied topically to the animal’s back once a month.

If your dog is only exposed to ticks from time to time, you might just consider a medicated collar, such as those made by Virbac. These collars contain Amitraz, which is released slowly, and spreads through the animal’s coat, causing ticks to become paralyzed and then fall off and die.

Another option for dogs that are exposed to ticks less frequently is a medicated tick shampoo. In this case, you dog can be bathed only after possible exposure to ticks, such as after a hike in the woods. Exposure to possible toxins is reduced, and only used when necessary.

The Most Convenient and Effective Flea Control Method for Your Pets

These types of flea treatments are not actually absorbed into the bloodstream, but disperse over the pet’s body. The medication collects in oil glands and hair, and fleas that come in contact usually die within 18 hours.

Flea drops will also kill fleas in all stages of the life cycle; adult fleas, eggs, pupa and larva. As we’ve discussed here many times before, it’s critical to use a flea treatment that is effective against all four stages of the life cycle.

To apply flea drops, carefully spread the hair between your pet’s shoulder blades so that you can apply the drops directly to the skin. There will be an oily residue in this area for a day or so, and you should avoid touching it. Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly, especially if you get any of the flea drop medication on your skin.

Also, you should wait at least three days before washing or grooming your pet. Flea drops come in small vials appropriate to your pet’s species and size. Be sure to use the right medication. In other words, don’t use Frontline intended for sixty pound dogs on a twenty pound poodle. And, most importantly, never use dog flea drops on a cat.

An Effective Way to Treat Your Pet for Fleas

It’s worth spending a little extra money to buy a good quality dog flea shampoo. The shampoo should contain both pyrethrins or some other insecticide, and an insect growth regulator (IGR).

As always, you should consult your veterinarian before using an insecticide on your dog. Although pyrethrins are usually quite effective and harmless to dogs, the breed, size and overall health of your dog should be considered first.

Some dog flea shampoos may also contain natural ingredients, such as tea tree and lemon oil, which act as insect repellants. Also, be aware that insecticides such as pyrethrins can dry your dog’s coat, so using a flea shampoo that contains a coat conditioner might not be a bad idea.

When bathing your dog, start by thoroughly wetting the neck, and lathering the area well. This will create a barrier to prevent the fleas from traveling from other areas of your dog’s body to the head.

Once the dog’s neck is lathered, wet and lather the rest of his body, particularly above the base of the tail, and any other areas where you’ve noticed him scratching or licking.

Finally, rinse the dog thoroughly so that there’s no residual flea shampoo left in his coat that he might ingest while grooming himself.

A Convenient and Safe Way to Prevent Fleas and Ticks on Your Pet

Flea collars generally work in one of two ways – either by emitting a toxic gas, or by releasing toxins (to fleas) that are absorbed into the layer of fat beneath the pet’s skin.

The toxic gas method is usually only effective in the immediate area of the collar, i.e. the pet’s head and neck. These collars are best used in vacuum cleaner bags, where the gas is contained, and can be effective against fleas that are vacuumed up.

Flea collars that release toxins that are absorbed into the fat layer are much more effective. These can contain pyrethrins, as well as IGR’s, or insect growth regulators that inhibit flea egg and larva growth. Remember, controlling the early stages of the flea life cycle is just as important as killing adult fleas.

Ask your vet for recommendations bout the best flea collar for your pet. Some ingredients, such as permethrins, should not be used on cats. Your vet should be able to recommend, and even provide, the best flea collar option for your pet.

The EPA has published a four-page pamphlet and Q&A which explains how to identify illegitimate products, and which types of products are most likely to be affected. Some of the most commonly counterfeited flea control products are the ever-popular Frontline and Advantage.

Here are some examples of what to look for when buying Frontline and Advantage.

Frontline:

• The lot number on the box matches the lot number on the individual applicators.
• An instruction booklet is included in the box, and includes first-aid information, emergency U.S. telephone numbers, directions for use, and instructions on how to store and dispose of the product.
• The applicator vial is child-resistant, and directions for opening are included.

Advantage:

• The applicator vials include an EPA Registration number.
• Applicator tubes include a reference to the labeling on the box for usage directions, and the manufacturers name (Bayer).
• Applicator tubes have an active ingredient statement that matches the ingredient statement on the box.

Counterfeit flea treatments can cause serious health problems for your pet. Please read the EPA warning carefully, and refer to it when purchasing flea treatments, especially Frontline and Advantage.

Always Use the Appropriate Flea Drops for Your Pet

Improper use, however, can be dangerous or even deadly to pets. The EPA reported 44,000 sick pets in 2008 due to spot-on flea treatments. Six hundred of the animals died. The EPA says reactions can include vomiting, diarrhea, trembling, depression and seizures.

