Best Overall: Frontline Plus Topical Treatment
The most frequently recommended is a topical treatment. Frontline Plus is a well-established product: “For more than 20 years, veterinarians and pet owners have been using Frontline Plus for Dogs to effectively prevent, treat, and control fleas,” writes DogProductPicker.
NexGard is a safe and effective treatment for infestations of fleas and ticks, killing them before they have chance to lay their eggs. The treatment can be used in puppies from the age of eight weeks and in dogs weighing over 4 lbs.
The major difference between these two is the accessibility. Frontline Plus is available over the counter while Nexgard requires a prescription. With that said, the results of Nexgard are faster acting with a 24 hour turn around for ticks and four hours for fleas, giving your pet faster relief.
Over-the-Counter preventatives are available without a prescription. The reason some flea/tick topical preventatives are in this category is that they aren't absorbed into your pet's body the same way a prescription medication is; hence, no prescription is required.
A study published in Veterinary Parasitology seems to back up the veterinarians and flea product makers. The ninety-day study found that topicals were 88.4 percent effective, while oral treatments were 99.9 percent effective. There were 128 dogs from five states involved in the study.
FRONTLINE Plus and Advantage II are both effective in eliminating fleas in all life stages. Both products feature three-way prevention that lasts up to a month. But when it comes to severe infestations and broad-spectrum protection, FRONTLINE is a better choice between the two.
Fleas generally aren't a medical emergency. In many cases, you should be able to get rid of them without seeing your vet, although the best way to handle them is with a prescription flea medication such as a collar or an oral or topical treatment. You should schedule an appointment right away if: Your pet is lethargic.
Oral medications are some of the most effective flea medications currently available. Nexgard kills fleas and ticks, while Trifexis prevents fleas, heartworms, roundworms, hookworms and whipworms. Bravecto also prevents fleas and ticks, and is given only once every 3 months.
Thankfully, there are lots of flea treatments available to prevent and kill fleas quickly which are very easy to give your cat. Products from your vet are much more effective than those from shop shelves.
Capstar (nitenpyram) is a fast-acting flea treatment tablet for use in dogs and cats that starts killing fleas in only 30 minutes. A single dose of Capstar kills 90% of adult fleas within 4 hours for dogs and 6 hours for cats, ridding your pet of these pesky parasites.
Nexgard uses Afoxoflaner and kills 100% of fleas in 24 hours. Bravecto uses Fluralaner and begins to kill fleas in as little as 2 hours. Bravecto kills many types of ticks including the lone star tick for 8 weeks. Nexgard is the only FDA approved option for preventing infections that cause Lyme disease.
But, you shouldn't wash or bathe your dog for at least 48 hours before or after applying. Doing so strips away the natural oils on your pet's skin and decreases the effectiveness of the product. So, avoid contact with treated areas until dry.
5. Part your pet's fur. Spot-on flea treatments are only effective when applied directly to your pet's skin, not the surrounding fur. This can be a little tricky with longer-haired species, but it's important you make sure you can see your pet's skin before attempting to apply a spot-on.
Peak Flea and Tick Season
The cooler, drier winter weather will offer your pets some relief, but it is crucial to treat against fleas throughout all seasons. Summer is one of the most active times for fleas and ticks, with some of the worst season being fall, in September, October, and November.
Avoid products that include synthetic neonicotinoids (like imidacloprid and dinotefuran), which are harmful to bees and may be toxic to the developing brain of young kids. Be wary of flea collars. These products can contain some of the most dangerous insecticides, including tetrachlorvinphos, carbaryl, and propoxur.
Even when treated with a suitable flea control product such a Frontline Plus, Advantage etc it is still possible for your pet to pick up new fleas from the outside environment or other animals. Flea eggs and larvae can also be brought into the home on shoes or clothing.
NexGard cannot be obtained without a prescription from a veterinarian. While there are plenty of over-the-counter options for flea and tick control and prevention, many of these tend to be unsafe and ineffective.
Bravecto® is the only flea and tick treatment to last at least 3 months with one convenient chew or topical dose. The Bravecto® Spot-on for dogs last for 4 months for ticks and 6 months for fleas. That means at least 3X longer lasting protection than common monthly treatments.
BRAVECTO is available by prescription only.
Do OTC Flea Pills Work as Well as Prescription Flea and Tick Pills? Capstar (nitenpyram) and Advantus (imidacloprid) are both over-the-counter (OTC) products that kill adult fleas very quickly. They can be very useful in instances of severe flea infestations, when the adult fleas need to be killed quickly and safely.
Why are there still fleas on my pet, even though I already gave the medication? If pets come in contact with new fleas, they will continue to be infested. FRONTLINE Plus and NexGard also make fleas become more hyperactive before they die, which may make them more noticeable to you.