The EPA doesn’t think these reactions were due to defective products, but rather improper use, such as using a dog product on a cat, or a product designed for a large dog on a small dog. The EPA plans to begin reviewing labels in order to determine how clear and concise the usage directions are.

Follow These Few Simple Steps to Safely Control Fleas

One of the easiest ways to kill fleas on your kitten or puppy is with a simple bath, followed by combing with a flea comb. Use a small tub filled with warm water, and gently immerse your pet up to his neck. While this may be difficult with a kitten who hates water, it should be doable if the animal feels safe.

Help ensure this by holding him securely, keeping his head above water, speaking to him and petting him gently. It will also help if your pet’s feet can touch bottom, so only fill the tub with enough water to ensure this is the case.

Once your pet is thoroughly wet, lift them out and wrap them in a towel. A gentle detergent, such as Dawn soap, can be applied and worked gently into a lather. Dawn is quite effective at killing fleas, and the existing fleas on your pet will probably head for his head. At this point you may be able to pick many fleas off his head by hand.

Once your pet is thoroughly lathered with dawn soap, place him back in the water and rinse him well, being careful not to get any soap or soapy water in his eyes. Then, lift him out and wrap him again in another dry towel, different than the first one you used.

That’s the best and safest method to kill fleas on kittens and puppies. If you know of other good methods, or have any questions, please don’t hesitate to comment below.

Using flea drops to treat fleas on your pet

Both are sold in small vials containing a single dose. You drop the treatment on the skin between the shoulder blades, and it spreads out from there to cover the entire body. These treatments are very convenient because they can be applied once and will protect your pet for an entire month.

Regular applications of Frontline Plus or Advantage should protect your pet well through the flea season, assuming you treat your home as as well. Topical treatments such as Frontline Plus are much less messy and toxic than traditional sprays, as they’re localized to the pet, and don’t create a big, toxic cloud like a spray might.

An important thing to keep in mind when dealing with fleas is the role of the flea life cycle. Fleas pass through four stages during their lives; egg, larva, pupa and adult. Obviously, the adult fleas are the ones we are most aware of, because they’re the ones that bite.

But, if you want to do this right and get rid of fleas for good, you need to consider all four stages. Insecticides that kill adult fleas don’t necessarily do anything to kill eggs or larva, and vice versa. In order to deal with the other stages, you need an insect growth regulator (IGR) as well.

Step 2: Get rid of the fleas in your home.

There are basically three steps to getting rid of fleas:

1. Kill the fleas on your pet.
2. Get rid of fleas in your home, including eggs and larva.
3. Continue to treat your pet, to avoid re-infestation.

The Flea Life Cycle consists of four different stages, and fleas in the early stages are resistant to many typical flea treatments. In order to get rid of flea eggs and larva, you will need to use other methods. There are products that are effective at killing flea eggs and larva. Using the wrong products can be an exercise in futility. See our home flea control page for details.

The topical flea remedies for your pet

Some of the most popular flea medications for pets these days are the monthly topical treatments, such as Advantage and Frontline. These are easy to apply, provide excellent flea control, and don’t involve the mess of sprays or foams. They are usually applied once every month, and protect your pet from fleas for the entire month.

Long lasting flea control with monthly application

These flea medications are also applied on a monthly basis, and provide lasting protection against fleas. However, if your pet will be exposed to fleas on an ongoing basis, you will need to continue to apply the monthly flea treatment to protect them. At the same time, it’s important to make a concerted effort to kill fleas in your home, to avoid re-infestation of your pet.

Before You Start Treating for Fleas

Looking for telltale signs of fleas

In order to be sure your pet has fleas, first try to locate adult fleas on their skin. Although fleas are tiny, if you look closely you may be able to find them, particularly on lighter skinned pets.

A flea comb can be helpful for this purpose. Flea combs have tiny, closely spaced teeth, and will remove adult fleas from your pet when used properly. Thoroughly combing your pet with this type of comb can locate adult fleas, as well as flea “dirt”, or excrement, which is another sure sign your pet has fleas.

Flea dirt is a sure sign of fleas

If you don’t have a suitable comb, you can try to locate flea dirt by examining your pet’s skin, particularly bare areas such as the belly. Flea dirt will look like tiny, dark specks. These specs are actually small bits of dried blood that have passed through the fleas’ system.

If you do find what appears to be flea dirt on your pet, collect some of the specks with a paper towel. Once you have some, moisten them with water. Since flea dirt is dried blood, the specks should turn reddish brown when dissolved in water. If they do turn reddish brown, that’s a pretty sure sign your pet has fleas.

Do you have flea bites?

If you’re suffering from bites yourself, especially on your ankles, that’s another sign you may have fleas on your pet and in your home. A good way to check for fleas in your home and yard is to wear white socks and shuffle around the areas your pet frequents. If you have fleas, it’s likely you’ll collect some on the socks, and they’ll be easy to spot on the white fabric.